Nara temples to host tea ceremonies in Feb. 2015

Nara temples to host tea ceremonies in Feb. 2015

NARA, Japan - Representatives of seven major Buddhist temples in Nara, western Japan, attend a press conference on Dec. 18, 2014, at the city office to promote a series of grand tea ceremonies by five schools of the traditional Japanese art at the temples set for Feb. 9-15, 2015.

Large tea ceremony held in Japan's ancient capital Nara

Large tea ceremony held in Japan's ancient capital Nara

NARA, Japan - The "Juko" tea ceremony, involving four schools of the Japanese art and seven temples and shrines in Nara, western Japan, is held at Kasuga Taisha shrine on Feb. 12, 2014. The five-day event, organized in the spirit of 15th-century tea master Murata Juko who is said to have founded a simple-style ceremony, runs for five days in the ancient Japanese capital.

Large tea ceremony held in Japan's ancient capital Nara

Large tea ceremony held in Japan's ancient capital Nara

NARA, Japan - People participate in the "Juko" tea ceremony involving four schools of the Japanese art and seven temples and shrines in Nara, western Japan, held at Kasuga Taisha shrine on Feb. 12, 2014. The five-day event, organized in the spirit of 15th-century tea master Murata Juko who is said to have founded a simple-style ceremony, runs for five days in the ancient Japanese capital.

Gokaicho event starts at Zenko-ji Temple in Nagano

Gokaicho event starts at Zenko-ji Temple in Nagano

Worshippers touch the sacred pillar called Eko-bashira, in front of the main hall of Zenko-ji Temple, one of the most magnificent Buddhist temples in Japan, in Nagano, central Japan, on April 5, 2015, the start of the temple's Maedachi Honzon Gokaicho event. During the event held only once every seven years, replicas of the Amida-Nyorai, Kannon-Bosatsu and Seishi-Bosatsu statues, which are normally kept in absolute secrecy, are shown to the public. The statues were brought into Japan when Buddhism was first introduced in the 6th century. The event will run through May 31. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Gokaicho event starts at Zenko-ji Temple in Nagano

Gokaicho event starts at Zenko-ji Temple in Nagano

Worshippers touch the sacred pillar called Eko-bashira, in front of the main hall of Zenko-ji Temple, one of the most magnificent Buddhist temples in Japan, in Nagano, central Japan, on April 5, 2015, the start of the temple's Maedachi Honzon Gokaicho event. During the event held only once every seven years, replicas of the Amida-Nyorai, Kannon-Bosatsu and Seishi-Bosatsu statues, which are normally kept in absolute secrecy, are shown to the public. The statues were brought into Japan when Buddhism was first introduced in the 6th century. The event will run through May 31. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Nara temples to host tea ceremonies in Feb. 2015

Nara temples to host tea ceremonies in Feb. 2015

NARA, Japan - Representatives of seven major Buddhist temples in Nara, western Japan, attend a press conference on Dec. 18, 2014, at the city office to promote a series of grand tea ceremonies by five schools of the traditional Japanese art at the temples set for Feb. 9-15, 2015. (Kyodo)