Mount Hiei

The view of Mt. Hiei and Sakura from Kyoto

Mount Hiei (比叡山, Hiei-zan^?) is a mountain to the northeast of Kyoto city, lying on the border between the Kyoto and Shiga prefectures, Japan.

The temple of Enryaku-ji, the first Japanese outpost of Tendai sect of Buddhism, was founded atop Mt. Hiei by Saichō in 788. The temple complex was razed by Oda Nobunaga in 1571 to quell the rising power of the Tendai's warrior monks (Sohei), but it was rebuilt and remains the Tendai headquarters to this day.

Mount Hiei in Folklore

This section is in need of help from an expert on the subject.

Mount Hiei has featured in many folk tales over the ages. Originally it was thought to be the home of gods and demons of Shinto lore, although it is predominantly known for the Buddhist monks that come from the temple of Enryakuji.

"Marathon monks"

John Stevens wrote the book, "The Marathon Monks of Mount Hiei," chronicling the practice of training to be a monk by running.

External links

• Wikitravel: Mount Hiei
• Holly Schmid: Marathon Monks of Mount Hiei
• Photos of Mount Hiei and the three precincts of Enryakuji Temple

References

• John Stevens, "The Marathon Monks of Mount Hiei." Boston: Shambala, 1988 ISBN 0-87773-415-1

Coordinates: 35°04′00″N, 135°50′18″E

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