Ishi Yakushi Stone

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Ishi Yakushi 石薬師 "Stone Yakushi" and Yakushi Ishi 薬師石 "Yakushi Stone
Kasagidera 笠置寺 Kasagi-Dera Kyoto

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Ishiyakushiji 石薬師寺 Temple Ishiyakushi-Ji
1 Ishiyakushicho, Suzuka, Mie



Founded by priest Taichoo 泰澄 Taicho (681 - 767) in the Nara period. When Taicho walked here in 726, there was a groaning in the ground and a huge stone appeared. He realized that this was The Buddha of Healing trying to have a temple here to help the people.
In 796 Kobo Daishi Kukai came here and carved a statue of Yakushi.
In 1575 the buildings burned down, but was built anew in 1601 by priest 円賢法印 Enken with the support of the Lord of Kobe, 一柳監物直盛 Hitotsuyanagi Kenmotsu Naomori (1564 - 1636).

People come here to pray for good health, and also for the well-being of the family and protection from disasters.

- - - - - Pilgrim Temple at :
西国薬師第三十三番霊場 - 33 Yakushi Temples in Saikoku
三重四国番外霊場 - Mie-Shikoku Bangai Pilgrims Temples
鈴鹿七福神恵比寿霊場 - Seven Deities of Good Luck in Suzuka



- - - - - HP of the temple
- source : geocities.jp/ishiyakushiji -

- quote -
Officially, this temple is called Takatomiyama Ruriko-in Ishiyakushi-ji.
Legend has it that the temple got its name from the presence there of an image of Yakushi, the Healing Buddha, carved into a rock by Kukai (774-835), a celebrated Buddhist priest also known as Kobo Daishi.
A farming village nestles in the bosom of mountains depicted in gradations of three different tints ? indigo blue, black and green. In this landscape, the temple stands quietly among the trees. Two men carrying bundles hurry along the road leading to the temple gateway while farmers work in a dry rice field dotted with stacks of straw. These human figures, meticulously depicted, eloquently portray the idyllic aspect of rural life.
- source : tokaido53tsugi.omd-net.com -


- - - Hiroshige 広重

. The 53 stations of the Tokaido Road 東海道五十三次 .
44. Ishiyakushi-juku 石薬師宿 (Suzuka)

It is located in former Ise Province in what is now part of the city of Suzuka, Mie Prefecture, Japan.
It received its name from the nearby Buddhist temple, Ishiyakushi-ji.
Ishiyakushi-juku was established in 1616, as part of the Edo period's Tōkaidō. Originally, there had been no post stations between Yokkaichi-juku and Kameyama-juku, so Ishiyakushi-juku was formed with about 180 buildings at its inception. The Ozawa family managed the honjin in the town and kept many records, which are still available today in a local archives museum.
The classic ukiyoe print by Ando Hiroshige (Hoeido edition) from 1831-1834 depicts the temple in a grove of trees on the left and a village on the right, with a range of hills in the background.
- source : wikipedia -


. Taichō 泰澄上人　Saint Taicho Shonin / Taicho-Daishi 泰澄大師 .
Etsu no Daitoku 越の大徳 - Great Man of Virtue from Etsu
Unpen Shoonin 雲遍上人 Saint Unpen Shonin
Shiramine Daisoojo 天狗 白峰大僧正 Tengu Shiramine Daisojo


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Yakushi-Ishi, Yakushiishi 薬師石　Yakushi Stone

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Kasagidera 笠置寺 Kasagi-Dera and Pagoda
京都府相楽郡笠置町大字笠置小字笠置山29 Kyoto, Kasagiyama / Kasagizan


A stone relief of 弥勒磨崖仏 Miroku Magaibutsu






source : 8mada.at.webry.info/201504
薬師石　Yakushi Ishi

There are two big rocks involved in the naming of Kasagiyama and the temple.
When the son of Emperor Tenji Tenno 天智天皇 (626 - 671) passed here while hunting for shika 鹿 deer, he got stuck on top of the rock 薬師石 Yakushi-Ishi.
He prayed to Yama no Kami 山の神, the Deity of the Mountain :
"If you save my life, I will have the figure of 弥勒菩薩 Mikoku Bosatsu carved in this stone."
With the help of the deity he made his way back to safety.
And not ever to forget this place again, he oki 置　placed his kasa 笠 hat on a stone in the middle.

笠置 reads kasaoki "to place a hat", now shortened to Kasagi-dera.

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Short history of Kasagi Dera ( Kasagi Temple )
Kasagi Dera has a long history. About 2000 years ago, the big rocks of Kasagi Yama (Mt. Kasagi, 288 m)) were regarded as religious symbols by the people. Years ago, a part of a Yuhi-style stone sword was found in front of one of the big rocks. This particular kind of stone sword presumed to have been used in the Yayoi Period.

About 1300 years ago, people gradually settled in the Kasagi Yama area. In the years that followed, Jiichu Wajou ( Priest Jiichu ) of Toudaiji Temple and his master Ryouben Soujou ( Great Priest Ryouben ) carved the images of Buddha on the face of the big rocks. Kasagi Yama became very famous as the heart of learning Buddhism.

During the Heian Period, after Eisho 7 ( the 7th year of Eisho, in 1052), Mappo Shisou (the concept of Mappo 末法思想) spread all over Japan. Mappo Shisou is one of the Buddhist theories:2000 years after the death of Buddha, everything in the world will become worse and worse. The people of that time thought that the Mappo Period would begin in 1052. And the images of Buddha on the big rock in Kasagi Yama ( these images of Buddha are called Magaibutsu ) became the symbol of Buddhism among the people. At that time, these images were thoght to have been carved by God. Kasagi Yama became the place for spiritual training.
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On August 27th in Genkou 1 ( the 1st year of Genkou, in 1331 ), Emperor Go Daigo 後醍醐天皇, who attempted to usurp power from the Kamakura shougunate but failed, escaped into Kasagi Dera. For about a month, these was a battle between Emperor Go Daigo and the Kamakura shougunate (Kasagiyama no Tatakai 笠置山の戦い Siege of Mount Kasagiyama). At the end, Emperor Go Daigo lost and retreated to Yoshino Yama. Only the burnt ruins of Kasagi Dera remained.
- snip -
In Meiji 9 ( the 9th year of Meiji, in 1876 ), Jouei Wajou (Prist Wajou ) began to live in Kasagi Dera. He tried to rebuild the temple. After 20 years, his efforts fulfilled, Kasagi Dera was restored at last.
- continued here :

- - - - - HP of the temple 鹿鷺山 笠置寺 Shikasagizan Kasagidera
- source : kir.jp/kasagidera.html -



source : nichibun.ac.jp/meisyozue


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Kasagi Kaido 笠置街道 Kasagi Highway
From 伊賀上野 Iga Ueno to 笠置山 Kasagiyama.

Part of the
伊賀越奈良道 Igagoe Naramichi Road crossing Iga to Nara
From Ise to 伊賀国上野 Iga Ueno, including access to the
大和街道 Yamato Kaido, 伊賀街道 Iga Kaido, 奈良街道 Nara Kaido.



Legends from 誓多林町 Setarin cho town

shiroshika, hakuroku 白鹿 white deer
On the Northern clif along 新笠置街道 the new Kasagi Kaido there are two large foot imprints in the rock.
They say they are the hooves from the white deer which the deity 春日明神 Kasugai Myojin rode on his way to 鹿島 Kashima.
Another legend relates these imprints to a huge 天狗 Tengu.
Once a wicked Tengu stole 太鼓 the big drum from the temple hall 誓多林堂 Setarin Do. He had hung the drum on a branch of 松の木 a pine tree and banged on it.
The blood of the Tengu still sticks to the drum, they say.

. Kaido 街道 the highways of Japan .
. hakuroku 白鹿 white deer, white stag .
. matsu 松と伝説 Legends about the pine tree / 松の木 .
. Tengu 天狗と伝説 Tengu legends "Long-nosed Goblin" .


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Daisoojoo 笠置山大僧正 - Daisojo, Kasagizan

One of the
. 四十八天狗 48 Tengu of Japan .

According to then temple legends, during the Kamakura Period there lived an oni 鬼　Monster at this mountain, called
笠置大僧正 Kasagizan Daisojo.



There lived also a saint called Gedatsu Shoonin, Shōnin 解脱上人 Gedatsu Shonin on this mountain.

. Gedatsu Shoonin, Shōnin 解脱上人 Saint Gedatsu Shonin .
Jōkei 貞慶 Jokei (1155 - 1212)

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- further reference -


. Godaigo, Go-Daigo-tennō 後醍醐天皇 - Emperor Go-Daigo .

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笠置路に俤描く桃青忌
Kasagi ji ni omokage egaku Toosei ki

along the Kasagi road
there are traces of the past -
Green Peach Day

. 高浜虚子 Takahama Kyoshi (1874 - 1959).


. Toosei ki 桃青忌 "Green Peach Memorial Day" for Matsuo Basho .
- kigo for early winter -


葛の崖笠置の山は上に在りと
高浜年尾 Takahama Toshio


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薬師石　Yakushi Ishi

Standing before this stone memorial, silently just praying intensely to get better - will heal a person.


- source : dora-moon/entry

at 達磨寺 Daruma-Ji, Ooji, Nara
奈良県北葛城郡王寺町

. Darumaji 達磨寺 Daruma-Ji temples of Japan .

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Hyogo, 神戸市 Kobe 東灘区 Higashinada ward

. Yakushi Ishi 薬師石 A Yakushi Stone Legend .
and 石薬師 an Ishi Yakushi Legend from Shiga, Shigaraki 信楽町

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From Murakami Onsen Hot Spring, Niigata Radium-Stones
新潟県五頭温泉郷「村杉温泉」産ラジウム鉱石 / 薬師石
日本薬石研究所 Yakuseki Kenkyujo
- reference : yakuseki-shop.jp/SHOP -


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. Yakushipedia - ABC-Index 薬師如来 .

. Yakushi Nyorai - Legends from the provinces .

. Yakushi Nyorai Pilgrimages 薬師霊場巡り - Introduction .


. O-Mamori お守り　Amulets and Talismans .

. Japan - Shrines and Temples - ABC List .


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