The protagonist, Mizoguchi, of The Temple of Golden Pavilion joins the titular temple to study as a young boy in the summer. There he, like other monks across different sects and religions, must follow a strict routine. Mishima details a day in the temple.
- 5 o’clock: “opening of the rules” or waking up. Members of the temple are woken by the sound of a bell.
- first morning task: recite sutras three times, also called “triple return”
- second morning task: sweep and mop the temple floors
- breakfast meal: breakfast is also called the “gruel session” and is eaten while listening to a “gruel-session sutra”
- daily tasks: after breakfast, everyone had tasks related to the maintenance of the temple – picking weeds, chopping wood, cleaning, etc. Mizoguchi has the particular task of delivering the newspaper to the Superior.
- school: Mizoguchi and the other young boys at the temple then walk to the nearby school together
- evening meal: once they’ve walked back from school, it is about time for evening meal, also called “medicine”
- post-meal lecture: after having his medicine, the Superior of the temple gives a lecture on the sacred scriptures
- 9 o’clock: “opening of the pillow” or bedtime
Can you imagine getting so much done before even getting to school? I certainly can’t. My favorite thing about their schedule is the term “opening of the pillow” — it sounds very nice and soft.