Daitokuji is a teacher, a fabled alchemist, as well as a member of the Shadow Riders under the name Amnael, Daitokuji largely supports the protagonists for most of the first season of the series, though he is directly responsible for numerous events meant to orchestrate the revival of the Sacred Beasts. The Zen Buddhist monastery Daitokuji in Kyoto has long been revered as a cloistered meditation centre, a repository of art treasures, and a wellspring of the 'Zen aesthetic.' Gregory Levine's Daitokuji unsettles these conventional notions with groundbreaking inquiry into the significant and surprising visual and social identities of sculpture, painting, and calligraphy associated with this.
Nestled to the northwest of downtown Kyoto and west of the Kamogawa River along Kitayama-dori Street, this area has developed as an old residential area and is known to locals as “Shichiku.” This time, we’ll be introducing Daitokuji-dori Street and Omiya-dori Street, two streets that run vertically through the Shichiku area. This hidden gem of an area, a stone’s throw away from the bustling city center and tourist spots, where a quaint old shopping street coexists alongside new yet aesthetically unpretentious shops, is starting to get noticed. Showing us around this time is Ryoko Mizokami, local resident and co-owner of the furniture and general store Kijirushi.
Characteristics of the Shichiku area
“Kuga-jinja Shrine opposite our shop was called Omiya a long time ago. Apparently, the shrine grounds used to be much bigger and this whole area all the way to Omiya Traffic Park was a forest called Omiya Forest. That’s why there are huge trees at the shrine and the park even now,” Ryoko says, her story stirring the imagination. The Shichiku area flourished with Kuga-jinja Shrine at its center. The traditional shopping street still does a lively trade and the scattering of stylish new shops bring a relaxed yet modern air, giving this pocket of Kyoto a unique feel.
At the northern end of this area are the remains of the stone Odoi wall, constructed in 1591 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the man of power at the time, to protect the city from enemy attacks as well as flooding of the Kamogawa River. And at the southern end is Daitoku-ji Temple, one of Japan’s biggest Zen temples. The temple is strongly associated with Zen monk Ikkyu Sojun and the great tea master Sen no Rikyu, two famous characters in Japanese folklore. This area continues to evolve while preserving traces of history. I was filled with anticipation as we set off, wondering what Ryoko, who calls this place home, would tell me.
After walking for about ten minutes, we see the stone wall surrounding the grounds of Daitoku-ji Temple. “I’ve noticed that the leaves that fall on the road in front of a temple or shrine are swept up by the people living nearby,” Ryoko tells me as we look up at all the big trees growing over the top of the stone wall. “Sure events and festivals are popular, but this shows that people quietly take good care of temples and shrines regularly.” Hearing this, I noticed that the respect that every resident has towards old things that remain after many years has been fostered in this street where both old and new exist in splendid harmony. At the same time, there is also the view that the street of today will also be passed on to the next generation. That’s why the sensibility of the times and the successors is accepted, and renewal cherished. I can feel that this idea of continuity and renewal is enriching this neighborhood. Kijirushi, too, with its motto of “future vintage” has arrived at the idea of simple furniture that suits any environment because of this mindset. But it is not just about simply handing over to the next generation, it is the assumption that successors will modernize how it is used in line with the times and their personalities, and leaving them room to do so. Maybe that is simplicity.
Daitokuji Ikkyu
“Have you heard of Daitokuji Natto?” Ryoko asks me as the entrance to Daitoku-ji Temple comes into view. “The soybeans are fermented and dried so they are salty and slightly sour. They are very nutritious, so the Buddhist priests of Daitoku-ji Temple used them as medicine and supplements,” she explains. She says that she looked up the nutrients when she found out about Daitokuji Natto. Her interest and inquisitive nature towards traditions that have been passed down since old times shows in every conversation.
Daitokuji Ikkyu Kyoto
“It may not be a hive of activity, but it’s all we need. Living in this area where it’s the perfect level of relaxed, not too urban and not too country, I find I no longer want to go into town where it’s really noisy. I particularly don’t want to go to a big city now with COVID-19, so that’s just as well,” Ryoko says softly. Perhaps a hint as to how life may be from now on lies in the laid-back lifestyle of the Shichiku area.