Early we rise and make our way across the congested teeming city to the front main gate, entangled in electrical cables for the trains, walk unchallenged past the clay statues of the guardians of Buddhism. The walls shun the noise of the traffic.
Sweet coolness pervades the morning air.
Here in the old capital of peace, we seek out this place of peace, Koryu-ji, temple of the Hata families after their long journey from China and Korea. The monks have finished their morning prayers, abandoned the temple and lecture hall to the daily influx of tourists. An old man sweeps stray leaves and sticks from bare ground and sprinkles water on the flagstone path. We wait patiently while these rituals are performed and talk of Shotoku's hall, his Code of Laws, his love of peace and harmony, of the great service he rendered Koryu-ji and Japan. Such a ruler hasn't appeared in centuries.