Wollastonite of Ishiyama-ji Temple

　Ishiyama-ji Temple is said to have derived its name from the fact that it was built upon a bedrock of massive, bizarre rock formations.

　Founded in 747 by imperial decree of Emperor Shōmu, who commissioned the Great Buddha of Nara, the temple’s proximity to Kyoto led to the ‘Ishiyama pilgrimage’ becoming immensely popular amongst the aristocracy during the Heian period. One such visitor, Murasaki Shikibu, is said to have found the inspiration for *The Tale of Genji* here and begun writing it; the site was bustling with fans during the broadcast of the 2024 NHK Taiga drama *Dear Radiance*.

　The exposed rock within the temple grounds is known as wollastonite of Ishiyama-ji and is designated a National Natural Monument. It is one of the most popular spots for visitors to take photographs. Wollastonite is formed when magma intrudes into limestone and undergoes thermal metamorphism; as Matsuo Bashō wrote in his poem, ‘Whiter than the stones of Ishiyama, the autumn wind’, it is naturally a very white rock. However, it has darkened due to weathering and dirt such as dust.