TEMPLE - Saigandenji Yakushi Kyushu

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Saigandenji Yakushi Kurokawa

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Saigandenji 西巌殿寺 Saiganden-Ji, Kurokawa
阿蘇山 Asozan 西巌殿寺 Saigandenji

熊本県　阿蘇市　黒川　 / Kumamoto, Aso, Kurokawa

The main statue is 十一面観音菩薩 Juichimen Kannon.

The temple was founded around 726 by 最栄 Saiei.
- quote
As Mt. Aso, the active volcano had a lot of influence to the people's life due to its powerful activities.
Many unique cultures derived from the mountain worship had been created.
Before Meiji Era,1868, Shintoism and Buddhism were not separated like now, they worked together,
and cultures or customs could be mixed a lot.
It is same here in Aso, Aso shrine had tremendous influence over 2000 years, but actually not all the time.
From 8th to 16th century, Buddhism had a lot of power as well, and Saiganden-ji was the top of them.
There were almost 90 small temples and monks' houses near the crater,
they lived there and were praying and chanting all day long to make the volcano calm.
Because of political wars, all these temples were burnt, and the monks escaped to the foot of Mt. Aso.
And they had chance to rebuild the temples, that is where we are now which is called Bochu.
The main hall caught fire about 20 years ago, but the site is kept nice still,and the old gate and stone steps are very quaint.
- source : aso-denku.jp/english ...

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shuin　朱印 stamp

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- Yearly Festival 年中行事 -

You can see how they dressed, how they chanted, how they blew the horn at "Hiwatari" (火渡り walking through fire)
a ritual held at Saiganden-ji in April.
- reference : 西巌殿寺 -

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Also on the following pilgrimages :
- 阿蘇西国三十三ヶ所 1番札所 -
- 肥後三十三観音 1番札所 -
- 九州西国三十三ヶ所 13番札所 -
- 百八観音霊場 88番札所 -
- reference : omairi.club/spots ...-

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- - - - - Homepage of the temple
- source : asocity-kanko.jp/spot ...
- reference source : wikipedia -
- source : oyakushi.com ...
- reference source : nippon-reijo.jimdofree ... -

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This temple is Nr. 30 of the pilgrimage
. 49 Yakushi Temples in Kyushu 九州四十九薬師霊場 .

. 薬師如来 Yakushi Nyorai Bhaisajyaguru .
the Buddha of Medicine and Healing

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. Temples with legends .

. Japanese Legends - 伝説　民話　昔話 – ABC-List .

. Japan - Shrines and Temples - Index .

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- - #saigandenji #yakushikyushu #yakushipilgrims #薬師如来 -
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