Seiryo-ji Temple was built in the year 985 as a replica of Wutai Shan or Qingliang Shan of China. The temple is noted for its life-size, highly venerated Buddha image carved from sandalwood, a National Treasure, which, however, is publicly shown only two days a month, the dates of which didn’t coincide with our time in Kyoto. As he had on our previous visit to Kyoto, Nobuo Suzuki of Goodwill Guide on Kyoto Handicraft and Historical Sites provided expert guidance on two of the days we spent there, timing our visit to Seiryo-ji, for example, to coincide with a traditional mime performance presented there.

Seiryo-ji Temple, Kyoto

Entrance gate at Seiryo-ji Temple as seen from inside the temple grounds
Temple buildings at Seiryo-ji
This building houses a revolving structure with storage shelves containing sutras, sacred books of Buddhism.
Wooden sculpture of the Chinese Buddhist layman Fu Daishi, Master Fu or Great Teacher Fu, who is said to have invented revolving sutra storage cabinets like that seen in back. He is accompanied by his two sons, Fujou and Fuken (Fucheng and Fujian in Chinese).
The sutra storage unit revolves around a central pillar, allowing priests and monks to easily locate a desired sutra. At some temples, as here at Seiryo-ji, the faithful are allowed to rotate the sutras while praying.
Detail of the structure housing the revolving sutra cabinet
Fu Daishi, Master Fu, and his sons wear Chinese Tang Dynasty attire.
Mime performers and accompanying musicians