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During the News Year’s holidays several years ago, I joined my family on a trip to Eiheiji temple in Fukui Prefecture, Japan.  I did a series of paintings afterwards, which are snapshots of various scenes along the country road leading to this famous Zen temple.

That day we had a typical winter weather of the coastal region along the Sea of Japan; very wet snow falling sporadically from a gray sky.  We drove past fallow rice fields and up gentle hills.  Everywhere it was covered with white snow, rooftops of the farm houses looking especially thick.  It was so quiet and lonely I wondered where in the world all the villagers were.  So, to me, it was exciting when I found a farmer and a lady with an umbrella because they instantly breathed life into mental paintings I was making in my mind.

Road to Eiheiji Temple V (Sold)

Road to Eiheiji Temple IV

Almost there, we got off the car and walked on a narrow street to the temple.  There were souvenir shops selling all kinds of regional specialties and family-run noodle shops awaiting customers on both sides of the street.  It is said, within the vast precincts of the temple, there are more than 70 pavilions.  At the end of the street, we were beginning to see some of them playing hide-and-seek among tall trees.  I was immediately struck by the mystical atmosphere of this place, fog hanging low like sheer drapes over ancient trees.

Founded in 1244 by Zen master Dogen Zenji, Eiheiji is one of the two head temples of the Soto sect of Buddhism.  It is also an active monastery, with 150 monks practicing Zen meditation, and as such one of the most important Zen temples in the world.

- Read related post and enjoy more Japanese landscapes on my blog.