Rokuharamitsu-ji

Quick facts

Address

81-1 Rokurocho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto

Spiritual entities

Avalokiteśvara (Kannon · Gwaneum, 観音菩薩)

About this place

Rokuharamitsu-ji stands in Higashiyama, Kyoto, founded in 951 by Kuya, the second son of Emperor Daigo. To drive out the epidemic then spreading through Kyoto, he carved an eleven-headed Kannon himself, set the image on a cart, hauled it through the streets and gave tea to the sick. That tea — green bamboo split like the eight petals of a lotus, with a small pickled plum and knotted kelp inside, offered before the Buddha — is still served as obukucha over the first three days of the new year.

Origin and history

Rokuharamitsu-ji was founded in 951 by Kuya, the second son of Emperor Daigo.

To drive out the epidemic then spreading in Kyoto, he carved an eleven-headed Kannon himself, set the image on a cart, hauled it through the streets and gave tea to the sick.

That tea — whisked in green bamboo split like the eight petals of a lotus, with a small pickled plum and knotted kelp inside, and offered before the Buddha — is still handed out as obukucha over the first three days of the new year.

What it is locally associated with

• OriginHealth & Healing

  A Kannon hauled against the epidemic

  To drive out the epidemic in Kyoto, Kuya carved an eleven-headed Kannon and hauled it through the streets on a cart.

  documented history

• What people do here

  Obukucha, still served

  The tea — whisked in split green bamboo with a pickled plum and knotted kelp — is still handed out over the first three days of the year.

  documented history

• Origin

  Founded in 951 by Kuya

  Founded in 951 by Kuya, the second son of Emperor Daigo.

  documented history

The devotion here survives as an action rather than a phrase. In 951, when an epidemic was running through Kyoto, Kuya carved an eleven-headed Kannon, put it on a cart, pulled it through the streets, and gave tea to those who were ill.

What distinguishes this temple is that the tea is still here. Green bamboo split like lotus petals, a small pickled plum, knotted kelp, offered before the Buddha. It is called obukucha and is served over the first three days of the year.

One other place in this city answered the same century’s sickness: Yasaka Shrine, with the Gion festival. One kept a festival going; the other kept a cup of tea.

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Sources

1. 歴史 — 六波羅蜜寺 — Rokuharamitsu-ji (accessed 2026-08-13)