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2023/01/06

Chokoji Kannon Tomida

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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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Chookooji 長興寺 Choko-Ji, Tomida
富田山 Tomidazan 長興寺 Chokoji

四日市市富田3-1-16 / Yokkaichi Tomida

The Kannon statue is 聖観音 / 正観音 Sho Kannon.

- quote
It is believed that the temple’s history started in Yōrō period (717-724)
with an enshrinement of Buddha Yakushi (Buddha of Medicine and Healing).
According to the legend, six years later a monk named 泰澄大師 Taichō, who was on a pilgrimage around the country,
stayed here for the night. In his dream he saw Buddha Yakushi,
who told him: Make a Buddhist statue from the big tree up front and save people.
When he woke up, he looked at the tree and saw an image of Dainichi Nyorai (Great Illuminating Buddha) in it.
He did as he was told in his dream and carved a statue of Dainichi Nyorai in one day and one night.
Because the statue was granting all types of peoples’ wishes, very quickly a temple was built around it.
In July of 817 the temple was rebuilt by 弘法大師 Kobo Daishi Kūkai (774-835), the founder of Shingon sect.
In 1242 a monk named 満月上人 Mangetsu became a new temporary abbot.
He added a new building to the complex and named the temple 北島長興寺 Kitajima Chōkō-ji.
At the beginning this temple was used as a shelter for the poor, sick, and for the orphans.
Since the 9th Century it belonged to Tendai school of Buddhism but in 1545,
when the Lord of Tomida castle 南部兼綱 Nambu Kanetsuna rebuilt this temple
and made it his bodai-ji (a temple performing ceremonies for the souls of clan members),
it changed to Sōtō branch of Zen Buddhism.
In September of the same year Kanetsuna presented a small bell and a gong to 照山 Shōzan, the abbot of Chōkō-ji.
Since then the temple was protected by the Lords of the nearby castle.
On the 28th of May 1564, during the times of abbot 鉄門和尚 Tetsumon,
the temple was moved from Kitajima area to a former site of Tomida castle.
At the time it probably used to stand just beside the 鳥出神社 Toride Shrine
but had to be moved to the current location due to construction of the Kansai line train tracks.
In October of 1568 the temple lost its buildings during Oda Nobunaga’s assault on Ise province.
In 1573 all Buddhist statues including Bishamon (God of Treasure, Wealth, and Warriors)
and Goddess Kannon were deposited at Tarusakasan Kannon-ji.
The Main Hall of Chōkō-ji was rebuilt once again in 1766 and in the following year
it was granted a status of an official sub-temple of Eihei-ji (the main temple of Zen Sōtō school).
It probably happened at the times of 慧鏡禅師 Sakudonō the 8th abbot of Chōkō-ji.
The 45th abbot of Eihei-ji 湛海大和 Hōsan Tankai and the 46th abbot of Eihei-ji 彌山良須 Misan Ryōshu
were honorifically called the 1st and the 2nd founder of Chōkō-ji.
The 10th abbot of Chōkō-ji Tenmyō followed the will of the previous abbots
and continued the repairs and further construction of the temple.
Thank to him the temple flourished and became a praying ground for people of the six villages in Tomida area.
In the February of 1834 the Gate with a bell tower was erected.
In 1844 a ceremony of unveiling the main statue of Dainichi Nyorai was held.
It was followed with theatrical performance and other entertainment for the local community.
The Main Hall was destroyed by an earthquake that occurred on the 14th of June 1854.
It was once again rebuilt and finished on the 17th of March 1879 by the 17th abbot 竹童和尚 Chikudō.
Until then Chōkō-ji had experienced the difficult times of Meiji Restoration and anti-Buddhist movements.

In the Meiji period (1868-1912) the abbot’s quarters were changed
to a temporary building of Tomida Primary School and the Main Hall became
a temporary building of Mie Prefecture 2nd Junior High School.
Chōkō-ji was a part of the Tomida area history where local festivals and memorial service for the hunted whales were held.
But in 1953 the temple’s grounds were cut in half by a road and the temple has lost its historical shape.
In 1996 the Gate with the bell tower was dismantled due to its poor condition.
The old Main Hall, which was struck by an earthquake in 1944
and flooded during the 1959’s typhoon, had to be taken down and rebuilt.
A new Main Hall was finished in 2001.
- source : isekannon .. chokoji ...

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

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- reference : Nichibun Yokai Database -

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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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- - #chookooji #chokoji ##isesaigoku ##isesaikoku ##isekannon -
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2023/01/02

Kannonji Kannon Tarusaka

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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, Tarusaka
垂坂山 Tarusakazan 観音寺 Kannonji

三重県四日市市垂坂町1266 / Mie, Yokkaichi city, Tarusaka town

The Kannon statue is 千手観音 Senju Kannon with 1000 Arms.

- quote
Tendai sect temple which enshrines 良見 Ryōgen (元三慈恵大師 Ganzan Jie Daishi)
Tarusakasan Kannon-ji is a famous temple which worships
monk 良見 Ryōgen (also known as 元三大師 Ganzan Daishi or 慈恵大師 Jie Daishi, 912-985) –
a restorer of Tendai sect as a main statue.
It is well known in the area and referred to as Tarusakasan no Odaishisan (Great Teacher of Tarusakasan)
or Ganzansan (Master Ganzan).
The temple’s history started in 982 when young Ryōgen, on the way to Ise province,
visited this area during his preaching tour.
The master of this land 舟木良見 Funaki Yoshimi became a devoted believer
and decided to donate a hall at Mount Tarusaka.
Tarusaka Kannon-ji became a branch temple of Tendai sect in Ise province.
In its prime time the temple was a big complex consisting of 24 sub-temples.
Unfortunately all buildings were destroyed in 1575 during a fight with troops of Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582,
later regarded as the first “Great Unifier” of Japan).
The temple fell into ruin.
More than 100 years later it was rebuilt thanks to the efforts of 野村増右衛門 Nomura Masuemon (1646-1710)
– a samurai of Kuwana province.
He asked his Lord 松平定重 Matsudaira Sadashige (1644-1717) to revive the temple.
As a result Tarusaka Kannon-ji was rebuilt in 1691 by the order of Lord Matsudaira.

Ryōgen (Ganzan – Jie Daishi)

Ryōgen was born in 912 and it is said that he was a descendant of 宇多天皇 Emperor Uda (867-931).
When he was 12 years old he climbed Mount Hiei, the sacred ground of Tendai school of Buddhism.
He became a monk and studied under a high monk 理仙阿闍梨 Risen.
At the age of 54 he became a head priest of Enryaku-ji temple, the main temple of Tendai sect located at Mount Hiei.
When Ryōgen was 73 years old a plague was spreading across the Country.
He felt pity for the suffering people so he decided to conduct a demon conquering ritual.
When he looked in the mirror, he saw himself growing demon horns.
He carved his image into a wooden block, used it to print protective amulets
and distributed it among people.
Later on these amulets gathered many believers and were called
角大師 Tsuno Daishi (Horned Master) or
豆（魔滅）大師Mame Daishi (Bean Master or Demon Destroying Master).

- source : isekannon.jp/otera ...

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

2022/11/28

Jigenji Kannon Sugitani

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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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former 26 元26 Jigenji 慈眼寺 Jigen-Ji, Sugitani
久国山 Kyukokuzan 慈眼寺 Jigenji

三重郡菰野町杉谷1797-1 / Mie Prefecture, Komono town, Sugitani

The Kannon statue is 十一面観音 Juichimen Kannon.

- Chant of the temple
杉まねく峯の嵐や谷川のおともあまねきみのりなるらん
Wind from the peak that shakes the cedars,
the sound of the river flowing in the valley,
all of this will bring new life for sure.

Seiyōzakki Records 勢陽雑記
The predecessor to Jigen-ji was a temple called 観音寺 Kannon-ji,
which stood in the northwest from a village of Sugitani valley.
It was a famous temple belonging to Tendai sect of Buddhism.
But after it was burned by the troops of Oda Nobunaga (later regarded as the first “Great Unifier” of Japan)
in the second half of 16th Century, the temple has moved to the village’s precinct.
In the 19th Century, Meiji government’s law of the separation of Buddhism and Shintoism (shinbutsu bunri)
and the Grand Council of State’s proclamation of abolition of Buddhism
led to anti-Buddhist movement in Japan.
As a result temples that stood in Sugitani village: 観音寺 Kannon-ji, 引接寺 Injō-ji and 円導寺 Endō-ji
were merged into one temple called Kannon-ji.
観音堂 Kannon-dō hexagonal hall which stands on the mountain was also included as Kannon-ji’s inner sanctuary.
Some time later, the Grand Council of State ordered the closing of the temples
which did not have an abbot or there were no official supporters.
Kannon-ji lacked both of them and as a result it had to be closed.
The main statue was moved to 照源寺 Shōgen-ji in Kuwana.
Kannon-ji was a temple with a long history and big community of worshipers.
They were saddened to lose it and decided to raise funds for the reconstruction of their temple.
Next they found a temple in Uji Yamada called Jigen-ji.
It was allowed to operate, but was about to be closed soon.
Thanks to the efforts of people from Sugitani village,
Jigen-ji agreed to pass the name to Kannon-ji and by doing so giving a chance for it to be reconstructed.
An official allowance from the prefectural government was issued in December 1887 and Kannon-ji was reborn as Jigen-ji.
The condition of the 250 years old Main Hall of Kannon-ji was very poor and it had to be rebuilt.
In September 2000 construction works have finished
and a ceremony to commemorate the completion of the new Hall was held.
The main statues of Jigen-ji: 阿弥陀如来 Buddha Amida (Buddha of Infinite Light) and
Jūichimen Kannon (Eleven-Faced Kannon) are both main statues of the old Kannon-ji
and they were both made in the beginning of 13th Century.
The plate which hangs at the Main Hall and has the temple’s name written on it
is also an old plate used for centuries in Kannon-ji temple.
- source : isekannon.jp .. jigenji ..

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This temple is former Nr. 26 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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. Japanese Legends - 伝説　民話　昔話 – ABC-List .

....................................................................... Nagano 長野県　
伊那市 Ina city

tanuki たぬき
昔、話者の家を建て替える前のある晩、祖父母は一番奥の部屋におり、話者たち子供はそこでご飯を食べていて、両親は火端で仕事をしていた。慈眼寺という寺があり大木があったが、両親がその木の倒れる音を聞いたと血相を変えて部屋に来たが、誰もその音を聞いていなかった。たぬきが囲炉裏のきわまで来て、尻尾で柱や床を叩いたりして父母を騙したのだという。
. tanuki 狸 - mujina 狢－ racoon dog, badger legends .

....................................................................... Saitama 埼玉県　
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さいたま市 Saitama city 西区 Nishi ward

happyaku bikuni 八百比丘尼 a nun for 800 years
武蔵国足立郡水波田村 In the Adachi district, at the temple 慈眼寺 Jigen-Ji,
there was a huge enoki 榎 nettle tree cut down, the open cut covering a huge size of the ground.
This tree had been planted by a Happyaku Bikuni nun from 若狭 Wakasa.
When the villagers dug deeper, they found the statue of Jizo Bosatsu in a stone box,
with an inscription dating to 大化元年 the year 645.
This Bikuni must have lived for more than 1000 years.
. bikuni densetsu 比丘尼　伝説　Legends about Buddhist nuns .

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- reference : Nichibun Yokai Database -

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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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2022/11/25

Kannonji Kannon Rokuromi

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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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Kannonji 観音寺 Kannon-Ji, Rokuromi
勅願院 Chokugan-In 観音寺 Kannonji

四日市市六呂見町1068 / Mie, Yokkaichi city, Rokuromi town

The Kannon statue is Nyoirin Kannon 如意輪観音 Wishfulfilling Kannon
quote
The history of this temple starts year 727, with miraculous arrival of Goddess Kannon
at 小野の湊 the Ono harbor (currently a part of 大浜町 Ōhama district).
Kannon reveled herself as Nyoirin Kannon (Omnipotent Kannon) sitting on a mystical bird
with four legs and eight heads.
When Emperor Shōmu (701-756) learned about this miracle in 737,
he decided to build a hall at 登城山 Mount Tōjō to enshrine her
and named it 補陀洛山観音寺 Fudarakuzan Kannon-ji (Kannon temple at sacred Mount Potalaka).
The temple was expanded to complete seven-structured compound in 864
by the 3rd Head of the Tendai sect of Buddhism – monk 智証大師 Enchin (814-891).
After his visit the temple was officially acknowledged
as one of 72 practice grounds that pray for safety of the Country.
In 1248 the 3rd Head of the Jōdo sect of Buddhism 良忠 Ryōchū (1199-1287) visited Kannon-ji
on his way to the eastern parts of Japan. He made the temple a Main Temple of Ise province
which role was to teach the prayer to Buddha Amida (Buddha of Infinite Light).
Ryōchū converted four elders of the nearby village to Jōdō sect and gave them Buddhist names.
They were: 観阿弥　Kanami (the founder of Hacchō clan), 道阿弥　Dōami (founder of Shimizu clan),
専阿弥　Senami (founder of Hinaga Ryōshō-ji temple), 誉阿弥　Yoami (founder of Tabika Kuhon-ji temple
and Kuwana Jūnen-ji temple).
The wooden statue of Ryōchū, which according to the legend was made by him,
is enshrined in the Chokuganin Kannon-ji and is designated as Jōdō sect’s treasure.
The prayer, which he taught in the temple, was also passed down through generations of monks
for more than 700 years.
Every year for three days during Obon (Festival of the Dead) the prayer is chanted in front of the statue of Ryōchū.
The temple moved to the current place originally called Rokuromi village in 1522
after the abbot saw Goddess Kannon in a dream two nights in a row.
The name of the village probably comes from a word rokuro, which means lathe
– a machine used to rotate wood while shaping and cutting.
It is believed that the Japanese technique using lathe to create wooden bowls
was created and promoted by Prince Koretaka (844-897), a half-brother of Emperor Seiwa (850-881).
Woodturners (kijiya) that were using this technique probably came to this land
from Watarai area and started to live at the bottom of 鈴鹿山 Mount Suzuka.
On the 19th of December 1543 by the Emperor’s command the temple became an official praying place
for 後奈良天皇　Emperor Gonara (1497-1557).
It was also presented with 6.93ha (17.12ac) of land. The official document written by Emperor Gonara
was treasured by the monks for generations and it is still in the temple’s possession.
The next two emperors: Emperor Ogimachi (1517-1593) and Emperor Goyōzei (1571-1617)
also treated this place as their praying place.
On the 2nd day of the New Year 600 scrolls of Great Perfection of Wisdom Sutra were chanted in the name of the Emperor,
wishing for his long and healthy life and praying for stability of the Country.
Chokugan-in Kannon-ji also sent tea, which was grown in its precinct, to the Imperial Palace.
In 1594 as a result of nationwide land survey ordered by the second “Great Unifier” of Japan
Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1537-1598), the temple’s land was confiscated.
It started to fall into decay but when the third “Great Unifier” of Japan and founder of 250 years
lasting Togukawa shogunate shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543-1616) learned that Chokugan-in Kannon-ji
was a former Imperial praying place, he donated 1.9ha (4.6ac) of land on the 15th of February 1605.
The temple was also officially given a rank of the Main Jōdō Temple in the province
and was allowed to use the “triple hollyhock” crest of Tokugawa clan.
Since then abbots of Chokugan-in Kannon-ji would visit Edo Castle on the 2nd of January every year
and present the temple’s tea to the shogun.
At the same time 600 scrolls of Great Perfection of Wisdom Sutra would be chanted at the temple
wishing for peace and tranquility in the Country.
Since then Tokugawa clan devoted themselves to Goddess Kannon worshiped at this temple.
In 1699 Keishōin, a concubine of the 3rd shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu (1604-1651),
donated an ornamental curtain displayed at the front of the main statue.
In 1751 竹姫 Takehime, adopted daughter of 5th shogun Tokugawa Tsunayoshi (1646-1709),
donated a decorative cord with imprinted crest of Tokugawa clan.
She also had a private small Buddhist statue made as a miniature of the Kannon statue
enshrined in Chokugan-in Kannon-ji.

During the Edo period (1603-1868) numerous virtuous monks,
among them in 1724 a monk named Kantsū, visited the temple’s grounds to spread the Buddhist teachings.
In 1768 a member of Iwashimizu clan, a supporter of Chokugan-in Kannon-ji
and a priest at Iwashimizu Hachimangū shrine founded the Main Gate of the temple.
The Gate was build according to Kantsū’s teachings in a ryūgū style (dragon palace style).
Unfortunately it was destroyed during the Tōnankai earthquake in 1944,
but in March 1961 it was rebuilt.
The current bell of the temple was made in August of 1644.
Luckily it was not confiscated as obligatory metal supply during the 2nd World War.
The Main Hall which stands to this day was built in May of 1665 and later improved in 1751.
In 1994 it was repaired thanks to cooperation of many believers and their enormous donation of 160.000.000 yen.

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2022/11/21

Kannondo Kannon Sugitani

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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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Kannondoo 観音堂 Kannon-Do, Sugitani
元25 尾高山 Former Odakazan 観音堂 Kannondo

三重郡菰野町杉谷字尾高 / Mie district, Komono town, Sugitani, Odaka

The Kannon statue is 十一面千手観音 Jūichimen Senju Kannon

- Chant of the temple
The fresh smell of the morning sun at the mountain ridge,
where clouds disappear and the sky clears up.
分けのぼるたかの峯に雲晴れて匂ふ朝日の影ぞさやけき　

- quote
Odaka Kannon is enshrined in a hexagonal hall, which stands on the Odaka plateau.
A mountain path, along which grow 300 year old hinoki 桧 cypress trees,
leads from the bottom to the front of the hall.
Inside the hall a wooden 1.7m (5ft6.9in) high statue of Jūichimen Senju Kannon (Eleven-Faced Thousand-Armed Kannon) is worshiped.
According to the legend it was made by a famous politician and promoter of Buddhism – 聖徳太子 Prince Shōtoku (574-622).
Among many devoted believers it is commonly known as 尾高の観音さん Kannon of Odaka.
A long time ago a woman from Sugitani valley climbed the mountain and found medicinal herbs.
After applying them, she lived a long and healthy life.
At some point in her life she devoted herself to Buddhism and started to worship Buddha Shakyamuni at the top of 国見岳 Mount Kunimi.
This was the beginning of Odakasan Kannon-dō temple.
Many years later the founder of Shugendō, the Path of Ascetic Training, named 役の小角 En no Ozunu
(also known as En no Gyōja, 643-701) was visiting the area during his preaching travel.
When he learned that Mount Kunimi is a sacred ground, he decided to repair the aged temple
and changed its name to 釈迦ケ岳 Shaka ga take (Mount of Shakyamuni).
In the end of 7th Century a statue of Jūichimen Senju Kannon was brought from 大官寺 Daikan-ji temple (currently 大安寺 Daian-ji)
which stood near 藤原京 Fujiwara-kyō, the capital at the time.
The statue was chosen among many other statues based on a Buddha’s providence.
This is how Jūichimen Senju Kannon became the main statue of Odakasan Kannon-dō.

A century later the stories of this Kannon’s miraculous power reached 桓武天皇 Emperor Kanmu (735-806).
He decided to build a new hall and a bell tower, he also decided to give a new name to the temple.
The name he granted was Odakasan Injō-ji.
In the end of the 8th Century a monk named Chōkō moved to the newly build temple
and became a protector of the famous statue.
He was a disciple of Saichō (767-822) – the founder of Tendai school of Buddhism,
and was supported by a powerful clan of Sasaki from the Ōmi province.
During the reign of 仁明天皇 Emperor Ninmyō (833-850) a famous scholar and poet
小野篁 Ono no Takamura (802-853) visited the temple and wrote a poem (which survived to this day).
It was also visited by 八幡太郎義家 Hachimantaro Minamoto no Yoshiie (1039-1106), a samurai famous for his skills and bravery,
which came to pray for a victory in his battle against the enemies of the Emperor.
According to the legend during his visit he donated 1000 koku (150t) of rice.
In 1163 a magnificent seven-structured temple compound consisting of the Main Hall , Shaka Hall (Hall of Shakyamuni), Sutra Hall, Fūdō Hall (Hall of Fudō Myō-ō – the Immovable Wisdom King), Daishi Hall (Hall of Kūkai), Lecture Hall, Founder Hall
and the Main Gate was built thanks to a long time support of 藤原養敬 Fujiwara Yōkei, a member of a powerful Fujiwara clan.
In the 2nd half of the 16th Century, the whole complex burned down
after it was set on fire by the troops of 織田信長 Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582).
Fortunately the main statue was saved.
It was later enshrined in a small hall which was built by Fujiwara clan at the site of the temple.
The current hexagonal hall was built in 1815 by 増田兵蔵 Masuda Heizō from 杉谷 the Sugitani valley.
It enshrines the main statue of Jūichimen Senju Kannon and a statue of 役の小角 En no Ozunu.
- source : isekannon.jp/otera_list ...

. En-no-Gyôja 役行者 (Jimpen Dai-Bosatsu) (634 - 706) .

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

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This temple is Nr. former 25 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 .

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2022/11/10

Yatoji Kannon Asakayama

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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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Yatooji 野登寺 Yato-Ji, Asakayama
鶏足山 Keizokuzan 野登寺 Yatōji / Nonobori

三重県亀山市安坂山町2033-1 / Mie, Kameyama, Asakayama town

The Kannon statue is 千手観音 Senju Kannon.

- Chant of the temple
野をのぼる寺こそ是よ鶏の　朝の声は法の言の葉
Climbing through the fields to a temple on the top of the hill,
a place where the rooster’s morning craw blends with the sound of the morning prayer.

- quote
The history of Yatō-ji temple started 1100 years ago.
One night 醍醐天皇 Emperor Daigo (885-930) had a vision in his dream, in which Goddess Kannon told him:
I live at Mount Keisoku in Ise province and I pray for peace among people.
Right now this land is in chaos, the fields are failing and people are deeply troubled.
I would like to ask for your help in getting rid of these calamities.
After saying this Goddess disappeared and the Emperor woke up.
He found it really strange, so he called his messenger and sent him to Mount Keisoku right away.
The messenger traveled all the way to the Ise province
but lost his way just at the bottom of the mountain he was heading towards.
Suddenly a rooster with three legs appeared, grabbed the messenger’s cuff in his beak
and pulled leading him to the top of the mountain.
When the messenger reached the top of the mountain he saw a clear stream gushing from the ground,
which was surrounded by old cedars.
He was overwhelmed with the mysterious profundity of the place.
Suddenly an old monk appeared out of nowhere and said:
Thank you for coming all the way to this Mount Keisoku. Let me show you the way.
He took the messenger to the Hall, invited inside and opened the door of the altar
where a 2.2m (7ft2.6in) high dazzlingly beautiful statue of Senju Kannon (Thousand-Armed Kannon) was worshiped.
The old monk got his hands together as a sign of respect and said:
This statue of Goddess Kannon was personally carved by Goddess Amaterasu.
For many years two priests sent by her used to serve here but recently it became a job of 鵠（カササギ） two magpies.
Goddess Kannon is a very merciful Bodhisattva that answers peoples’ prayers and comes to them in different forms.
When finished the old monk suddenly disappeared.
When the messenger came to his senses
he understood that the old monk was actually one of the forms of the Goddess Kannon,
so he kneeled and prayed wholeheartedly.
He climbed down the mountain and headed back to the capital.
The Emperor was surprised to learn that his divine dream was true.
He called a famous monk 仙朝上人 Senchō and sent him to Ise to start a temple at Mount Keisoku.
The Emperor gathered the best wood from all over Japan, sent it to Mount Keisoku
and ordered the construction of the temple complex.
Monk Senchō gladly obeyed the order, gathered the best carpenters and masons,
took them to the site and started the works.
The construction started in 907.
On April 7th 910 the temple was completed and the ceremonial prayers were finished.
For the next 680 years Yatō-ji was a home to more than 100 monks.
It was flourishing and every morning and evening the sound of sutra chanting
could be heard all over the nearby mountains.
Unfortunately in 1583 troops of Toyotomi Hideyoshi (regarded as the second “Great Unifier” of Japan)
burned the temple during the assault on 亀山城 Kameyama Castle.
The land which belonged to Yatō-ji was also confiscated.
Yatō-ji temple used to be a praying place for the Lords of Kameyama Castle.
That is why in 1601 thanks to the donations from 関長門守一政 the Lord Seki Kazumasa (1564-1625),
the temple’s 28th abbot Seiei was able to rebuild the Main Hall,
abbot’s living quarters and the bell tower.
Later the Lord of Tsu Castle Tōdō Takatsugu (1602-1676) also chose Yatō-ji
to be his praying place and since then all the future Lords of that castle also protected and supported this temple.
The current Main Hall of the temple on the mountain was rebuilt in 1701
by 板倉重冬 Itakura Shigefuyu (1672-1709) – the Lord of Kameyama Castle.
The temple at the bottom of the mountain was constructed in March of 1717,
at the time of the 32nd abbot 傲栄 Gōei.
The next Lord of Kameyama Castle – Itakura Shigeharu (1697-1724)
donated Goma Hall (Goma/Homa fire ritual hall), monk’s quarters,
the Main Gate and the main statue of Senju Kannon. Also he made this temple his praying place.
The miraculous power of Senju Kannon is well known and even now
many worshipers still come to pray at Yatō-ji temple.
- source : isekannon.jp/otera_list/yatouji ...

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shuin　朱印 stamp

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- - - - - Homepage of the temple
- source : yatoji.o.oo7 ...
- reference source : isekannon.jp/english ... -
- reference source : nippon-reijo.jimdofree ... -

2022/11/06

Sotokuji Kannon Futao

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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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Sootokuji 宗徳寺 Sotoku-Ji, Futao
清涼山 Seiryozan 宗徳寺 Sotokuji

亀山市両尾町208 /Kameyama city, Futao town

The Kannon statue is 十一面観音 Juichimen Kannon with eleven heads.

- Chant of the temple
Deep valley of Uchiyama is as deep as Goddess Kannon’s mercy and willingness
to grant the wishes of people who come to pray.

- quote
The statue of Senju Kannon (Thousand-Armed Kannon) worshiped in Sōtoku-ji was made around 1100 years ago,
during the reign of 醍醐天皇 Emperor Daigo (885-930).
It was enshrined in a Kannon Hall which stood 100m (328ft) in the south-east direction from the current temple.
A river which flows there to this day – Daimongawa (Big Gate River) suggests
that a big gate was also standing in front of the Hall.
The Kannon Hall was moved to its current place in 1609, into precinct of this temple,
which at the time hold a different name 内山連蔵院 Naizan Renzō-in.
In 1992 all buildings where repaired and reroofed thanks to the support of many devoted believers.
In the close distance from Sōtoku-ji stands 金比羅堂 Konpira Hall devoted to
the God Konpira (guardian deity for seafarers, navigation, fishing, and water for agriculture).
Sōtoku-ji stands on higher ground from which the whole district of Futao can be seen.
The Three-Storied Stone Pagoda stands in the middle of the hill at the back of the complex
and is surrounded by trees. Pagoda is 2.29m (7ft6.1in) high, made from granite and consists of 6 carved stones.
The base is in the shape of a square, on which three stones
making the main part of the pagoda are standing on top of each other.
At top stands a finial. Unfortunately it has broken, but there rest of the pagoda is in good shape.
Half of the base stone is buried in the ground.
The first stone from the bottom is a 55cm (21.6in) high cuboid with reliefs depicting Buddhist figures on four sides.
Unfortunately being exposed to wind and rain for centuries, the reliefs eroded
and it is impossible to determine which Buddhas were originally carved in the stone.
Judging by the shape and other characteristics of this pagoda,
it is safe to assume that it was made around 800 years ago at the beginning of Kamakura period (1192-1333).
There is no way to tell who made it and why.
Was it placed here from beginning or was it brought from some other place?
Nevertheless it is a rare example of monument from 12th – 13th Century rarely found in Japan.
It is also an important proof of the Buddhist culture of the Kameyama area.
- source : isekannon.jp/otera_lis ...

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2022/11/02

Enpukuji Kannon Kameyama

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. Ise Saigoku 33 Kannon 伊勢西国三十三所観音巡礼 Pilgrimage .
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Enpukuji 円福寺 Enpuku-Ji, Kameyama
日照山 Nisshozan 圓福寺 Enpuku-Ji (Jūzan-ji)

亀山市住山町660 / Kameyama city, Sumiyama town

The Kannon statue is 十一面観音 Juichimen Kannon.

- Chant of the temple
As deep as Buddha’s mercy the mountain stream of Jūzan-ji
welcomes you when coming from afar.
はるばると住山寺へ分け入れば仏の恵み深き谷川

- quote
- Seiyōzakki -
Nisshozan Jūzan-ji is located around 2 ri distance north from Kameyama.
It stands inside the village of Juzan.
The main statue is a Jūichimen Kannon (Eleven-Faced Kannon).
According to the legend the temple was built at the beginning of the 9th Century.
The main statue of Jūichimen Kannon (Eleven-Faced Kannon) was carved in the times of Emperor Saga (786-842)
by a famous monk 行基 Gyōki (668-749), who traveled around Japan to preach to commoners.
The Meditation Hall and a complete seven-structured temple compound construction followed.
The temple was given the name Jūzan-ji. In 1578 the temple was turned into ash by the forces of Oda Nobunaga,
later regarded as the first “Great Unifier” of Japan.
Fortunately the main statue was saved and moved to a small hall in the north-east part of the village.
Because it went under protection of Shingon sect, the temple was not officially closed.
In 1676 the Lord of Kameyama Castle 板倉重常 Itakura Shigetsune (1643-1688)
invited Hakudo 柏堂禅師 a Chinese Zen monk Hakudō to help revive the temple and rebuilt Jūzan-ji in its former grounds.
It became a branch temple of Ōbakusan Manpuku-ji – the head temple of Ōbaku sect of Zen Buddhism located in Uji,
and changed its name to Nisshōzan Enpuku-ji.
In 1678 a new main statue depicting 聖観音 Shō Kannon (Sacred Kannon) was made and a year later in 1679,
together with Jūichimen Kannon the old main statue of Jūzan-ji temple, it was enshrined in a newly erected Kannon Hall.
The Visitors Hall and abbot’s living quarters were donated by
坂上慰右衛門 Sakanoue Iemon from Yamamoto village of Sesshū province.
The old temple’s terrain was organized, a new road leading to the temple was built
and the Main Gate was constructed.
A pond with artificial islands was built within temple’s grounds.
In 1701 a complete seven-structured temple compound in Zen style was finished.
In 1691 a compilation of basic Zen Buddhism texts edited by Tetsugen was offered
by a monk Ryōō from Toeizan Mountain in Musashi province and placed in a newly built Sutra Hall.
In 1696 the roof of Kannon Hall, which was covered with wood shingles,
was changed to a roof covered with ceramic tiles.
In 1716 a seriously damaged Kannon Hall was repaired thanks to 北潭 Hokutan,
a disciple of the 2nd abbot of the temple, who bought 30 pine trees for a total price of 100 ryo.
In that year the temple’s name was reverted to Jūzan-ji, once again to be changed to Enpuku-ji some time later.
During the Edo period (1603-1868) the temple was protected and sustained by 亀山城主 the Lords of Kameyama Castle.
In 1679 the temple received a donation of land worth 5 koku (0.75t) of rice,
34.7ha (85.7ac) of mountains and forests and 1.8t of rice from Lord Itakura Shigetsune.
At the beginning of Meiji period (1868-1912) all high ranked monks left the temple and moved to Manpuku-ji in Uji.
The temple was abandoned until 1899, when an abbot of Shinkō-in, a sub-temple of Manpuku-ji,
moved to Kameyama, became a new abbot of Enpuku-ji and revived the temple once again.

Enpuku-ji changed drastically once again in the end of the 20th Century.
As Ise Shimbun newspaper from 21st of August 1995 states:
On the 20th of August at 0:35 in the night a fire started from the Main Hall.
The 80m2 (861.1ft2) wooden building with a roof covered in tiles burned to the ground.
Kobutsu Hall which was 20m2 (215.27ft2) and stood on the north east side of the Main Hall
and enshrines the old Buddhist statue and other Buddhist utensils was also partially destroyed.
Almost 800m2 (956yd2) of the forest growing at the mountain behind the Main Hall was also turned into ash.
The fire died out after burning for around 1.5 hour. (abbrev.)
The main statue of sitting Shō Kannon (wooden, 60cm, 23.6in),
statue of Buddha Shakyamuni (previously worshiped in the Sutra Hall),
statue of the founder of Enpuku-ji monk Hakudō as well as many other statues
that were worshiped since the hall was rebuilt were all lost in the fire.
Currently a temporary hall has been built at the site of the Main Hall.
It enshrines the old main statue of Jūichimen Kannon, which miraculously survived the fire untouched.
The temple is planning to rebuild the lost Main Hall.
- source : isekannon.jp/otera

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2022/10/26

Rinkoji Kannon Kanbe

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. Ise Saigoku 33 Kannon 伊勢西国三十三所観音巡礼 Pilgrimage .
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Rinkooji 林光寺 Rinko-Ji, Kanbe
金井山 Kanaizan 林光寺 Rinkoji

鈴鹿市神戸6-7-11 / Suzuka city, Kanbe

The Kannon statue is 千手観音 Sanju Kannon Bosatsu.

The temple was founded by 行基 Saint Gyoki Bosatsu.

- quote
The legend says that in the year 740 a famous monk Gyōki (668-749)
following an ordered by 聖武天皇 Emperor Shōmu (701-756)
was on his way to Ise Shrine to pray for the safe completion of Tōdai-ji temple in Nara.
When he visited this land he had a revelation.
He saw a clear spring gushing in the middle of the forest and golden light coming out from it.
Gyōki decided to build there a temple that would be praying for Emperor Shōmu.
He named the temple Kanaisan (Golden Well Mountain), and this is where the mountain name of Rinkō-ji comes from.
In ancient times temples were often build at places where a clean spring gushed out from the ground.
Rinkō-ji is also an example of such temple.
In later years the temple flourished as a praying place for many generations of 神戸城主 the Lords of Kanbe Castle.
Many offerings that were presented by them are still in the temple’s possession.
The Main Hall of the Rinkō-ji, which stands to this day, was first rebuilt during the Momoyama period (1583-1600).
Then it was repaired by the abbot 尭元和尚 Gyōgen in Kanei period (1624-1644).
In 1996 the roof of the Hall was restored.
The Main Hall interior is a great example of the late 16th Century style.
The carving of the altar, rich coloring of the columns, splendid wall decorations,
pictures of flowers and birds on the coffered ceiling
and many more are unique examples of Momoyama style.
The main statue of Senju Kannon was made in Heian period (795-1092).
It is 1.27m (4ft2in) high and it is made from single piece of hinoki 桧 cypress.
It is said that it has elegant face and that the carving of the body is shallow and light.
This statue is a hibutsu 秘仏 (hidden Buddhist statue) but it is shown to the public once per year –
from the night of the 8th till the morning of the 10th of August.
The statue is registered as 国の重要文化財 National Important Cultural Property.
According to the records 閻魔堂 the Enma Hall
(Hall enshrining Enma-ō – King of the Underworld and Judge of the Dead)
was built in the late 14th Century.
Since then it was rebuilt only once between the years of 1704 and 1711.
It is said that it was built to hold memorial service to people who died beside the road
during travel, prostitutes who died of illness, stillborn children and unlucky people.
Every year on February 16th and August 16th Emma Hall is open to the public and special ritual is being held.

Seiyōzakki 勢陽雑記
Kanaisan Rinkō-ji stands in the middle of Kanbe city behind 鍛冶町 Kaji district.
It is commonly called はやし寺 Hayashi-dera (Forest temple).
The temple is a sacred ground built for Emperor Shōmu.
The main statue is Senju Kannon, beautiful as if Goddess Amaterasu carved it out of wood herself.
The golden light shining in the forest, fireflies flying among the trees of Mount Kanai.
- source : rinkoji ...

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- Yearly Festivals 年中行事 -

Every year on February 16th and August 16th the Emma Hall is open to the public and a special ritual is being held.

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Also on the following pilgrimage :

. Mie Shikoku Henro Info 三重四国八十八ヵ所霊場 . - Nr. 13

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

2023/01/06

Chokoji Kannon Tomida

2023/01/02

Kannonji Kannon Tarusaka

2022/11/28

Jigenji Kannon Sugitani

2022/11/25

Kannonji Kannon Rokuromi

2022/11/21

Kannondo Kannon Sugitani

2022/11/10

Yatoji Kannon Asakayama

2022/11/06

Sotokuji Kannon Futao

2022/11/02

Enpukuji Kannon Kameyama

2022/10/26

Rinkoji Kannon Kanbe

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