''Midnight Nenbutsu in Gyoki,'' a day of reciting the Nembutsu all night long, began on the night of April 18, 2024 at Chion-in Temple in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City. At the Buddhist hall atop the Sanmon tower, a national treasure, worshipers repeated ''Namu Amidabutsu'' to the sound of mokgyo.
The Midnight Nembutsu is held every year to coincide with the ''Daie'' memorial service for the founder of the sect, Honen, which begins on April 18th. The monks and worshipers take turns chanting the Nembutsu until 7 a.m. on April 19th.
This year, to commemorate the 850th anniversary of the founding of the Jodo sect, the festival started at 7pm, an hour earlier than usual. The brightly colored interior of the hall was dimmed, and as the crowned statue of Shakyamuni Buddha, the 16 Arhats, and the statue of Honen stood out, about 120 worshipers struck the mokkyo in unison and recited the Nembutsu.
