Gokuraku - Jigoku : December 2015

2015/12/16

Ryugeji Dragon Flower Temples

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. Dragon temples of Japan .
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Ryuugeji 龍華寺 (竜花寺) Ryuge-Ji "Dragon Flower Temple", Shizuoka
観富山 Kanpuzan　龍華寺
Fujimidera 富士見寺 "Temple to view Mount Fuji"

Ryugeji - A temple with a great view ! “眺望の良い寺”

静岡市清水区村松２０８５ / 2085 Muramatsu, Shimizu Ward, Shizuoka

Established in 1670 by 日近 Priest Nisshin, a nephew of お万の方 Lady O-Man no Kata, see below.
Her sons (their father was Tokugawa Ieyasu) made generous donations to this temple.

The park 観富園 Kanpu-En is in a Shumisan-style (池泉観賞式), where you can imagine that the room is Mount Fuji, the small mountain is Mount Udo and the pond is Suruga Bay.
Kiyomigata 清見潟 is also visible from the temple.
This park is one of the most famous in the 東海 Tokai region.

The large sotetsu 大ソテツ cycad trees in the garden have been certified as a national natural treasure.

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“The Garden with the Splash of a Frog”
This temple is best known by the cycads 1,100 years old and the oldest in Japan. And its garden Kampuen (Mt Fuji viewing garden) is nice.
This temple is a Nichiren Buddhism temple and in its main building the life of Nichiren one of the most popular 13th century priests is well illustrated. Nichiren is one of the five historical figures Kanzo Uchimura picked as representative Japanese in his book "Japan and the Japanese" .
高山樗牛 Chogyu Takayama is one of the Meiji Period intellectuals who was inspired by Nichiren's teachings and was buried there. The treasure trove of the temple called Chogyukan has wide variety of treasures with historical interests including various gohonzon (the object of worship) of Nichiren Buddhism.
These mandalas are made up of squiggly kanji characters of Hindu gods and Shinto gods and native gods.
- source : tripadvisor.co.nz

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鬼子母神（徳川家家紋入り） Kishiboshin
祖師堂天井 with wonderful ceiling paintings

- and more
- Homepage of the temple
- source : ryugeji.jp/annai

Yakuyoke Fudo 厄除け不動尊 Fudo to ward off evil influence

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Yoojuuin 養珠院お万の方 Yoju-In O-Man no Kata
(?1577 / ?1580 - 1653) Omannokata, Oman no Kata, Oman-no-kata, O Man no kata

She was the daughter of 正木頼忠　Masaki Yoritada, Lord of 勝浦 Katsuura Castle in Chiba.

She became the concubine of 徳川家康の側室 Tokugawa Ieyasu when she was 17.
Mother of 徳川頼宣 Tokugawa Yorinobu (1602 - 1671) of the Kii Tokugawa family 紀伊徳川家
Mother of 徳川頼房 Tokugawa Yorifusa (1603 - 1661) of the the Mito Tokugawa family 水戸徳川家
(so she is the grandmother of the famous Mito Mitsukuni / Mito Komon 水戸光圀（水戸黄門）.

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Shichimenzan, Shichimensan 七面山 Mount Shichimen
- and
. O-Man no Kata お万の方 .

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Statue at Hachimansaki Park, Chiba, Katsuura 八幡岬公園

- quote -
Tamazawa Myohokkeji Temple
This Temple can be found in the nature of Mt. Hakone, far from Mishima downtown.
At first,
it was built at Kamakura during Kamakura period by Nissho-shonin. He is famous for establishing a disciple of Nichiren sect. In Edo period, the temple was relocated to the current place.
Three notorious people
involved in the relocation of this temple. The first person is Oman-no-kata, a concubine of Tokugawa Ieyasu
(the founder of the Edo government). She was also a grandmother of the famous daimyo, Mito Mitsukuni.
Secondly,
Okatsu-no-kata, another concubine of Tokugawa Ieyasu and thirdly, Ota Sukemune who was a daimyo contributed in removal of the temple.

The surrounding wall called Hyakkenbei is well-known for photograph spot. Especially the cherry blossom in spring and autumn tints are the popular ones. Moreover, visitors can enjoy flowers at any time of the year. The magnificent gardens are another must-see attraction. Adjacent to the temple, there is a treasure house, where you can see important cultural property registered statue of Nichiren.
- source : mishima-kankou.com -

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. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .

A dragon had listened to the reading of the Hokkekyo Sutra from a priest an the Temple 竜華寺 Ryuge-Ji.
To show his gratitude, he made rain fall.
But this dragon became the object of wrath of the Heavenly King 大梵天主 Dai Bonten. The deity tore the dragon to pieces and let it fall in the valley.
Now there are the four Dragon temples in his honor:
竜海寺　Ryukai-Ji, 竜心寺 Ryushin-Ji, 竜天寺 Ryuten-Ji and 竜王寺 RyuO-Ji.

. Bonten　梵天 Baramonten, Brahma .

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Once おまんの方 Oman no Kata had a strong toothache.
A priest at temple 千寿院 / 仙寿院 Senju-In in Shibuya, Tokyo made a 楊枝 toothpick from enoki 榎 a nettle tree. She touched her aching tooth with this little stick and in no time her pain was gone.
This is one of the 千駄ヶ谷 seven wonders of Sendagaya, Tokyo.

. enoki 榎 Chinese hackberry tree, nettle tree .

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There are various other temples with this name in Japan.

龍華寺（りゅうげじ、りゅうかじ） Ryuugeji, Ryuka-Ji
龍華寺 Ryuge-Ji "Dragon Lotus Temple"
- GE can also be the Bodhi tree of Maitreya

龍華寺 (横浜市) - 神奈川県横浜市 Yokohama
龍華寺 (世羅町)（りゅうげじ）- 広島県世羅郡世羅町 Hiroshima
龍華寺 - 山形県鶴岡市 ⇒ 善寳寺 - Yamagata

龍華寺 (上海市) - 中華人民共和国・上海市 - Shanghai

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. O-Mamori お守り　Amulets and Talismans .

. Fudō Myō-ō, Fudoo Myoo-Oo 不動明王 Fudo Myo-O
Acala Vidyârâja - Vidyaraja - Fudo Myoo .

. 薬師如来 Yakushi Nyorai 薬師如来 Bhaisajyaguru - ABC .

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. Dragon temples of Japan .

. Japan - Shrines and Temples - ABC .

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[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
- - #ryugeji #dragonflowertemple #omannokata -
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2015/12/12

Kani Yakushi Gifu

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. Yakushipedia - ABC-Index 薬師如来 .
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Kani Yakushi 蟹薬師 "Crab Yakushi"
大寺山願興寺 Daiji San, Ganko-Ji
Mitake no Kani Yakushi 御嵩の蟹薬師
岐阜県南部，可児（かに）the district of Kani in Gifu
岐阜県可児郡御嵩町御嵩１３７７－１ / Mitake town

Situated on the Western Side of 御嶽宿 Mitake-Juku of the old 中山道 Nakasendo road.
The temple was first built in 713.
In 815, 伝教大師（最澄） Dengyo Daishi Saicho dedicated the statue of Yakushi.
It is also closely related to the emperor Ichijoo Tennoo 一条天皇 Ichijo Tanno, when the annual festival 蟹薬師祭礼 started
The temple was lost to fire many times in its history, but usually rebuilt in greater splendor.
A special hall for the Yakushi Statue, 薬師如来の厨子堂, was built in 1610.

- source : gankoji.sakura.ne.jp - [

The crest of the temple 願興寺の紋章
kani botan 蟹牡丹 crab and peony

. kamon 家紋 family crest - Introduction .

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The foundation of Gankoji Temple
At the age of 36, Saicho visited China with Kukai (referred to as Kobo-taishi) as a member of Kentoshi (a mission represening Japan to China). On his return from China, he founded Enryakuji Temple (the headquarters of Tendai-shu, a faction of Buddhism) at Hieizan in north-eastern part of Kyoto. In order to carry out the Tendai-shu’s tenet “relieve all the people”, Saicho travelled all around Japan and finally reached Mitake via Tosando (an old passway connecting northern Japan and Kyoto). At that time the area surrounding Mitake was suffering from epidemic, so he built a fuseya, leaving a hand-made sculpture of Yakushi-Nyorai and said his prayer for the residents’ recovery.

Building of Shichido-Garan
There was a very clever girl who was a daughter of Emperor Ichijyo. She boasted about her own ability but the Emperor was uncomfortable with her attitude and drove her out of Kyoto. She started travelling along the Tosando , but during her trip she became exhausted and much thinner than before. It was already winter when she arrived in Nakamura village (currently called Naka district in Mitake-cho) in her ragged clothes. She built an hermitage with the help of neighbors in the village and began to live there. She shaved her hair and became a nun named Gyouchini, praying for Yakushi-Nyorai every day.
At that time, a line of light began to appear every night from a pond at the foot from the mountain in the south of the village. Fierce wind blew, waves in the pond and a roar of mountain went accompanied the light. Gyouchi went close to the bank of the pond in the evening and found the pond had flooded and the entire village was under water with people almost drowned. Gyouchi counted her beads and kept praying, gazing the pond. Then an enormous 30-meter-long, big snake suddenly appeared and tried to swallow her.
Despite the snake’s appearance, Gyouchi just kept praying for Yakushi Nyorai without any fear. After a while the wind and wave stopped, and a small 6-centimeters-long image of Buddha surrounded by small crabs appeared in front of her. Inspired by this development, Gyouchi said her prayer for the image and enshrined it in her hermitage. On hearing the whole story, the Emperor Ichijyo issued a permission to build a sanctum there. This led to the establishment of a magnificent Shichido-Garan style temple in 998 named “Oterasan-Gankoji”.

Gankoji, burnt down twice by wars
Gankoji was burnt down in 1108 (the first year of Tenjin Era) during a rebellion led by Yoshitsugu Minamoto. At that time the image of Yakushi-Nyorai was moved to and enshrined at a shrine in Tsushima, Aichi Prefecture. After a while, the Yakushi-Do (a hall to enshrine Yakushi-Nyorai) was rebuilt in the premises of Gankoji. 100 years later, Koketsu Gengo Yasumori (in his capacity as Jito, an administrator of the Mitake area from the central government) re-constructed the rest of Gankoji. In 1572, in the midst of the battle between Takeda and Oda, a servant of Shingen Takeda set fire to Gankoji and burnt it down. As valuable images of Buddha and scriptures were kept ivied Gankoji, a number of monks of Gukeiji temple rushed into Gankoji and carried them out of the temple. Thanks to their work, all the images and 600 sets of scriptures remained intact. The images were kept in a temporary hall in the premises of Gukeiji for a while.

Building of the present hall
Shingen Takeda, an enthusiastic believer of Tendai-shu, expressed his strong anger with his staff for setting fire to the Gankoji. It is believed that he gave residents in Mitake area his promise to rebuild the temple. However, Shingen died before undertaking the restoration. 10 years later, led by Yojiro Tamaki, residents in the area began to rebuild Gankoji by themselves. Not only did they collect a fund from neighboring temples and shrines, but also brought wooden boards and pillars voluntarily. The restoration was completed in 1582 (the 9th year of Tensho Era).
One feature of the present hall is its wide corridors. This shows the residents’ thoughtful consideration in order for travelers to avoid rain during the night. The other is that the humble style of the back of the hall compared to the front. It shows that the residents tried hard to rebuild the hall within their financial constraints.
In the concert on the 23rd November 2006 held during the event “Nakasendo Walk”, Mr. Bincho Tanaka, a teacher of Gagaku both in Japan and all over the world played a whistle. In the concert which took place at Gankoji, some attendees would have felt eternal history as in the air the Emperor Ichijyo was known as an expert of whistle.
- source : gankoji.sakura.ne.jp -

. Dengyo Daishi Saicho 伝教大師最澄 .
(766 - 822)

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- Homepage of the temple
- source : gankoji.sakura.ne.jp

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- Yearly Festivals -

CLICK for more photos !

The origin of the Gankoji Festival 蟹薬師祭礼
The Gankoji Festival is originated in 999 (the 5th year of Chotoku Era), when the Shichido-Garan style temple was completed. Since then, ceremonies such as Daiji-Hyoshi, Shishi-mai and Hae-oi have been held part of the festival. Among them, Hae-oi was an important ceremony to drive off something unclean, given that could an epidemic, which was a matter of life and death at that time.
It is believed that the mask used in the Hae-oi ceremony was created by Gyouchi. There were two types of heads of Shishi (an item used in Shishi-mai lion-head ceremony), one was male and the other was female. When the male one was used, clothes and a mask for a male were used in the Hae-oi ceremony and vice versa.

願興寺月例祭事　- every month
８日　薬師縁日　　（焚き上げ・法話）
１８日　観音縁日　　（説法）
２４日　地蔵縁日　　（水子供養）
２８日　不動明王縁日（安全祈願）

願興寺年間祭事と行事
４月第１日　　蟹薬師祭礼 The main Festival in April
８月第１土曜　竹筒の燈明
大晦日　　　　竹筒の燈明

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STATUE OF KANI YAKUSHI
Daianji, Nara City, Japan

This statue was dedicated to the temple by a medical doctor to pray for confining cancer. Both words of KANI in Japanese and cancer in astronomy in English share a common meaning, that is, crab. In view of such a relationship, the doctor wanted to have this statue created for dedication.
- source : nara-heritage-online.naist.jp

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- Further Information -

One of the three great Yakushi temples of Japan 日本三薬師:

. Hooraiji 鳳来寺 Horai-Ji Yakushi, Mikawa, Aichi .

. Kani Yakushi 蟹薬師 "Crab Yakushi" at 願興寺 Ganko-Ji . - Gifu

. Yamanaka Yakushi 山中薬師 - 瑠璃山医王寺　Rurisan Io-Ji . - Gifu

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Yamanaka Yakushi Gifu

It is also known as
mushifuuji no Yakushi 虫封じの薬師 "Yakushi warding off the three worms".

The old buildings were lost in fire and it was reconstructed by the Jodo sect in 1544.

Visitors and pilgrims come from all parts of Japan.
The main statue of Yakushi was carved by 行基 Gyoki.

It is also known for its medicine to heal wounds, the 狐膏薬 Fox Medicine.

The main lodging of Ochiai village is run by the 本陣井口家 Iguchi family.
It is said a traveller was told the secret of the medicine by the deity 秋葉大明神 Akiba Daimyojin.

. mushifuuji 虫封じ amulets to ward off the "Three Worms" .

. Akiba Gongen 秋葉権現 the Akiba Deity .

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There is also a memorial stone with a haiku by Matsuo Basho in the back garden:

ume ga ka ni notto hi no deru yamaji kana
. 梅が香にのっと日の出る山路かな .

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- reference -

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One of the three great Yakushi temples of Japan 日本三薬師:

. Hooraiji 鳳来寺 Horai-Ji Yakushi, Mikawa, Aichi .

. Kani Yakushi 蟹薬師 "Crab Yakushi" at 願興寺 Ganko-Ji . - Gifu

. Yamanaka Yakushi 山中薬師 - 瑠璃山医王寺　Rurisan Io-Ji . - Gifu

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- Further Information -

中津川 Nakatsugawa was a postal station along the 中山道 Nakasendo Road. On the road toward Magome was the next station, the small hamlet of 落合 Ochiai.

山中薬師の狐膏薬伝説 Yamanaka Yakushi and the legend of the Fox Medicine

ズイトンさんの狐膏薬 The legend of Zuiton san and the Fox Medicine

Once upon a time
there lived an old monk at the temple, called ズイトンさん Zuiton san.
Once he was working in the garden when a fox appeared who looked rather painful. When he picked him up, he saw a large thorn in the leg of the fox. Zuiton san pulled it out and the fox suddenly seemed to smile at Zuiton san. Then he walked back into the mountain forest.

A few evenings later
he heard a sound at the entrance door and when he opened he saw the fox. The fox wanted to show his gratitude by teaching Zuiton san how to make good medicine cream.

まず、マムシグサの根っこのまあるい奴をすり潰す。そこへオオバコの種とキツネノマゴの葉をすり潰して混ぜる。次はモーチを入れて良く練り合わせる。それと油を布切れに塗り付けて、痛いところに張れば、たちどころに痛みが取れます.

(Other versions talk about the fox appearing in the dream of Zuiton san, teaching him.)
Zuiton san made the cream as told and put some on his back, which always hurt him. And in no time his pain was healed. Zuiton san was overjoyed.

He put up a sign 御夢想狐こうやく (Fox Medicine given in a Dream) and began to sell it. The villagers came and soon buyers from other parts of Japan showed up in a never-ending row.

In a similar legend, a fox in the disguise of a running messenger 飛脚 taught how to make the medicine, then called
Tokusan no kitsune kooyaku 徳さんの狐膏薬

source and more photos : saikoro0438/nakasendo

- reference : jimy1700 -
- reference : ja-higashimino.or.jp/book -

. kitsune densetsu 狐　伝説 fox legends .
- Introduction -

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Ochiai-juku (落合宿 Ochiai-juku) was the forty-fourth of the sixty-nine stations of the Nakasendō.

It is located in the present-day city of Nakatsugawa, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. The honjin and the sub-honjin, as well as some old street lights, remain from the Edo period. The Honjin were the main rest areas in old post towns and very few remain today.
There are ten hills that must be traversed to get to Ochiai-juku from the preceding post town of Magome-juku.
- source : wikipedia -

. Nakasendō　中山道 The Nakasendo Road .

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Horaiji Aichi Mikawa

愛知県新城市門谷字鳳来寺1 / 1 Horaiji, Kadoya, Shinshiro-shi, Aichi

In its background is the famous mountain 鳳来寺山 Horaijisan.

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Horai-ji located in Horai-cho, Aichi Prefecture. The temple was built in 703 by the risshuu sennin 利修仙人, the Immortal Risshu. It is sacred to Yakushi-Nyorai and is venerated as a place for curing diseases by many powerful men including Takeda Shingen, a daimyo of the 16th century, and Tokugawa Ieyasu, ruler of Japan early in the 17th century.
The influence of the temple has declined since the mid-19th century, however, when the samurai rule of Japan came to an end, with the result that only the sanctuary, Nio-mon ("Deva King Gate"), bell tower, Okuno-in (inner shrine), Ko-do (small hall), and two small annexes remain today. The approach to the temple features 1,452 stone steps lined with gigantic cedar trees. The remains of the buildings and other structures here remind visitors of the prosperity of bygone days.
- source : jnto.go.jp/eng

The road leading to the temple off the Tokaido was called
鳳来寺道 Horaiji-Do.

It also holds a copy of the Genji Monogatari
鳳来寺本源氏物語（ほうらいじほんげんじものがたり）源氏物語五十四巻

. sennin　仙人と伝説 Legends about Immortals .

Once Risshu Sennin practised in a cave at Horai-Ji and had to go out for a pee. A 鹿 deer licked it and became pregnant. It gave birth to a beautiful girl. The baby was placed in front of a noble family. It had only two toes on each foot, which looked like the hooves of a deer.

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shuin 御朱印 stamp of the temple

- Homepage of the temple
本尊は開山の利修作とされる薬師如来。
参道の石段の数が1,425段あり、徳川家光によって建てられた仁王門は国の重要文化財である[2][3]。また、愛知県の県鳥であるコノハズク（仏法僧）の寺としても有名である。
- source : wikipedia

- reference -

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Hooraisan Tooshoogu 鳳来山東照宮 Horaisan Toshogu
and Tokugawa Ieyasu
Horaiji-4 Kadoya, Shinshiro, Aichi

Built by the third Shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu 徳川三代将軍家光公.

At the temple Horai-Ji there are special ema 絵馬 votive tablets with a mirror.

「東照（家康公）神君のお父君であられる贈大納言廣忠卿が子どものないことを憂いて、お母君であられる北の方傳通院と御一緒に鳳来寺峯薬師へ御参籠され御祈願をなされたら、その証があって、ある夜、北の方傳通院殿（於代の方）は、『東の方より老翁が来て、金珠を与えられる』という夢を見られました。それから間もなく北の方傳通院殿が身ごもられ、12ケ月過ぎ、天文11年壬寅年（1542）12月26日に御出産遊ばされたのが東照神君でした。」

寅童子 Tora Doji

- - - - - HP of the Toshogu Shrine
- reference source : tees.ne.jp/~horaitosyogu -

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寅童子の化身、徳川家康にちなんだ起き上がり小法師

A little "Tiger Daruma" with reference to Ieyasu
Ieyasu was born in the year of the tiger, on the day of the tiger and in the hour of the tiger.
寅年、寅の日、寅の刻に生まれた徳川家康

The mother of Ieyasu, 於大の方 Odai no Kata , wanted a strong male child. So she went to the temple 鳳来寺 Horai-Ji to pray to Yakushi Nyorai. And indeed, one year later, she gave birth to a strong boy.
Strange things happen! On the day of his birth, the statue of General Shindara 真達羅大将（緊那羅）Kinnara, one of the 12 heavenly generals around Yakushi Nyorai as retainers of Bishamonten, disappeared. This General was also called 寅童子 "Child of the Tiger" and is 寅の方角 the protector of the North and the hours of the Tiger「寅の刻」or「寅の時」from about 4 in the morning till 2 in the afternoon. (Other sources start other times: 04 am – 06 am, or higure nanatsu (sunset 7), tora no koku (hour of the tiger) or from one o'clock to five in the morning.)
Anyway, when Ieyasu died at the age of 74 in the year 1616, suddenly the statue was back in its place. So people believe that he was an incarnation of General Shindara

This new doll has been made since 2010 at this shrine 鳳来山東照宮 Horaisan Toshogu.

. Tokugawa Ieyasu 徳川家康 . (1543 - 1616) .

Tora Doji has become a favorite of the region.
It is even a part of the lunch menu!

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- Further Information about Yakushi -

One of the three great Yakushi temples of Japan 日本三薬師:

. Hooraiji 鳳来寺 Horai-Ji Yakushi, Mikawa, Aichi .

. Kani Yakushi 蟹薬師 "Crab Yakushi" at 願興寺 Ganko-Ji . - Gifu

. Yamanaka Yakushi 山中薬師 - 瑠璃山医王寺　Rurisan Io-Ji . - Gifu

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- Another mountain with this name, related to Matsuo Basho :

. - Hoorai san 蓬莱山 Mount Horai-San - .
Located in Shiga prefecture, Otsu town. 滋賀県大津市

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Mount Horaiji
Mt. Horaiji is introduced in the guide book called “130 mountains in Aichi Prefecture”. Mt. Horaiji is a low mountain and the highest peak is 684.2 meters above sea level in Shinshiro City. There are Horaiji temple main hall, Toshogu shrine, Deep Horaiji temple and so on in the mountain.

The whole mountain is country designation, natural beauty spot natural monument and can expect Gulf of Mikawa across Tosan river plains in the southernmost tip of Mount Horaiji old volcanic group distributed over depths Mikawa. Aged cedars grow thick, and both sides can hear voice of the Buddha, Buddhist dharma and bonze from the beginning of May when they climb stone stairway from Omotesando.

Mount Horaiji Nijo-jo Castle (Ieyasu) lines up to 35 degrees N (mother of Ieyasu) Mt. Chiba Suzaki Shrine (Yoritomo Minamoto), Kuno Toshogu (Ieyasu), Sunpu-jo Castle (Ieyasu), Akiha Shrine, Otori next temple (mother of Ieyasu), Okazaki castle (Ieyasu Tokugawa), Kariya castle, Ogawa castle. Edo-jo Castle, Mount Fuji, Mount Horaiji, Yoshinoyama, Mt. Koya-san is arranged in a straight line, too.
This line and three intersections with medial line are Mount Horaiji.
Otori next temple was founded for 703 years by rishu senjin and used three fearful gods at will. Neck of three ogres was confined in basement of the main hall of a Buddhist temple as guardian deity in quiet simplicity with hermit. Yoritomo Minamoto revived temple (Ishibutsu written, "it is with ogre bone" seemed to be discovered by all letters in 1974.), and, as temple which parents of Ieyasu conceived and prayed for, it was left building Toshogu by Sandai family to inherit the shogunate light.
There is Yuya Onsen in horai kyobanshikikawa (river where we seemed to spread gold-leaf folding screen all over) and is said to be hot water of healing.
- source : aichi-kanko.jp -

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2015/12/03

Sennyuji Kyoto

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. Japan - Shrines and Temples - ABC .
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Sennyuji, Mitera 御寺泉涌寺 Mitera Sennyu-Ji, Kyoto

Mitera 御寺 The Honorable Temple (of the Imperial Family)

京都府京都市東山区泉涌寺山内町27 / 27 Sennyuji Yamanouchi-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto

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Temple for the imperial family
Sennyu-ji Temple is the headquarters of the Sennyu-ji School of the Shingon sect of Buddhism standing at the foot of Mount Tsukiwa 月輪御陵拝所 .
Since this temple is the home to successive imperial members’ graves, it is also respectfully called Mitera. According to temple history, the important Buddhist priest, Kukai opened a temple at this location in the early 9th century and named it Horin-ji. Later in 1218, when another Buddhist priest called 月輪大師俊仍 Gachirin Shunjo constructed new temple buildings, water sprang up from the ground so the name of the temple was changed to Sennyu-ji Temple, or temple where water springs.
Sennyu Mizuyakata 泉涌水屋形 The Water Well House
This water still continues to provide pure water to this day.

The large temple precinct consists of Dai-mon 大門 main gate, Butsu-den Hall　仏殿, Shari-den Hall　舎利殿　 and Reimei-den Hall 霊明殿　where successive imperial members’ spirit tablets are placed.
Many other buildings are accommodated in the large temple property. Each sub-temple has a different deity and characteristics, so visiting them one by one is also very interesting.
Being apart from the central city area, this temple emanates serenity and seasonal beauty no matter which season you visit.
- source : eng.trip.kyoto.jp/spot -

Gozasho 御座所 The Place where the Emperor rests
usually shown with a traditional elevated seat on tatami mats
(but when the Emperor visits, it is replaced by a tabel and chairs for the Imperial family).
And its adjacent beautiful park 御座所庭園　
This park is especially beautiful with the red autumn leaves.

CLICK for more colorful autumn photos !

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Sennyu-ji temple in Kyoto
Located on the slopes of Higashiyama, Kyoto’s eastern mountains, Sennyu-ji temple might be a little bit hard to reach as it is off the main tourist tracks. Despite its lack of accessibility, it is a must see among Kyoto’s Buddhist temples. Surrounded by a dense forest, it is a secret well preserved, even from many locals, a haven of peace which contains more than twenty-five imperial mausoleums.

A simple but massive wooden gate west of the temple marks the frontier between the secular and the sacred world as your journey begins here with a short but steep climb. Turn right at the intersection and follow the main road to reach the temple's main gate (daimon).

Sennyu Mizuyakata 泉涌水屋形 The Water Well House

Sennyu-ji, or the "temple of the gushing water", is said to have been founded during the 13th century by the illustrious monk Junjo. Sponsored by feudal lords and aristocratic families, he was allowed to build the first pavilions of what would become a flourishing Buddhist school during the next centuries. Burnt down almost entirely during the 15th century, most of the buildings were rebuilt in the mid-seventeenth century and still stand today.

Start by heading left to reach a small pavilion, the yokihi kannon-do. You can admire a very rare statue of Kannon, the Buddhist goddess of compassion, brought back from China in 1255. It is said to have been carved to reflect the beauty of the legendary Chinese Empress Yang Guifei. Until 1955, this treasure used to be kept hidden and shown to the public only once every hundred years!

Turn left as you exit and follow the path down to reach the main hall (honden) and, behind it, the hall of Buddha’s relics (shariden). Both are heavily influenced by Chinese architecture. Feel free to enter the first one as it contains several treasures, including a rare set of gold-layered Buddha statues. The shariden, where a tooth taken from the historical Buddha’s relics is said to be enshrined, is unfortunately closed to the public except on special occasions. You can still enjoy its splendid curved tile roof, covered with a silvery sheen on rainy days.

Before entering the last pavilion of the temple compound, you should make your way to the right, behind the hall of relics. A narrow approach along the forest will lead you to an imperial mausoleum, one of a kind in Japan. Since 1242, fourteen Emperors and several other members of the Imperial Family have chosen to be buried here. Far from the city lights and bustle, this is probably when you will realise that you have not heard a sound for the last hour.

Visit the gozasho, used as a resting place by the Imperial Family since the 19th century, photographs, personal artifacts, pieces of art and folding screens are on display here. From mid-November to early December, the blaze of maple trees will paint the charming inner garden with vivid colours. Enjoy this moment of tranquility while sitting on the wooden balcony.

Often called Mitera, or The August Temple, due to its connections with the Imperial Family, Sennyu-ji is a witness to the passing of time like no other place in Kyoto. The superb architecture and unique atmosphere within an ever-changing city is a delight for the senses. Whatever the season, you will hardly ever forget the journey.
- source : en.japantravel.com/kyoto - Julian Bohler -

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Yookihi Kannon, Yōkihi Kannon 楊貴妃観音 Yokihi Kannon

大門を入って左手奥の堂内、六羅漢像の中央に安置される聖観音像（重文）で湛海律師が寛喜2年（1230）月蓋長者像らとともに将来された像である。
像容の美しさから、玄宗皇帝が亡き楊貴妃の冥福を祈って造顕された像との伝承を生み、楊貴妃観音と呼ばれて来た。

. Yookihi 楊貴妃 Yokihi - Princess Yang Gui Fei .
a famous Chinese beauty

source :　hotsuma816nifuku

. Kannon Bosatsu 観音菩薩 .

. bijin 美人 beauty - beauty amulet 美守 - bijin kigan 美人祈願お守り .
- Introduction -

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- Homepage of the temple

仏教と巡礼は深い関わりがあります。四国八十八ケ所や西国三十三ケ所巡りは人々の信仰に新たな経験となり心を慰めるものでした。江戸時代の平和の中で商業や手工業が発達し、庶民にも旅するゆとりが生まれると、巡礼や名所巡りは大きな楽しみとなりました。泉涌寺山内においても楊貴妃観音は洛陽三十三所の、今熊野観音寺は西国三十三ケ所巡りの、雲龍院は西国薬師四十八所の霊場となっています。
- source : www.mitera.org

The temple is part of many Kannon pilgrimages and other pilgrimages since the Edo period.

amulet to become as beautiful as Princess Yokihi

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- Yearly Festivals -

1月1日～3日修正会
1月成人の日泉山七福神巡り（山内寺院）
1月大般若法要
2月節分星供法要
3月14、15、16日涅槃会
3月21日弘法大師正御影供法要
3月春季彼岸会
4月1日～8日開山忌法要
5月大般若法要
7月14、15日盂蘭盆法要
9月2日静寛院宮法要　薮内献茶式
9月大般若法要
9月秋季彼岸会
10月7、8日舎利会法要
11月4日解脱会法要
12月31日結界諷経（涅槃会、舎利会には月輪末生流献花）

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. Kobo Daishi Kukai 弘法大師　空海 .
(774 - 835)

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. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .

Kanmu Tenno 桓武天皇 (737 - 806) wanted to make sure 平安京 Heiankyo (Kyoto) would stay the capital of the empire for ever. So he ordered a huge statue of a warriour in armor, holding a bow and arrow, made of about 240 cm and burried it in a mound at Higashiyama, facing West.
This is the mound above temple Sennyu-Ji, 将軍塚 Shogunzuka.
Sometimes the mound rumbled as an omen.
For example in the year 1156 at the Hogen no Ran 保元の乱 Hōgen Rebellion, in the year 1177 when Taira no Kiyomori moved to Fukuhara 福原遷都 and in the year 1493 and 1511 during the Ashikaga Shogunate.
Also in 1598 when Toyotomi Hideyoshi died.

もし京に変災があれば、必ず鳴動するといわれている。明応2年には、実際に将軍塚が鳴動したという。

寛政7年8月24日の日暮れ前から東の方角がしばしば鳴った。大きな鼓を鳴らすような音だった。暁になって鳴りやんだという。昔から将軍塚鳴動というものがある。

享保15年4月頃、東山将軍塚が毎夜2度程鳴動するという風説がある。賀茂川辺りの者の話では、家をゆすっているようであると言う。

将軍塚は変があるとき必ず鳴動する。予が幼少の時、地震も無いのにこだまのように聞こえたのを覚えている。ある和尚の話によれば、天明6年4，5月頃から鳴動を続けたという。怪しんでいると、9月6日の夜丑の2刻ほど聞こえた。天明8年の大火の前兆だろうか。

- source : nichibun yokai database -

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The Shogunzuka Mound (将軍塚, Shōgunzuka) is located on the eastern mountains of Kyoto on the spot where Emperor Kanmu is said to have first surveyed the valley where he ultimately build the ancient capital city of Kyoto.
Keeping with this tradition, Shogunzuka is perhaps best known these days for its observation decks which offer spectacular views out over the city below. The area is part of Shorenin Temple whose main buildings stand at the base of the mountain.
- source : japan-guide.com/e -

- photo wikipedia -

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. O-Mamori お守り　Amulets and Talismans .

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