Darumapedia

1 Dec 2022

TEMPLE - Kannonji Ise Daimon

https://gokurakuparadies.blogspot.com/2022/10/kannonji-ise-daimon.html

Kannonji Ise Daimon

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. Japan - Shrines and Temples - Index .
. Buddhist Temples and their Legends .
. Ise Saigoku 33 Kannon 伊勢西国三十三所観音巡礼 Pilgrimage .
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Kannonji 観音寺 Kannon-Ji, Daimon
恵日山 Enichizan, 観音寺 Kannonji

津市大門31 / Mie, Tsu city, Daimon

The Kannon statue is 聖観音 Sho Kannon .
The main statue is Amida Nyorai.

- quote
Enichizan Kannon-ji belongs to Shingon sect of Buddhism and is one of the three biggest Kannon temples in Japan.
The main statue is a hibutsu (hidden Buddhist statue) Shō Kannon (Sacred Kannon).
It also has many cultural properties in its possession.
Since its founding in 709 Enichizan Kannon-ji was very popular among people of Tsu.
Later on it also became popular all over the country as a Kannon that answers all prayers.
Many devoted believers were coming especially to pray for safety at the sea.
In Muromachi period (1336-1573) shogun 足利義教 Ashikaga Yoshinori (1394-1441), following the Emperor's command,
built a three-storied pagoda.
In the 16th Century the second "Great Unifier" of Japan 豊臣秀吉 Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1537-1598)
would visit Enichizan Kannon-ji and pray for a victory each time he was going to battle.
In the 17th Century since the times of the 2nd shogun of Edo period Tokugawa Hidetada (1579-1632)
the temple was protected and supported by all Tokugawa clan shoguns and daimyos of the Tsu province – the Tōdō clan.
It would be their special praying place until the 19th Century.
After the Meiji Restoration in 1868, which restored the actual power to the Emperor,
Enichizan Kannon-ji lost its protectors and went back to its original shape – a prayer ground for common people.
Since then temple became a popular center of worship and place of local entertainment.

The complex consists of:
観音堂、五重塔、仁王門、鐘楼堂、護摩堂、資料館、収蔵庫、手水屋形
the Kannon Hall, Five-storied Pagoda, the Main Gate (Niō Gate), the Bell Tower,
the Goma Hall (Goma/Homa fire ritual Hall), Archives, Storage Room, Hand Purification Place and 大宝院 the Daihō-in cloister.
Daihō-in was a cloister connected to the imperial family
and since the times of 後花園天皇 Emperor Gohanazono (1419-1471)
prayers for each Emperor were done within its walls.
Currently it stands on the western side of Kannon Hall and is used as temple's office building.
The main statue worshiped in the Main Hall is Buddha Amida (Buddha of Infinite Light) and it is known as
国府阿弥陀 Kokufu Amida (Amida of the Provincial Government).
There is an old saying:
If you don't pay your respects to Amida, then your Ise pilgrimage is only half-way done.
It suggests that Buddha Amida of Enichizan Kannon-ji was considered a Buddhist manifestation (honjibutsu)
of Shinto Goddess Amaterasu (the Goddess of the Sun).
- source : enichizankannonji ...

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shuin　朱印 stamp

omamori　お守り amulet

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- - - - - Reference of the temple
- source : enichizankannonji ...
- reference source : isekannon.jp/english ... -
- reference source : nippon-reijo.jimdofree ... -

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This temple is Nr. 14 of the pilgrimage
. Ise Saigoku 33 Kannon 伊勢西国三十三所観音巡礼 Pilgrimage .

. Kannon Bosatsu 観音菩薩 Avalokiteshvara .

. Shō Kannon 聖観音 / 正観音 Sho Kannon / 聖観世音菩薩

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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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[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
- - #kannonji #daimon #isesaigoku ##isesaikoku ##isekannon -
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https://gokurakuparadies.blogspot.com/2022/10/kannonji-ise-daimon.html
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28 Nov 2022

TEMPLE - Kannonji Fudo Ukima

https://gokurakuparadies.blogspot.com/2022/10/kannonji-fudo-ukima.html

Kannonji Fudo Ukima

[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
. Japan - Shrines and Temples - Index .
. Buddhist Temples and their Legends .
. Adachi 100 Fudo Temples 足立百不動尊霊場 Pilgrimage .
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Kannonji 観音寺 Kannon-Ji, Ukima
無動山 Mudozan 妙智院 Myochi-In 観音寺 Kannonji

東京都北区浮間4-9-2 / Kita ward, Ukima

The main statue is Kannon Bosatsu.

The temple was founded in 1615 by 秀盛 Hidemori.
In 1910 it was flooded and the priests put barrels under the floor to place the Kannon Statue.
The temple has two tsurigane 釣鐘 temple bells.
During WWII when metal was collected, the bells were given away.
But they were not melted after all and came back to the temple 40 years later.
The statue of Fudo Myo-O is venerated in the Main Hall.
The temple became Nr. 36 of the Adachi Pilgrimage in 1957.

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Also on the following pilgrimages :

. 足立坂東三十三ヶ所霊場 Adachi Bando 33 Kannon Temples . - Nr. 23

. Musashi no Kuni 武蔵国八十八ヶ所霊場 Pilgrimage to 88 Temples . - Nr. 71

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- - - - - Reference of the Temple
- reference source : tesshow ... -
- reference source : hanaetabi.fc2web.com/hudou/index ... -
- reference source : nippon-reijo.jimdofree ... -

27 Nov 2022

TEMPLE - Kenmyoji Kannon Hisai

https://gokurakuparadies.blogspot.com/2022/10/kenmyoji-kannon-hisai.html

Kenmyoji Kannon Hisai

[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
. Japan - Shrines and Temples - Index .
. Buddhist Temples and their Legends .
. Ise Saigoku 33 Kannon 伊勢西国三十三所観音巡礼 Pilgrimage .
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Kenmyoji 賢明寺 Kenmyo-Ji, Hisai
Senryuzan 千手院 Senjuin 賢明寺 Kenmyoji

三重県津市久居元町205 / Tsu city, Hisai town, Motomachi

The Kannon statue is 千手観音菩薩 Senju Kannon.

- quote
Senju-in Kenmyō-ji is a temple number 1 of Ichishi district's 33 Temples Pilgrimage and is commonly known as Kannon of Senju-in. It is directly connected to Enryaku-ji – the main temple of Sanmon branch of Tendai Buddhist sect.
Senju-in Kenmyō-ji was founded in 730 by 行基 Gyōki (668-749), a famous monk who traveled around Japan to preach to commoners.
The main statue enshrined in the temple is Senju Kannon (Thousand-Armed Kannon) carved by ancient Buddhist image maker Kasuga. This Senju Kannon is honorably called 救世千手大悲観音菩薩 "Most Compassionate Savior".
The temple flourished for more than 600 years until the battle of 雲出川 Kumozu river in 1338, when all buildings were burned down. In 1366 北畠顕能 Kitabateke Akiyoshi (1326-1383), the provincial governor of Ise, rebuilt the Main Hall and other surrounding buildings as a proof of his deep religious devotion to Goddess Kannon enshrined in this temple. Since then Senju-in Kenmyō-ji became a prayer place for the next generations of Kitabatake clan and thanks to their patronage, the temple's authority had also been restored.
200 years later during the times of Tenshō period (1573-1592) the temple suffered again. This time the buildings burned down during the fight between the troops of the first "Great Unifier" of Japan daimyo Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582) and local daimyo Kitabatake Tomonori (1528-1576).
Luckily the main statue of the temple was left unharmed.
The complex was restored once again in the years between 1624 and 1644.
The abbot of Senju-in Kenmyō-ji named 実順 Jitsujun rebuilt the burned buildings with donations and offerings received for his religious activity. In 1670 藤堂高通 Tōdō Takamichi (1644-1697) became a daimyo of this land and as a proof of deep devotion to Goddess Kannon of Senju-in Kenmyō-ji, he decided to make this temple a prayer place for Tōdō clan and donate 100 koku (15t) of rice each year.
In 1719 a monk of this temple 智空 Chikū received and imperial order to pray to Goddess Kannon and ask for a child to be born to the Emperor Nakamikado (1702-1737). Chikū prayed eagerly and as a result of his religious practice a Prince (later know as 桜町天皇 Emperor Sakuramachi, 1720-1750) was born on New Year's Day of the following year.
A transcription of the Heart Sutra and a calligraphy written by Emperor Nakamikado himself were sent to the temple and offered at the altar. Emperor also added a poem:

君がためうつしてうふるくれ竹に千代もこもれる心地こそすれ
I wish that the bamboo I planted for you will protect you for eternity.

Since that moment Senju-in Kenmyō-ji became a temple connected to the Emperor and was bestowed with a crest.
During the Meiji Restoration in 1868,
which restored the actual power to the Emperor, all temple's earnings were confiscated and almost all of the buildings including the Imperial Mausoleum, Imperial Quarters for Flower Viewing and Treasure Hall were destroyed.
The temple fell into ruin and was left only with the Main Hall and the Main Gate.
The current Main Hall of Senju-in Kenmyō-ji is a building rebuilt in 1917.
- source : isekannon.jp/otera_list ...

指定文化財 Special treasures of the temple:
石造板五輪塔（三重県指定）　
仁王門（津市指定）
如意輪観音菩薩坐像（津市指定）
銅灯籠（津市指定） Bronze Lantern
- reference source : kenmyozi.com/custom2 ... -

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- Yearly Festivals 年中行事 -

１１月２３日 November 23 -　人形供養会　

- reference : kenmyozi.com/custom ... -

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Also on the following pilgrimage :

一志郡三十三カ所 Ichishi district 33 Kannon Temples Pilgrimage - Nr. 1
- reference : nippon-reijo.jimdofree.com -

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- - - - - Homepage of the temple
- source : kenmyozi.com ...
- reference source : isekannon.jp/english ... -
- reference source : nippon-reijo.jimdofree ... -

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This temple is Nr. 13 of the pilgrimage
. Ise Saigoku 33 Kannon 伊勢西国三十三所観音巡礼 Pilgrimage .

. Kannon Bosatsu 観音菩薩 Avalokiteshvara .

. Senju Kannon 千手観音 Kannon with 11 faces and 1000 arms .

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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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[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
- - #kenmyoji #kenmeiji #kenmyozi #senjuin #isesaigoku ##isesaikoku ##isekannon -
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https://gokurakuparadies.blogspot.com/2022/10/kenmyoji-kannon-hisai.html

26 Nov 2022

TEMPLE - Saishoin Fudo Iizuka

https://gokurakuparadies.blogspot.com/2022/10/saishoin-fudo-iizuka.html

Saishoin Fudo Iizuka

[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
. Japan - Shrines and Temples - Index .
. Buddhist Temples and their Legends .
. Adachi 100 Fudo Temples 足立百不動尊霊場 Pilgrimage .
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Saishooin 最勝院 Saisho-In, Iizuka
薬王山 Yakuozan 最勝院 Saishoin 観音寺 Kannonji

川口市飯塚1-15-24 / Kawaguchi city, Izuka

The main statue is 十一面観音 Juichimen Kannon.

This Kannon statue was made by . Gyoki Bosatsu 行基菩薩 (668 - 749) .
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The temple was founded in 1516 by 宥光法師 Saint Yuko.
There is also a group of 六地蔵 six Jizo Bosatsu in the compound.

The 最勝院飯塚不動堂 Fudo Hall in the compound.

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- reference : Nichibun Yokai Database -

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. Temples with legends .

. Kita Adachi 88 Fudo Temples 北足立八十八ヵ所霊場 .

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

. Japan - Shrines and Temples - Index .

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[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
- - #saishoin #saishooin #Saishōin #Saisyouin #adachifudo #busoo #busou -
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https://gokurakuparadies.blogspot.com/2022/10/saishoin-fudo-iizuka.html
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25 Nov 2022

TEMPLE - Kongojoji Yakushi Yamaga

https://gokurakuparadies.blogspot.com/2022/10/kongojoji-yakushi-yamaga.html

Kongojoji Yakushi Yamaga

[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
. Japan - Shrines and Temples - Index .
. Buddhist Temples and their Legends .
. 49 Yakushi Temples in Kyushu 九州四十九薬師霊場 .
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Kongoojooji 金剛乗寺 Kongojo-Ji, Yamaga
護国山 Gokokuzan 金剛乗寺 Kongojoji

熊本県山鹿市山鹿1592 / Kumamoto, Yamaga city, Yamaga

The main statue is 薬師如来 Yakushi Nyorai.

The temple was founded in 830 by . Kobo Daishi Kukai 弘法大師　空海 .
The temple was revived by 後鳥羽天皇 Emperor Gotoba Tenno (1180 - 1239).
The temple was enlarged by 宥明法印 Priest Hiroaki in 1473.
When the nearby hot spring suddenly dried out in 1473, Hiroaki prayed to Yakushi Nyorai to bring it back.

In the compound is 如意輪観音堂 a Hall for Nyoirin Kannon.

金剛乗寺石門 Stone Gate of the Temple Kongojo-Ji

Also called Gachirin Mon 月輪門（がちりんもん） Gate like the full moon.
The stone gate was built in 1804 by a mason called 甚吉 Jinkichi.

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shuin　朱印 stamp

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- Festival in Yamaga 年中行事 -

. Yamaga Toro Matsuri 山鹿灯籠まつり Yamaga Lantern Festival .
August 15 and 16

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Also on the following pilgrimage :

九州八十八ヶ所百八霊場 Kyushu 88 and 108 Pilgrimage - Nr. 100

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- - - - - Homepage of the temple
- source : yamaga-tanbou.jp/spot ...
- source : oyakushi.com ...
- reference source : nippon-reijo.jimdofree ... -

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This temple is Nr. 32 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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[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
- - #kongojoji #kongoojooji #yamaga #yakushikyushu #yakushipilgrims #薬師如来 -
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https://gokurakuparadies.blogspot.com/2022/10/kongojoji-yakushi-yamaga.html
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24 Nov 2022

TEMPLE - Kinchokokuji Kannon Hase

https://gokurakuparadies.blogspot.com/2022/10/kinchokoku-kannon-hase.html

Kinchokoku Kannon Hase

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. Japan - Shrines and Temples - Index .
. Buddhist Temples and their Legends .
. Ise Saigoku 33 Kannon 伊勢西国三十三所観音巡礼 Pilgrimage .
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Kinchokokuji 近長谷寺 Kinchokoku-Ji, Hase
丹生山 Niuzan 近長谷寺 Kinchokokuji

三重県多気郡多気町長谷202 / Mie, Taki district, Hase

The Kannon statue is 十一面 Juichimen Kannon.

- quote
Chōkoku temple is 3 and half ri south from Matsusaka.
Hase in Niu lies within Sana village in Taki district but because it is beside Mount Niu, many mistakenly regard it as a part of the same village.
It is said that the temple was founded by Emperor Kōkō (830-887).
The main statue is a 2 jō high Jūichimen Kannon (Eleven-Faced Kannon) carved by an unknown sculptor. It stands in a tile-roofed hall which is 6 by 7 ken. The hall resides at the top of the mountain, 20 chō in the north-east direction from Niu.
The temple is called Kinchōkoku-ji (Close Chōkoku-ji) and it is a temple number 11 of Ise Pilgrimage.
Hase-dera temple in Yamato and Kinchōkoku-ji not only stand along the same road, but also follow the same Buddhist path.
According to the records fo Kinchōkoku-ji, which originally was called Niusan Kōmyō-ji,
was built in 885 by 飯高宿禰諸氏（法名仏氏観勝 Iitaka-no-sukune Morouji (Buddhist name: Kanshō),
a member of a powerful clan. He gathered donations for the construction from his close family and relatives, later to also receive farmland from other powerful clans of Iino, Taki and Watarai.
The main statue was made in 11th Century and is a 6.6m (21ft 7.84in) high wooden statue of standing Jūichimen Kannon (Eleven-Faced Kannon).
It was designated as National Treasure (Important Cultural Property) on the 20th of August 1913.
It is believed that the statue was enshrined in this temple thanks to the efforts of Gonzō (754-827), a monk who was one of the Kūkai's (Kōbō Daishi, 774-835, the founder of Shingon sect) teachers.
According to the legend the statue of Kannon in Kinchōkoku-ji, Kannon of Hase-dera temple in Nara and Kannon of Hase-dera in Kamakura were all carved from the same tree.
All three of them are referred to as Japanese Three Kannons (Nihon San Kannon).
The statue's detailed measurements starting from the size of the face, length of the arms and other 13 parts are written down in Kinchōkoku-ji Shizaichō (designated as Important Cultural Property), a record of temple's possessions transcribed in 958. It states: one statue of Jūichimen Kannon, covered in gold, height 1 jō 8 shaku.
Together with the end of Heian period (794-1192) the founding clan 飯高氏 Iitaka lost its power and so did the temple.
Between the years of 1504 and 1520 it was revived by a monk called 真海 Shinkai (?-1595).
Since 1575 the temple received land from many lords of the province, among them:
Kitabatake Nobuoki 北畠信意 (also known as Oda Nobukatsu, 1558-1630),
Gamō Ujisato 蒲生氏郷 (1556-1595) and
Makimura Toshisada 牧村利貞 (1546-1593).
The temple prospered and seven sub-temples were built within its precinct.
During the times of the next abbot 政尊 Shōson (?-1653),
the temple received 0.496ha (1.22ac) of farmlands from 田丸城主の稲葉道通 the lord of Tamaru Castle Inaba Michitō (1570-1608) in 1608,
and from 津城主の藤堂高虎 the lord of Tsu Castle Tōdō Takatora (1556-1630) in 1617.
Thanks to Shōson's efforts in 1648 a temple bell was casted and hanged in the newly constructed bell tower.

In the Edo period the land was producing 5 koku (0.75t) of rice. In 1661 the previous lord of Kishū Domain – 徳川頼宣 Tokugawa Yorinobu (1602-1671) visited the temple and ordered reconstruction of the Main Hall.
In the middle of the construction works a fire broke out from the carpenter's shack.
The workers tried their best to put the fire out but despite their efforts, it spread and was getting close to the Main Hall.
快養 Kaiyō, the temple's abbot, prayed with his whole heart to Goddess Kannon worshiped at the temple.
Then suddenly a strong wind started to blow and the fire changed its direction eventually leaving the Main Hall untouched.
According to the records, the construction was finished in 1663.
In the August of 1690 due to heavy rain a landslide occurred at the mountain behind the Main Hall.
The building was damaged but the main statue of Kannon was speared once again.
It was once more rebuilt in 1694 by an abbot 快舜 Kaishun.

During this time the official name of the temple was also changed to Kinchōkoku-ji.
For the next 300 years the Main Hall has been standing in the same place and except for roof repairs done in the middle of the 20th Century it remains untouched to this day.
Kinchōkoku-ji has also one more building – a Visitor Hall in which a statue of Dainichi Nyorai (Great Illuminating Buddha) is being worshiped. It is 94cm (3ft1in) high and was made in the 10th Century. It is the first main statue of this temple, from the times when it was still called Kōmyō-ji.
The statue of Dainichi Nyorai is designated as the Town's Cultural Property. The temple's current name Kinchōkoku-ji is combined from two parts:
Kin – meaning close, Chōkoku-ji which can also be read as Hase-dera.
There are two theories explaining why it is called "Closer Chōkoku-ji".
The first appears in the official history of Taki town: There is one more Chōkoku-ji temple in Hase village of Anō district (currently Hase district in Tsu city) which is called 遠長谷寺 Enchōkoku-ji – "Far Chōkoku-ji".
Far and close may refer to the distance to Hase-dera in Yamato (Nara).
One more theory is presented in the official leaflet given at Kinchōkoku-ji temple: Character for "close" was attached to the name to state that this Chōkoku-ji (Hase-dera) is the one which is closer to the Ise Shrine.
- source : isekannon.jp/otera_list_en ...

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- - - - - Homepage of the temple
- source : ~jr2uat/temple/hase.htm ...
- reference source : isekannon.jp/english ... -
- reference source : nippon-reijo.jimdofree ... -

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This temple is Nr. 11 of the pilgrimage
. Ise Saigoku 33 Kannon 伊勢西国三十三所観音巡礼 Pilgrimage .

. Kannon Bosatsu 観音菩薩 Avalokiteshvara .

. Juichimen Kannon 十一面観音 Senju Kannon 千手観音 Kannon with 11 faces and 1000 arms .

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. Temples with legends .

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

. Japan - Shrines and Temples - Index .

[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　. TOP . ]
[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
- - #Kinchokokuji #chokokuji #isesaigoku #hasedera ##isesaikoku ##isekannon -
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https://gokurakuparadies.blogspot.com/2022/10/kinchokoku-kannon-hase.html
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23 Nov 2022

EDO - Chihaya area Toshima

https://edoflourishing.blogspot.com/2023/01/chihaya-toshima.html

Chihaya Toshima

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. Famous Places and Power spots of Edo　江戸の名所 .
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Chihaya 千早 Chihaya
千早一丁目から千早四丁目 - From the first to the fourth district

. Toshima 豊島区 Toshima ward, "Rich Island" .

It used to be part of 長崎村 Nagasaki village.
It became part of Tokyo in 1871, when it was given back from 埼玉県 Saitama prefecture.
In 1932, it became part of Toshima ward.

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Chihaya Flower Park (千早フラワー公園, Chihaya Furawaa Kōen)
is a public park in Toshima Ward, Tokyo, Japan.
It is open throughout the year. The park is the eighth largest in Toshima Ward.

Chihaya Flower Park has various pieces of play equipment for children including swings and a slide.
A prototype vehicle (12-000 series) of the Toei Ōedo Line (a subway)
is located in the north side of the park.
- source : wikipedia

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. Toshima 豊島区 Toshima ward, "Rich Island" .

. Famous Places and Powerspots of Edo　江戸の名所 .

. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .

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- - - - - ##chihaya #toshima #tooshima #flowerpark - - - -
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22 Nov 2022

TEMPLE - Yakurinji Fudo Asahi

https://gokurakuparadies.blogspot.com/2022/09/yakurinji-fudo-asahi.html

Yakurinji Fudo Asahi

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. Buddhist Temples and their Legends .
. Adachi 100 Fudo Temples 足立百不動尊霊場 Pilgrimage .
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Yakurinji 薬林寺 Yakurin-Ji, Asahi
瑠璃山 Rurizan 薬林寺 Yakurinji

川口市朝日1-4-33 / Kawaguchi city, Asahi

The Fudo Myo-O statue is made of stone.

The main statue is 薬師瑠璃光如来】 Yakushi Ruriko Nyorai.

Another statue is 阿弥陀如来 Amida Nyorai.

The temple was founded around 1480 in 芝川付 Shibakawa village by Saint 宥鎮法印, who died in 1486.
Around 1580, when the 岩槻城 Iwatsuki Castle burned down in a war,
the Temple was removed to its present location.

The Yakushi Statue in 薬師堂 the Yakushi Hall is called
Oka no Yakushi 岡の薬師 "Yakushi on the Hill"
The Yakushi statue was made by 傳教大師最澄 Dengyo Daishi Saicho.
. Dengyo Daishi Saicho 伝教大師最澄 (766 - 822) .

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shuin　朱印 stamp

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Also on the following pilgrimages :

. Kita Adachi 88 Fudo Temples 北足立八十八ヵ所霊場 . - Nr. 75

. Musashi no Kuni 武蔵国八十八ヶ所霊場 Pilgrimage to 88 Temples . - Nr. 75

This temple is one of the famous 川口の三薬師 three Yakushi Temples of Kawaguchi. The other two a
領家光音寺 Ryoke - Koon-Ji
慈林村宝厳院 Jirin village - Hogon-In

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- - - - - Homepage of the Temple
- source : kawaguchi/yakurinji ...
- reference source : tesshow -
- reference source : raifuku.net/junrei/busou ... -
- reference source : hanaetabi.fc2web.com/hudou/index ... -
- reference source : nippon-reijo.jimdofree ... -

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This Temple is Nr. 33 of the
. Adachi 100 Fudo Temples 足立百不動尊霊場 Pilgrimage .

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

....................................................................... Kyoto 京都府　
南丹市 Nantan city

yakuyoke no kane 厄除の鐘 the bell against bad luck
If someone rings the bell at 薬林寺 the Temple Yakurin-Ji, he will not have bad luck any more.

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- reference : Nichibun Yokai Database -

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. Temples with legends .

. Kita Adachi 88 Fudo Temples 北足立八十八ヵ所霊場 .

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

. Japan - Shrines and Temples - Index .

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- - #yakurinji #adachifudo #busoo #busou -
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https://gokurakuparadies.blogspot.com/2022/09/yakurinji-fudo-asahi.html
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21 Nov 2022

TEMPLE - Airaji Yakushi Kikuka

https://gokurakuparadies.blogspot.com/2022/09/airaji-yakushi-kikuka.html

Airaji Yakushi Kikuka

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. Buddhist Temples and their Legends .
. 49 Yakushi Temples in Kyushu 九州四十九薬師霊場 .
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Airaji 相良寺 Aira-Ji, Kikuka
吾平山 Goheizan 相良寺 Airaji

熊本山鹿市菊鹿町相良370 / Kumamoto, Yamaga city, Kikuga town, Aira

The main statue is 千手観音 Senju Kannon.

shuin　朱印 stamp Kannon

The temple was founded in the Heian period, more than 2000 years ago, by 伝教大師最澄 Dengyo Daishi.
In 源平時代 the Genpei Period (around 1180) it was held by the warlord 菊池隆直 Kikuchi Takanao (? - 1185).
He offered a statue of 不動明王 Fudo Myo-O to pray for victory.
The statue of Kannon Bosatsu is from the Muromachi period (1336 - 1573).
Around 930, the wife of 朱雀天皇 Emperor Suzaku Tenno could not become pregnant
and the Emperor sent an envoy here to pray for a child.
The envoy prayed for 7 days in the Kannon hall.
Then 村上天皇 the 62nd Emperor Murakami (926 - 967) was born.
Now women come here to pray for pregnancy.

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shuin　朱印 stamp Yakushi

ema 絵馬 votive tablet

omamori　お守り amulet - 金運だるま Daruma for good money

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Also on the following pilgrimage :

山鹿三十三観音霊場 - Nr. 33
- reference source : higonote.net/yamaga ... -

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- - - - - Homepage of the temple
- source : yamaga-tanbou.jp/spot ...
- source : oyakushi.com ...
- reference source : nippon-reijo.jimdofree ... -

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This temple is Nr. 31 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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[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
- - #airaji #あいらじ #sagara #yakushikyushu #yakushipilgrims #薬師如来 -
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https://gokurakuparadies.blogspot.com/2022/09/airaji-yakushi-kikuka.html
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20 Nov 2022

TEMPLE - Kongozaji Kannon Taki

https://gokurakuparadies.blogspot.com/2022/09/kongozaji-kannon-taki.html

Kongozaji Kannon Taki

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. Buddhist Temples and their Legends .
. Ise Saigoku 33 Kannon 伊勢西国三十三所観音巡礼 Pilgrimage .
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Kongoozaji, Kongōzaji 金剛座寺 Kongoza-Ji, Taki
摩尼山 Manisan 金剛座寺金剛座寺 Kongōza-ji

三重県多気郡多気町神坂169 / Mie Prefecture, Taki district, Taki town, Kozaka 169

The Kannon statue is 如意輪観音 Nyoirin Kannon.

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The old name of this temple is 穴師(子)寺 Anashi-ji and there are two theories concerning its beginning.
According to the first one the temple was founded in 673 by 7th Century statesman, courtier and politician 藤原鎌足 Fujiwara Kamatari (614-669).
The second theory suggests it was built by one of his sons – 不比等 Fujiwara Fuhito (659-720) in 680.
Anashi-ji was directly connected and governed by 志度寺 Shido-ji, a temple from Sanuki province in Shikoku, which is a temple number 86 of Shikoku Pilgrimage.
The main statue worshiped at Anashi-ji was Jūichimen Kannon (Eleven-Faced Kannon).
In 693 Fuhito relocated Nyoirin Kannon (Omnipotent Kannon) statue from Shido-ji to Kongōza-ji,
which after the consecration ceremony performed by famous monk 行基菩薩 Gyōki Bosatsu (668-749) became a main statue worshiped at the temple.
Nyoirin Kannon statue was originally made by Fujiwara Fusasaki – one of the sons of Fuhito.
He lost his mother when he was very young and once he got older he wanted to pay her respect. Therefore he made a statue looking like his mother and offered it to Shido-ji. When his father Fuhito learned about his son devotion, he was so impressed that he moved the statue to Kongōza-ji and made the temple her bodai-ji (a temple performing ceremonies in her soul's favor).
Since then that Nyoirin Kannon statue is known as Shido's Lady Kannon.
This story of the temple's beginning uses some parts of the legend told in Shido-ji, which is also a famous Noh theater song 海女の玉取 Ama no Tamatori Densetsu (Legend of a Pearl Diver who brought back the Jewel).
In this legend a pearl diver sacrificed herself to bring back to lost jewel from the Ocean depths. The diver was actually Fusasaki's true mother. She helped Fuhito, whose undercover mission was to bring back the lost jewel, which was sent from his sister – one of the wives of the Chinese Emperor. In exchange of the pearl diver's sacrifice, Fuhito made their son Fusasaki an official hair to his name.
The area where Kongōza-ji stands is called 佐奈 Sana and it appears in a chronicle Kojiki (Records of Ancient Matters) composed in 711.
Sana had a strong connection with Fujiwara clan, who mainly worked in imperial department of worship at the time. Fujiwara clan also had a deep relation with Shido-ji temple, by which Kongōza-ji was governed.
Based upon this knowledge it is possible to assume that Kongōza-ji also had a strong relationship with the Fujiwara clan.
At the top of the nearby mountain there is a site on which 穴師神社 Anashi Shrine, a shrine recorded in 10th Century book about laws and customs Engishiki (Procedures of the Engi Era, 927), used to stand. It probably started as a family temple of a clan who lived in Yamato province (Nara) beside Anashi-ni 穴師坐兵主 Mashimasu Hyōzu Shrine. The name Anashi-ji appears in Kinchōkoku-ji Shizaichō – official document from 953. It also appears as Anashi Shrine in the part of Engishiki Jinmyōchō (905) that lists shrines of Ise province.
Leaving aside the authenticity of Kongōza-ji temple's official history, without any doubt it dates back to more than 1300 years.
According to one more theory
Mount Kongō, on which the temple stands, may be a sacred mountain in which a Shinto deity named 天手力男命( Ame-no-Tajikarao resides.
The Kojiki chronicle mentions that Ame-no-Tajikarao, who dwells in Sana, is worshiped in Sana Shrine. Because Sana Shrine was a satomiya – a shrine placed at the bottom of the sacred mountain, it would mean that the Mount Kongō is the sacred mountain. This is also probably where the name of the mountain comes from. Kongō normally refers to Kongōza – the diamond throne on which Buddha reached enlightenment. But in this case it is possible that it comes from Buddhist deity called Kongō Rikishi (Vajrapani) – the Diamond Warrior, which was considered a Buddhist manifestation of Ame-no-Tajikarao. According to pre-modern Japanese manifestation theory (honji suijaku) which supported syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism, all Shinto gods were manifestations of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and other Buddhist deities. This would also explain where the temple's name Kongōza-ji – a temple where the Diamond Warrior dwells – comes from.
This theory is also sustained by a tradition of the family of priests of Anashi Shrine, which in contemporary times relocated to Matsusaka city. According to their tradition, gohei – the staff with plaited paper streamers used during the Yoiyoi ritual, until mid-19th Century was received from Kongōza-ji. They would refer to this receiving custom as "Welcoming of Ama-no-Tajikarao".
At the top of Mount Kongō there is a place facing east, where it is possible to pray facing Ise Shrine. Judging from this and from the historical connection of Sana area and Ise Shrine, we can easly assume that Mount Kongō was not only an important spiritual ground, but also a significant historical site.
Kongōza-ji temple flourished in later years and had many sub-temples such as 仏土寺 Buddo-ji (Buddozan Fugen-ji),
戒光寺・継松寺・霊ケウ寺・南寺・北ノ坊・東ノ坊 Kaijō-ji, Keishō-ij, Reikyō-ji, Nan-ji, Kita no Bō and Higashi no Bō in its precinct.
Unfortunatley in 1432 the temple was damaged by an earthquake, then in 1468 and 1506 it suffered during the war, finally it was burned down by the first "Great Unifier" of Japan Oda Nobunaga in 1570's.
All archives were lost in fire and together with them the temple's pre-fire detailed history.
In the end of 16th Century
the temple received great offerings from the lords controlling the Ise province: Kitabatake Toshisada, Gamō Ujisato (1556-1595), Tōdō Takatora (1556-1630) and Kishū Tokugawa clan.
In 1640 良珠 monk Ryōshu from Kuzuka-ji of Watarai area, started to live at Kongōza-ji.
In the second half of 18th Century Nishimura Hiroaki, a 5th generation head of the family business Yamatoya from Ōka, became a major donor. He sponsored the reconstruction of the Main Hall, which was finished in 1771. The hall still stands to this day.
In the beginning of 19th Century the Lord of Kishū province 徳川治寶　Tokugawa Harutomi (1771-1853) donated shō (free reed musical instrument) which once was in possession of Fujiwara Kamatari (legendary founder of the temple).
Together with a calligraphy also written and presented by Harutomi, they are now temple's treasures.
Since then Kongōza-ji became bodai-ji, a temple praying for dead family members of Kishū Tokugawa clan.
In the beginning of the 18th Century
Kongōza-ji flourished as a temple number 10 of Ise Saikoku Kannon Pilgrimage.
Every year on the 9th of August the temple held a very popular festival called Night Kannon (夜観音　Yo Kannon)
which gathered many people.
Kannon enshrined in Kongōza-ji was worshiped especially by women, who would focus on her aspect as an affectionate mother. Many of them would take the sand from the front of the Main Hall and carry it with them as a talisman. It was believed that it would protect from and heal women's diseases, or bless the woman with a child.
According to the legend, a 12th Century poet monk　西行法師 Saigyō (1118-1190) visited Kongōza-ji – a temple with a strong connection to his ancestors – Fujiwara clan. He composed a poem about sakura cherry tree planted in this temple. This poem is now being used as a song of praise (goeika) recited at the end of Buddhist ceremony.
　昔より菩提の樹（うえき）それながら　出（いで）し佛の影（けい）ぞ残れる
The trace of the (enlighten) Buddha is still present in this Sakura tree planted long ago as a tree of enlightenment.

In the late 17th Century a local haiku poet 大淀三千風　Ōyodo Michikaze (1639-1707) from Izawa village composed a haiku and wrote it down in his work titled Seiryūzan Enmei-ji Inchū Jizō-in Kyūkei no Shinasadame.
山は金剛の杵にして花を打出す非情櫻　
Sakura blooming on Mount Kongō (Diamond mountain),
as if someone tapped them out with fortune bringing diamond mallet.
In 1921 Hōun Missei – abbot of Kyūsen-ji temple from Miyagawa village, made a pilgrimage to 88 temples around the Miyagawa river basin. When visiting Kongōza-ji he composed a poem:
盧舎那佛おわします金剛座　八重の山々蓮華なりけり　
If Mount Kongō (Diamond Mountain) is a Kongōza (Diamond Throne) of Birushana Buddha,
then certainly eight surrounding mountains are the Lotus pedestal.

Since Edo period (1603-1868) Kongōza-ji was a temple belonging to Hieizan branch of Tendai sect, but after World War II its abbot Hirohashi Kankō decided to change the style to Shūgendō style of Tendai sect. He did it when his friend (and also a famous post-war period monk) Enami Soken (1903-1971) started a new style after reviving and completing an ancient ascetic practice of Thousand-day Walk (Sennichi Kaihō) around the Mount Hiei. Hirohashi Kankō had one more famous friend who he knew since high school days – Ozu Yasujirō (1903-1963), one of the most influential film directors in postwar Japan. They stayed friends for years and Hirohashi would often appear in Ozu's diaries.
After World War II Japanese society became very poor.
In these hard times Hirohashi Kankō devoted himself to welfare activity and decided to donate Kongōza-ji temple's land and assets. He contributed to the local community by founding Sana Primary School and Fujimidai Gakuen – a facility for children with disabilities (presently in different location). For the next 30 years there were no monks in the temple until
染川智勇　Seomekawa Chiyū became the new head monk of Kongōza-ji.
Since then he continues the maintenance and reconstruction of temple's buildings. As a result new Visitors Hall Kaikōin was completed in 2001. In 2003, as a part of Taki district's Path of History (Rekishi no Michi) project, Kozaka observation deck was made at the top of Mount Kongō. In 2005 the "Local Museum Sana Library" and in 2007 a cemetery "Memorial Park Taki no Mori" were opened in temple's precinct.
Kongōza-ji temple's gong (wani guchi) and wooden idol from the former Anashi Shrine (which is also in temple's possession) are designated as Taki district Cultural Properties. The Main Hall of the temple (completed in 1658) is also the oldest building in the district.
- source : isekannon.jp/otera_list ...

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shuin　朱印 stamp

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- - - - - Reference of the temple
- reference source : isekannon.jp/english ... -
- reference source : nippon-reijo.jimdofree ... -

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This temple is Nr. 10 of the pilgrimage
. Ise Saigoku 33 Kannon 伊勢西国三十三所観音巡礼 Pilgrimage .

. Kannon Bosatsu 観音菩薩 Avalokiteshvara .

. Nyoirin Kannon 如意輪観音 Wishfulfilling Kannon

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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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- - #kongozaji #isesaigoku #nyoirin ##isesaikoku ##isekannon -
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