Ring Bells in the New Year

 

temple bell

There is a New Year’s tradition in Japan that revolves around bells. Aligned with Buddhist beliefs, the Japanese ring 108 bells as a symbol of a new start to the year. 

Joya-no-kane (Bell Ringing on New Year’s Eve) is part of welcoming the new year and the purpose of this ceremony is to sweep away all of the desires that have accumulated over the course of a year. The bell is struck 108 times, which represents the number of desires that we hold. (I haven't made my list. Might be a good exercise for the new year.) 

The bell at Chion-in is one of the most famous in Japan. Due to its size, it takes a team of seventeen monks to strike the bell, and each time the bell rings the monks can be heard shouting “Ee hitotsu” (One more!) and “sōre” (Now!).