YAMANASHI -- People from around the nation are visiting Saigenji temple in Yamanashi city, drawn by the unique artwork created by the teenage son of the temple's chief monk.
Sixteen-year-old Washin Wakatsuki is a second-year student at Kofu Higashi High School. He has been creating so-called goshuin, sheets of paper bearing calligraphy and red-ink stamps that commemorate a visit to a specific temple or shrine, featuring delicate illustrations of Buddhist gods such as Amida Nyorai and Hotei.
"I want these unique goshuin to make lots of people interested in our temple," Washin said.
A typical goshuin is a sheet of Japanese washi paper, 15 centimeters long and 10 centimeters wide, on which passages from sutras and the name of a Buddhist god are written in black ink with a brush. There is also a stamp made with red ink.
Washin's goshuin, however, contain the names of Amida Nyorai and other Buddhist gods written in kanji characters on the right side. On the left, there are colorful illustrations of them in red, blue and gold ink with such statements in kanji as "Wagan Aigo" (Gentle expression, kind words).
When he was a fifth-grader, Washin visited temples and shrines in Kamakura on a school trip. He saw their grounds and buildings, the garb of the monks and the way sutras were read, and compared them with the temple where he was born and raised.
Washin said he felt "the atmosphere was really different, depending on the sect and the date [a temple or shrine] was founded."
From then on, most of their family trips were to shrines and temples, and Washin became obsessed with collecting goshuin with many different designs. He collected more than 1,000 in six years, and has 44 goshuincho -- special books in which goshuin are collected.
Washin began to copy his favorite goshuin, and ultimately thought, "I want to make one of my own." His father Wado was happy to agree to Washin's request.
"The number of young people visiting temples has decreased, and I thought it might be a good way to get them to pay more attention," said Wado, 46.
Washin isn't very skilled at art, so he decided to draw "cute illustrations that people of all generations can enjoy." He added Zen words and Sanskrit characters and completed his first goshuin in about a month last fall.
After the temple began handing out Washin's goshuin, their popularity spread through word of mouth, and people from all over the country started to visit the temple. Washin wants people to visit more than once, so he has been putting out new illustrations every three months since January.
"I want to collect goshuin from many more temples and shrines, and offer ones that are unique to Saigenji temple. I want to spread the charm of temples through goshuin," he said.
The goshuin featuring Amida Nyorai and Hotei are available through September. The chief monk is sometimes absent, so it's a good idea to contact the temple in advance.
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