Sōdō (Monk’s Hall)

The Sōdō is where monks eat, sleep, and perform zazen (seated Zen practice). It is one of Eiheiji Temple’s three sanmoku dōjō (“silent training halls”), areas where monks must remain silent as part of their practice. The Sōdō is considered one of the most important spaces at Eiheiji Temple. It was last rebuilt in 1901. The altar at the center of the Sōdō bears a statue of Manjushri, the bodhisattva of wisdom. He is often represented riding a lion and carrying a sword to cut through ignorance, but he can also be depicted as a monk sitting in zazen.