July Reflection: The Wind That Rings the Bells

2025.07.01.

The Wind That Rings the Bells

by Daikō Iizuka, Head Priest

Hello everyone. The rainy season has ended here in the Chūgoku region, and the early summer sky is clear and refreshing.

At Ichibata Yakushi, we are currently holding our annual Wind Chime Festival, which runs from the summer solstice on June 21 to the autumn equinox on September 23. We began this tradition as a prayer for the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, and since then, wind chimes have been donated from all over Japan each year—now totaling more than 1,800.

The history of wind chimes is long. Their origin lies in the Chinese fūtaku, which were brought to Japan by Buddhist monks around the 8th century. They were hung on temple halls and pagodas, with the belief that the sound they made when stirred by the wind could ward off misfortune.

It is the unseen wind that causes the bells to ring. We notice the wind only because the chimes move—and we feel a coolness in the air.
This is much like the Buddha’s compassion. Though invisible, it gently touches our hearts and bodies, quietly guiding us in unseen ways.

“Embraced by the Great Life,
I come to know it—
in the coolness
of the wind
that blows this morning.”

This waka poem was written by the renowned Rinzai Zen master Mumon Yamada, who, as a young man, was struck with a serious illness. While confined to bed, he felt the gentle coolness of the morning breeze and was moved to write these lines.
In the midst of despair, the wind reminded him that life itself was still embracing him—that he was not alone.
When life feels difficult, I invite you to listen closely to the natural world.
Sometimes, when things are going well, we overlook what is truly important.
But in times of hardship, we may become aware of subtle truths—like the soft sound of a wind chime resonating quietly in the heart.

May the wind that rings these bells blow freely across the open sky, connecting us to the wider world, sweeping away suffering, and bringing peace to all.
Please take good care in the hot days to come.