- Mount Hiei
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Mount Hiei 比叡山 
The view from Kyoto with Cherry blossoms. (April 2005)Elevation 848.1 m (2,782 ft) Listing List of mountains and hills of Japan by height Location Location Honshū, Shiga Prefecture, Japan Coordinates 35°4′0″N 135°50′18″E / 35.066667°N 135.83833°ECoordinates: 35°4′0″N 135°50′18″E / 35.066667°N 135.83833°E Topo map Geographical Survey Institute 25000:1 京都東北部, 50000:1 京都及大阪 
The view from Takaragaike Park in Kyoto
Mount Hiei (比叡山 Hiei-zan) is a mountain to the northeast of Kyoto, lying on the border between the Kyoto and Shiga prefectures, Japan.
The temple of Enryaku-ji, the first outpost of the Japanese Tiantai (Tendai) sect of Buddhism, was founded atop Mount Hiei by Saichō in 788. Both Nichiren and Honen studied at the temple before leaving to start their own practices. The temple complex was razed by Oda Nobunaga in 1571 to quell the rising power of the Tendai's warrior monks (sōhei), but it was rebuilt and remains the Tendai headquarters to this day.
The Imperial Japanese Navy battleship Hiei is named after this mountain, having initially being built as a battlecruiser.
Contents
Mount Hiei in folklore
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 Enryaku-ji.
Marathon monks
John Stevens wrote the book The Marathon Monks of Mount Hiei, chronicling the practice of walking long distances (up to 52 miles) in a single day to attain enlightenment in the monk's current life. These monks were known as the Kaihōgyō.
Access
The mountain is a popular area for hikers and a toll road provides access by automobile to the top of the mountain. There are also two routes of funiculars: the Eizan Cable from the Kyoto side to the connecting point with an aerial tramway to the top and the Sakamoto Cable from the Shiga side to the foot of Enryaku-ji.
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
- Geographical Survey Institute
Japanese mythology Mythic texts Kojiki | Nihon Shoki | Fudoki | Kujiki | Kogo Shūi | Hotsuma Tsutae | Nihon Ryōiki | Konjaku Monogatarishū | Shintōshū
Japanese creation myth Takamagahara mythology Izumo mythology Yamata no Orochi | Hare of Inaba | ŌkuninushiHyuga mythology Human age Emperor Jimmu | Tagishimimi | Kesshi HachidaiMythical locations Major Buddhist figures Amida Nyorai | Daruma | Five Wisdom BuddhasSeven Lucky Gods Shinto deities | Japanese deities | Sacred objects | Japanese religions Categories:- Mountains of Kyoto Prefecture
- Mountains of Shiga Prefecture
- Buddhism in Japan
- Ōtsu
- Kyoto
- Buddhism stubs
- Kyoto geography stubs
- Japan religion stubs
- Shiga geography stubs
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