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| Mount Hiei | |
|---|---|
| 比叡山 | |
 The view from Kyoto withCherry blossoms (April 2005) | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 848.1 m (2,782 ft) |
| Listing | List of mountains and hills of Japan by height |
| Coordinates | 35°4′0″N135°50′18″E / 35.06667°N 135.83833°E /35.06667; 135.83833 |
| Geography | |
 | |
| Location | Honshū,Shiga Prefecture,Japan |
| Topo map(s) | Geographical Survey Institute 25000:1 京都東北部, 50000:1 京都及大阪 |
Mount Hiei (比叡山,Hiei-zan) is a mountain to the northeast ofKyoto, lying on the border between theKyoto andShiga Prefectures,Japan.
The temple ofEnryaku-ji, the first outpost of the JapaneseTendai (Chin.Tiantai) sect ofBuddhism, was founded atop Mount Hiei bySaichō in 788 and rapidly grew into a sprawling complex of temples and buildings that were roughly divided into three areas:
Due to its position north-east of the ancient capital ofKyoto, it was thought in ancient geomancy practices to be a protective bulwark against negative influences on the capital,[2] which along with the rise of the Tendai sect inHeian period Japan (8th - 12th centuries) meant that the mountain and the temple complex were politically powerful and influential. Later schools of Buddhism in Japan were almost entirely founded by ex-monks of the Tendai sect, such asHōnen,Nichiren,Dōgen andShinran, who all studied at the temple before leaving Mount Hiei to start their own practices.
The temple complexwas razed byOda Nobunaga in 1571 to quell the rising power of Tendai's warrior monks (sōhei),[3] but it was rebuilt and remains the Tendai headquarters to this day.
The 19th-centuryJapanese ironcladHiei was named after this mountain, as was the more famousWorld War II-era battleshipHiei, the latter having initially been built as a battlecruiser.
Mount Hiei has been featured in many folk tales over the ages. Originally it was thought to be the home of gods anddemons ofShinto lore, although it is predominantly known for the Buddhistmonks that come from the temple ofEnryaku-ji.
John Stevens wrote the bookThe Marathon Monks of Mount Hiei, chronicling the practice of walking long distances – up to 52 miles (84 km) a day for 100 straight days, in an effort to attain enlightenment. The practice of walking is known as thekaihōgyō.
A 2010 US National Public Radio report described thesennichi kaihōgyō (thousand-daykaihōgyō) as
...1,000 days of walking meditation and prayer over a seven-year period around Mount Hiei. [The 13th disciple since WWII to complete the cycle] walked 26 miles a day for periods of either 100 or 200 consecutive days — a total distance about the same as walking around the Earth.[4]
Beyond the mountain itself, its forests, and the views it affords – of Kyoto, of Ohara, of lake Biwa and Shiga – the main attraction is the temple complex ofEnryaku-ji. The temple complex spreads out over the mountain, but is concentrated in three areas, connected by foot trails. There are also more minor temples and shrines.
Unusually, there are also a number of French-themed attractions – the peak itself features the Garden Museum Hiei, which is themed on French impressionism, featuring gardens and French paintings, while there is also a French-themed hotel, "L'hotel de Hiei" (The Hiei Hotel). The mountain is busiest during the daytime, but has some visitors in the evenings, for light-up displays and to see the night view of the surrounding towns.
The mountain is a popular area forhikers and a toll road provides access by automobile to the top of the mountain; there are also buses that connect the mountaintop to town a few times a day. There are also two routes offuniculars: theEizan Cable from the Kyoto side to the connecting point with anaerial tramway ("ropeway") to the top, and theSakamoto Cable from the Shiga side to the foot of Enryaku-ji.
The attractions on the mountain are quite spread out, so there are regular buses during the daytime connecting the attractions. The center for these is the bus center, in front of the entrance to the main temple complex atTō-tō (東塔; "East Pagoda").
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