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Showing posts with label - - - SSS - - -. Show all posts

2016/02/06

Yakushi Sanzon Triad

[ . BACK to DARUMA MUSEUM TOP . ]
. Yakushipedia - ABC-Index 薬師如来 .
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Yakushi sanzon 薬師三尊 Yakushi Triad, Trias, Trinity
薬師瑠璃光如来三尊佛 Yakushi Ruriko Nyorai Sanzon

Three Buddhist deities, the principal image chuuson 中尊 Chuson in the center,
and an attendant kyouji, wakiji 脇侍 Wakiji on each side.
. sanzon 三尊 triad / sanzonbutsu 三尊仏 .
- Introduction -

The two attendants of Yakushi are Nikkō on the left and Gakkō on the right.
If you think of Yakushi as a doctor of a hospital, Nikko is the nurse for the day shift and Gakko has the night shift.
So you are in good hands for 24 hours.

. Nikkoo Bosatsu (Sunlight) 日光菩薩 - Gakkoo Bosatsu (Moonlight) 月光菩薩
Suryaprabha and Candraprabha - Nikko and Gakko .




. 円空 Enku : Yakushi Sanzon 薬師三尊 .

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薬師三尊 (魅惑の仏像 5)
西村公朝 Nishimura Kocho, 小川光三 Ogawa Kozo,


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. 刀田山鶴林寺 Kakurin-Ji Todasan .
Toda no Taishi 刀田の太子
Hyogo, Kakogawa 兵庫県加古川市加古川町北在家424


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The statues date back to the Heian period and are made in the style of Joochoo 定朝様 Jocho. They are made from hinoki 檜 Japanese cypress. Even after 900 years there are rays of golden color coming from the face, neck and breast.

. 大島山瑠璃寺 Ruri-Ji Ojimasan .
Nagano - 薬師瑠璃光如来三尊佛 Yakushi Ruriko Sanzon

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Yakushi-Ji Nara 薬師寺旧金堂


source : wikipedia


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By Yo Ikon 葉偉混
- source : fogcircus.exblog.jp -

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CLICK for more photos !


. 薬師浄土曼荼羅 Yakushi Jodo Mandala .

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Join the friends on facebook !


. 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 .


[ . BACK to DARUMA MUSEUM . TOP . ]
[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ] - - - #yakushisanzon #sanzonyakushi #nikkogakko #gakkonikko - - -
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2016/01/16

Senyu-Ji Shikoku 58

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. Shikoku Henro Temple List .
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Senyuuji 仙遊寺 Senyu-Ji

. 四国お遍路さん Henro Pilgrims in Shikoku . - General Information -


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Nr. 58 - 作礼山 Sareizan 千光院 Senko-In 仙遊寺 Senyu-Ji
愛媛県今治市玉川町別所甲483/ Ehime, Imabara



Main statue is Kannon with 1000 arms 千手観世音菩薩

- quote
Senyūji - Hermit in Seclusion Temple
Built on the orders of Emperor Tenchi by the local ruler Ochi-no-Kami Okikimi in the 7th century. Legend states that in early history the hermit (sennin) ascetic Abō recited sutras here for forty years before mysteriously disappearing one morning. The honzon was carved by a pious girl and became the guardian Buddha of Emperor Tenchi. According to another legend, the honzon was brought from Ryūgū (the Dragon King's palace) under the sea like the legend at temple 39.

Kōbō Daishi made this the 58th temple on the pilgrimage and the Dōjō of esoteric disciplining (Kegyō). Local people call this temple Osarei (carving while prostrating yourself) because of the legend that the girl prostrated herself once after every cut of the knife while she was carving the honzon.

The temple is located at an elevation of 1, 300 ft (390 meters) on the top of the mountain. According to Frederick Starr, the Niō (28 Buddha figures) and the main Buddha are all attributed to Unkei.

Along the path to the temple, there are thirty-three statues of Kannon, each with an aspect corresponding to a particular temple on the 33 temple Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage.
- source : www.shikokuhenrotrail.com


- Chant of the temple
たちよりて作礼の堂にやすみつつ  
六字を唱え経を読むべし
Tachi yorite sarei no dō ni yasumitsutsu rokuji o tonae kyō o yomubeshi


. The Power of the Rokuji Mantra 六字大明呪 Rojuji Daimyo Ju .


ryuutoo sakura hi 竜燈桜碑
Memorial stone for the Dragon Lantern hanging on a Cherry tree
every year on the 9th day of the 7th lunar month, when the 竜女 Female Dragon comes out of the sea.


Inuzuka Ike 犬塚池 Inuzuka Pond
文化4年(1807)に完成した溜池で、仙遊寺と栄福寺の使い役をした犬の供養池。




- Homepage of the temple
- source : 88shikokuhenro.jp/ehime


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source : jake ojisan blog

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



. . Pilgrimages to Fudo Temples 不動明王巡礼
Fudo Myo-O Junrei - Introduction - .


The Five Great Wisdom Kings, Godai Myo-O - 五大明王
. The Five Great Elements of the Universe - 地水火風空の五大 .

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. - Two short Haiku Henro Trips, Summer 2005 - .

. - Photo Album from my visit - .


. 四国お遍路さん Pilgrims in Shikoku . - General Information

Koya San in Wakayama

Kobo Daishi Kukai 弘法大師 空海
(Kooboo Daishi, Kuukai)

. Gyoki Bosatsu 行基菩薩 (668 - 749) Saint Gyōki .


Haiku and Henro:
.... . The Haiku Henro Pilgrimage  

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. Jizoo Bosatsu 地蔵菩薩 Jizo Bosatsu - Kshitigarbha .
- Introduction -


. Japan - Shrines and Temples - ABC .


[ . BACK to DARUMA MUSEUM . TOP . ]
[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ] - - - - - #senyuji #senyuuji - - - - -
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2016/01/03

sange scattering flower amulets

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sange 散華 "scattering blossoms"


CLICK for more photos !

- quote
As part of the Buddhist training many ceremonies are carried out. One of these involves the spreading petals in order to bless the deceased spirits. This is called ‘SANGE’. Originally fresh lotus flowers and petals were used, but now they have been replaced by coloured paper in the lotus petal shape.

At the ceremony, thousands of paper petals are scattered from the roof of the Main Hall. These multicoloured paper petals dancing down from the blue sky creates a fantastical atmosphere. In some temples, well known artists are commissioned to create pictures for these petals, which are then made into woodblock prints and sold as commemorative souveniers. Many people keep them as a small collection art.
- source : sangemuseum.jp



Sange Bijutsukan 散華美術館 Sange Museum Nara

Apart from lotus flowers (hasu 蓮の花), the flowers of water lilies (suiren 睡蓮) were also used.

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- - - - - Sange from Yakushi-Ji 薬師寺



薬師寺の散華
薬師寺の稚児散華
薬師寺の大講堂落慶記念奉納散華
薬師寺の奉納稚児散華を展示

- source : sangemuseum.jp/gallery -


. 大本山薬師寺 Yakushi-Ji Nara .

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. Shitennō-ji 四天王寺 Shitenno-Ji Osaka .




sange 散華 "scattered blossoms"
blossom-shaped amulets for good luck, with paintings by
Sugimoto Kenkichi 杉本健吉

source : Temple Homepage


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. Kakurinji 鶴林寺 Kakurin-Ji Harima, Hyogo .




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. O-Mamori お守り Amulets and Talismans .

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

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- - - - - H A I K U - 俳句 - - - - -

学び児等橋よりふらす散華かな
manabi kora hashi yori furasu sange kana

young students
scatter Sange blossoms
from a bridge . . .


Hara Sekitei 原石鼎 (1886-1951)


. hoo sange 朴散華 Magnolia hypoleuca. Fragrant magnolia. .
- - kigo for early summer - -




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. Pilgrimages to Fudo Temples 不動明王巡礼
Fudo Myo-O Junrei - Fudo Pilgrims - INTRODUCTION .



. Japan - Shrines and Temples - ABC .


[ . BACK to DARUMA MUSEUM . TOP . ]
[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
- - #sangeflowers #scatteringflowers -
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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

- quote -
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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- quote -
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 -


- quote -
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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. Japan - Shrines and Temples - ABC .

. O-Mamori お守り Amulets and Talismans .


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[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
- - #miterasennyuji #sennyuji #shogunzuka -
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2015/07/08

Yakushi Statues

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. Yakushipedia - ABC-Index 薬師如来 .
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Statues of Yakushi Nyorai 薬師如来像

. . . . . Collecting statues . . . . .
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Fukooji 光應山 普光寺 Fuko-Ji   - Hiratsuka, Kanagawa
- source : www.fukouji.jp
Statue from the Muromachi period.

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Shunkooji, Shunkō-ji 春光寺 Shunko-Ji Kyoto
南山城の無量山 / Sōraku-gun, Minamiyamashiro-mura, Kitaōkawara, Kitagaitō

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Join the friends on facebook !


. 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 .


[ . BACK to DARUMA MUSEUM . TOP . ]
[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ] - - - #yakushistatues #statuesyakushi - - -
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2015/05/14

Sakurado Yakushi Gifu

[ . BACK to DARUMA MUSEUM TOP . ]
. Yakushipedia - ABC-Index 薬師如来 .
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Sakurado Yakushi 桜堂薬師 / 櫻堂薬師
佐久羅宮神社(櫻宮神社) Sakuramiya Jinja



source : 瑞浪.com/sakuradoureitaisai

瑞浪市土岐町桜堂 / Sakuradō Tokichō Mizunami-shi, Gifu

This hall is one of the Three Great Temples (Mountains日本三山) next to 比叡山 Hieizan and 高野山 Koyasan.
It used to be called 瑞櫻山 Suio-San 法妙寺 Homyo-Ji 薬師堂 Yakushi-Do

It was founded in 710 on request of the empress Gensho Tenno 元正天皇 (680 - 748). One one of his family members was ill and in a dream vision he had the inspiration to pray to Yakushi Nyorai for healing. So he had temples erected to this deity in many parts of Japan.
There is also a famous bridge where the envoy of the emperor passed when delivering a thank-you message to the temple - 勅使橋 chokushibashi.

In 812 嵯峨天皇 Saga Tenno ordered Saint 三諦上人 Santai Shonin to make a statue of Yakushi and pray for his healing, since he had fallen ill. When he was healed he made more donations to the temple to have more buildings and statues. It was then when it was called one of the "Three Great Temples" with prayer rituals held every day.
It later declined and fell under the governance of the Kamakura government, when it regained power had had more than 24 sub-temples.

In 1571, the temple  was burned down by the forces of 織田信長 Oda Nobunaga.

In the early Edo period the local Lord of the Matsudaira clan became ill three times and recovered three times thanks to prayer rituals at the feet of this Yakushi.
After another period of decline (the Matsudaira clan had to move to Shizuoka) it was re-build again thanks to the effort of the Tendai monk 永秀 Nagahide.
Nagahide tried to revive the temple, but fell ill himself. In a dream he had the vision to call his disciple 賢秀 Katahide from Kyoto. Katahide asked the local lord 丹羽 Niwa for financial support to built a new temple hall in 1667.




Next to the statue of Yakushi Nyorai there is now the statue of Saint Santai.

In the main hall there are statues of Yakushi Nyorai, the 四天王像 Four Tenno and the 十二神将像 12 Heavenly generals.

In the year 2012 there were many rituals, festivals and exhibitions to celebrate 1200 years of this temple.


. Empress Gensho Tenno 元正天皇 and Yakushi Nyorai 薬師如来 .
- Temples related to Empress Gensho Tenno -

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The temple is famous for its ritual Bugaku dance masks 能楽面 / 舞楽面 handed down from China in the Nara period.



奈良時代中国の唐から伝来した舞楽に使う面だそうです
- source and photos : taka_san_daikichi -


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櫻堂薬師舞楽面 Bugaku dance masks



「羅陵王」Raryo-O and 「納曽利」Nasori with movable lower joint
「拔頭」Bato


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In the compound of the temple there is a large pond, where once a dreadful dragon lived.
He swallowed people trying to cross over in small boats and devastated the fields of the farmers nearby.
In the nearby village lived two young men, 月吉 Tsukiyoshi and 日吉 Hiyoshi who both had the same strange dream.
"Please go and drive the dragon away soon, to help the village. Tomorrow morning the two of you should go to the pond first thing you wake up!"

When they went to the pond they saw the encouraging figure of Yakushi Nyorai sama.
They hurried to make two strong bows and arrows and stood by the side of the pond ready to shoot. Then suddenly the sky cleared, thunder roared and the dragon came toward them, spraying fire out of his huge mouth.
When he was quite close, they sent their arrows right into his mouth. The dragon roared in pain and blood came out of his mouth, into the pond. The pond rose high up and the two built the 薬師堂 Yakushi Hall next to the 桜堂 Sakurado to honor Yakushi Nyorai.

Until our times, the hamlets of Tsukiyoshi, Hiyoshi and Toki are flourishing.




- Homepage of the temple
- source : 瑞浪.com/reijo08


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- - - - - Yearly Festivals - - - - -

1月 1日       新春篝火(かがり火)
3月15日       釈迦涅槃会

4月第2日曜日     薬師例大祭 Great Yakushi Festival

(12名の住職による大般若と約30~40桶の餅投げが行われます)
4月第3日曜日     佐久羅宮神社春祭り
5月 8日       お釈迦様花祭り(甘茶)
9月(旧暦7月22日) 二十二夜様
10月第2日曜日     佐久羅宮神社秋祭り
11月23日       新穀感謝祭(新嘗祭)

12月 7日       七薬師 "Seven Yakushi" Ritual

◎毎月15日 観音講


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初春や古刹に眠る舞楽面
hatsu haru ya kosatsu ni nemuru bugaku men

first spring -
ritual dance masks sleeping
in the old temple


Gabi Greve


. Kagura Dance 日本の神楽 and 舞楽 Bugaku .

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- quote -
Bugaku 舞楽 court dance and music
is the Japanese traditional dance that has been performed to select elites mostly in Japanese imperial courts for over twelve hundred years. In this way it has been an upper class secret, although after World War II the dance was opened to the public and has even toured around the world in 1959. The dance is marked by its slow, precise and regal movements. The dancers wear intricate traditional Buddhist costumes, which usually include equally beautiful masks. The music and dance pattern is often repeated several times. It is performed on a square platform, usually 6 yards by 6 yards.
- - - More in the WIKIPEDIA !




. Itsukushima Bugaku 厳島神社舞楽 at Miyajima, Hiroshima .

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Bugaku Byobu folding sceen 舞楽図屏風 Bugaku Dancers
俵屋宗達 by Tawara Sotatsu



Including
採桑老 Saisoro 、納曽利 Nasori(以上右隻)、羅陵王 Ranryo-O、還城楽 Genjoraku、崑崙八仙 Konron Hassen(以上左隻)
- source : www.salvastyle.com -

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. Yakushizakura 薬師ザクラ / 薬師桜 Cherry Blossom Yakushi .

. O-Mamori お守り Amulets and Talismans .

. Japan - Shrines and Temples - ABC .


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[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
- - #gokurakusakurado #sakurado #bugaku -
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2015/04/11

Senmi Yakushi Temple

[ . BACK to DARUMA MUSEUM TOP . ]
. Yakushipedia - ABC-Index 薬師如来 .
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Kawami Yakushiji 川見薬師寺 (せんみやくしじ)
Senmi Yakushi-Ji - Kawami Yakushi-Ji


Toyota, Aichi Prefecture / 愛知県豊田市川見町堂ノ洞225

- quote -
Yakushiji Temple in Kawami-cho, Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture,
is a temple of the Koyasan school of the Shingon sect. Its mountain name is Rurikozan. It is popularly called “Kawami no Yakushi-san 川見の薬師さん.”



The main gate stands at the top of the long and steep stone steps. Several halls including Kannon-do Hall in front and the main hall are located in a spacious precinct. The sculptures of dragon placed beneath the eaves of the main hall are famous as the most wonderful dragon sculptures in Japan.
The statue of Yakushi Nyorai was carved in the late Muromachi period (13361573) in Yosegi-zukuri (assembled wood) technique. Together with the two stone lanterns in the precinct, the statue was designated as a cultural property of the village.

In spring, the temple is covered with over 1,000 cherry blossoms. Snowstorm of pale pink petals is breathtaking.
- source : nippon-kichi.jp


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The Cherry Blossom Park nearby 川見四季桜公園
四季桜の里 小原(Obara)川見薬師寺



- Homepage of the temple
- source : www.kankou-obara.toyota




. . . CLICK here for Photos !


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Dragon carvings 本堂には上り龍



- source and more autumn photos : blogs.yahoo.co.jp/futti10

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Join the friends on facebook !

. Yakushipedia - ABC-Index 薬師如来 .

. Yakushi Nyorai Legends 薬師如来 .

. Yakushi Pilgrims INFO - INTRODUCTION .


. Japan - Shrines and Temples - ABC .


[ . BACK to DARUMA MUSEUM . TOP . ]
[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
- #kawamiyakushi #senmiyakushi -
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2015/04/03

Sugi Yakushi Cedar

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Yakushi Sugi 薬師杉 Cedar Tree and Yakushi Nyorai


. WKD : sugi 杉 cedar tree in all seasons .
- Introduction -


. Folktales, legends about Yakushi Nyorai 薬師如来 / 薬師様 / 薬師さん .

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ヤクシスギ / やくしすぎ Yakushi Sugi
Nearby is a small Yakushi-Do 薬師堂 Hall for Yakushi Nyorai .



This old tree is about 30 meters high.
in Niigata, 新潟県柏崎市石曽根小清水
source : hitozato-kyoboku.com

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. . . CLICK here for Photos of the trees!

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sugi Yakushi 杉薬師 Yakushi and the cedar tree

Long ago in the Tenpyo period (729 - 749), when the Emperor 孝謙天皇 Koken Tenno (718 - 770) was very ill and asked his diviners for advise, they told him:
"In Mutsu 陸奥 there is a very very high cedar tree 大杉 and its long branches produced a shadow until your living quarters, causing your illness."
So he ordered one of his ministers, 某(なにがし) the Dainagon Nanigashi, to have the tree cut down.
The minister found a huge cedar tree at the village of Tsukidate and had it cut down. From the cutting surface blood spilled on the ground. But on the next morning all was healed and the tree was standing there as before.
However many times they cut it down, the same thing happened. Then a diviner told them to prepare a rope of the reeds in a field North-East to the cedar tree and cover the cutting wound with it.
The splinters from cutting flew in all directions and were soon gone.
Finally the illness of the Emperor was healed.
So he ordered to have a temple build over the stump of the cedar tree. Later Jigaku Daishi 慈覚大師 passed here and had a statue of Yakushi Nyorai placed on the altar.

. Yakushi Nyorai Legends from Miyagi 宮城県 .
栗原郡 Kurihara 築館町 Tsukidate

and more about the temple 双林寺 Sorin-Ji.


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- - - - - H A I K U - - - - -

影もつれ鹿ノ子鬼百合杉薬師
kage mo tsure ka no ko oniyuri sugi yakushi

shadows get longer
over all kinds of tiger lilies
Sugi Yakushi

Tr. Gabi Greve

Ishizaki Soshuu 石崎素秋 Ishisaki Soshu



. WKD : lilies in all seasons .



photo - wikipedia

kanoko yuri 鹿の子百合 Speciosum lily
Lilium speciosum, sometimes called the Japanese lily

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. Yakushipedia - ABC-Index 薬師如来 .

. Japan - Shrines and Temples - ABC .


[ . BACK to DARUMA MUSEUM . TOP . ]
[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
- - #gokurakusugiyakushi #cedaryakushi -
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2015/03/31

Yakushi Miyagi Legends

[ . BACK to DARUMA MUSEUM TOP . ]
. Yakushipedia - ABC-Index 薬師如来 .
- for 双林寺 Temple Sorin-Ji see below
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Yakushi Nyorai Legends from Miyagi 宮城県

. Yakushi Nyorai 薬師如来 the Buddha of Medicine - Bhaisajyaguru .
- Legends about Yakushi Nyorai -


Kinoshita no Yakushi 木ノ下の薬師 Yakushi from Kinoshita village
nabe Yakushi 鍋薬師 Yakushi and the cooking pot
nure Yakushi 濡れ薬師 Yakushi who got wet
Shiga no Yakushi 志賀の薬師 Yakushi from Shiga village
shio no Yakushi 塩の薬師 Yakushi and Salt
sugi Yakushi 杉薬師 Yakushi and the cedar tree


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nabe Yakushi 鍋薬師 Yakushi and the cooking pot

黒川郡 Kurokawa 大和町 Yamato village

In the year 1592 Lord Date Masamune led his troups from 岩出山城 Iwadeyama Castle toward the capital of Kyoto. To honor the God of War 軍神 with a blood offering 血祭 at the forest 七ツ森 he begun a hunt for a sacrifice animal, but they did not catch anything. Masamune got angry and begun to climb up Mount 大森山 Omoriyama. From there he saw something black in the distance.
When he asked his retainer 片倉小十郎 Katakura Kojuro, he said it was Yakushi Nyorai.
The angry Masamune ordered a shot at it and broke the breast of the Nabe Yakushi, but at the same time blood was running out of his own nose and did not stop.
Kojuro bowed many times 三拝九拝 and then used the leaf of the bamboo grass (sasa 笹) to stop the nose bleeding.
The anger of Masamune was also calmed down now and he climbed down the mountain. He then ordered the mountain to become his special hunting ground.
- - - One version of the legend says:
The arrow came flying back at Masamune and hit his eye, causing him to loose his eyesight.


Ōmori-yama 大森山薬師如来 Omoiryama Yakushi Nyorai is now a famous camping spot in Miyagi.
The mountain is 226 meters high. A festival in honor of "The Buddha of Healing" is held.
The mountain is also called 笹倉山 Sasakura-yama at 七つ森 Nanatsumori .

The grave of Masamune is at the temple 大義山 覚照寺 Kakusho-Ji
宮城県黒川郡大和町宮床字大椚69 / Okunugi-69 Miyatoko, Taiwa, Kurokawa District, Miyagi


. Date Masamune 伊達政宗 (1567 - 1636) .


宮城県仙台市若林区木ノ下2丁目8-28

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nure Yakushi 濡れ薬師 Yakushi who got wet

Miyagi - 柴田郡 柴田町 Shibata

At the village Tsukinoki 槻木 there had been a long period of sunshine and drought.
The villagers gathered at the swamp 鰌沼 Dojo-Numa and decided to make an offering of a village girl to the Dragon king 竜神 as a rain ritual 雨乞い (amagoi).
The beautiful O-Yoshi およし agreed to be the victim, because she was upset with her first love, Kensaku 勘作 and felt very unhappy with her life.
On her way to the swamp, O-Yoshi she met an itinerant priest. When he heard her story he suggested that the Dragon God would not be content with her unhappy sacrifice and they would better give him a statue of Yakushi Nyorai.
When they threw the statue in the water, Yakushi got wet and then - - suddenly a strong rain began to fall and the village was saved.
They build a Yakushi Hall 薬師堂 and a small retreat for O-Yoshi who would now serve Yakushi Nyorai at the temple.


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Gunma 高崎市南八幡 - Takasaki Town Minami Hachiman

Near the fence of the assembly hall and the graveyard of the Uehara family 上原家墓地 there is a cherry tree. Below it there is a stone with the inscription of 濡れ薬師.



Since olden times, this Yakushi san has been known to heal diseases of the eyes and many people, who got healed by his power, come here to pray again in gratitude. They also made other small stone statues as offerings, now there are more than 30 beside the Yakushi stone.

But why is it called "Yakushi who gets wet" ?
Well, once there was a good man who built a roof over the stone to keep it dry and protect it from the rain. But then . . . the home of this good man burned down.
So people thought the stone and Yakushi with it were ment to get wet.

- source and more photos : 南八幡 History

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shio no Yakushi 塩の薬師 Yakushi and Salt

Miyagi 名取市 Natori 塩手 Shiote

Once upon a time
some say it was in the year 647, at the bottom of Mount Shiodeyama 塩出山 there was a spring with salty water. An old priest 老僧 and 12 acolytes boiled the water to make salt and distributed it to the villagers.
Because of this beneficent salt, all villagers were healed from their illnesses and became healthy.
The old priest was seen as an incarnation of Yakushi Nyorai and thus the name given to him.
The place where the salt water welled up was called Shiogawara 塩河原 and the place where they boiled it down was called Shiode 塩出 - "where the salt comes from".

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Shio Yakushi Doo 塩薬師堂 Hall for the Shio Yakushi 塩薬師
This Hall is beside the pond Shio no Ike 塩ノ池.

Once upon a time
during a wildfire most of the hamlet was burned down, but the statue of Yakushi flew high in the sky and was saved. It landed safely in a pine tree nearby. So the greatful villagers build a hall for him there and called him the "Salt Yakushi" 塩薬師.

The seated statue we see now is from the Muromachi period, covered with lacquer and then gold foil. It is seated on a lotus throne.



at the temple 塩福山永禅寺 Eizen-Ji  
宮城県名取市愛島塩手字仮宿46 

The main statue is Shaka Nyorai.

There is also a statue of Fudo Myo-O 大聖不動明王  



The statue is carved with one knife 一刀彫 and one among the three famous standing statues of Fudo Myo-O 不動三尊立像 in Tohoku.
- source : sekishin.info


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Kinoshita no Yakushi 木ノ下の薬師 Yakushi from Kinoshita

陸奥国分寺 Mutsu Kokubun-Ji  薬師堂 Yakushi-Do Hall
宮城県仙台市若林区木ノ下2丁目8-28 / 2 Chome-8-28 Kinoshita, Wakabayashi-ku, Sendai



This is the provincial temple of former Mutsu Province. The Hall for Yakushi 薬師堂 Yakushidō is an Important Cultural Property.
After its first construction around 740, the temple was destroyed in 1189. Lord Date Masamune rebuilt the complex in 1607, including the Yakushi Hall.
In 1903 it was designated an Important Cultural Property.

When Date Masamune was involved in a severe fight with 大崎義隆 Osaki Yoshitaka (1548 - 1603) it seemed difficult for his forces to win. Then suddenly 48 brave monk-soldiers 法師武者 appeared from nowhere and fought with the enemy, so in the end Masamune was victorious.
When he asked where these soldiers had come from, he was told
"From Kinoshita in Miyagino 宮城野" and the soldiers vanished as fast as they had appeared.

At Miyagino there was only a group of stone markers in a small stone sanctuary, dedicated to Yakushi Nyorai.
That night Masamune had a dream telling him that the soldiers had come on orders of Yakushi Nyorai to help him.

-
朝鮮の役に政宗の軍勢が肥前の名護屋を出航したとき、薬師如来が支那に学問修行しにいく僧に化身して便乗して玄界灘を無事乗り切るよう保護し、帰還のときも同乗して守ってくれた。往復ともに僧は「陸奥木ノ下の僧」とのみ答えて名を言わなかった。





Daruma ko ame 達磨コ飴 / 達磨子飴 Daruma lollipop
A kind of candy in red color and the form of Daruma san.
On the seventh day of the first month and the third day of the third month of the old lunar year during the festival of Yakushi お薬師さん this sweet was sold. People who eat it will be healthy all year long.
After buying it you have to roll it up the stairs to the Daruma statue in the Yakushi Hall 薬師堂 and then offer it to the 神棚 Shelf of the Gods in your own home with the wish for the child or children to grow up healthy and well.
This custom was very popular until about 1910. Another type was a small horse sweet.

. 仙台のだるま飴 Daruma sweets from Sendai .


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Shiga no Yakushi 志賀の薬師 Yakushi from Shiga village

岩沼市 Iwanuma 志賀 Shiga

Temple Ganzooji, Ganzōji 岩蔵寺 Ganzo-Ji
Iwanuma-shi, Shiga, Yakushi−9




慈覚大師 Jigaku Daishi founded the temple in 861, bringing a statue of Yakushi Nyorai to be venerated here. During the construction there came a group of skilled carpenters from Hida and promised to build the hall in one night.
But the villagers imitated the crow of a rooster long before daybreak, when the carpenters had just added one ceiling beam 天井板. They were quite angry and left the village.
In front of the hall were the other beams waiting to be fixed and between them was a stone looking like a snake 蛇石. It was formed when an oxen pulling the wooden beams for the building stumbled.

The temple is also famous for its ema 絵馬 votive tablets.
In the hall is a special ema painted by 狩野法眼元信 Kano Motonobu (1476 - 1559).
The oxen on this painting did not have any reins, so he escaped from the painting and damaged the fields in front of the temple. Therefore Motonobu came back and painted some reins to keep the oxen in place on the wooden tablet.

The statue of Yakushi in the Yakushi Hall 薬師堂 is said to be carved by Jigaku Daishi himself. It is a secret statue preserved in a small sanctuary 厨子 and never shown.


. Ennin - Jigaku Daishi 慈覚大師 . - (794 – 864)


. Hida no Takumi 飛騨工匠 Hida’s Master Builders .

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sugi Yakushi 杉薬師 Yakushi and the cedar tree
Miyagi, 栗原郡 Kurihara 築館町 Tsukidate


source : www.pref.miyagi.jp
The seated statue from the Heian period is 121.2 cm high and made of keyaki ケヤキ zelkova wood.
It is an important cultural property of the town 重要文化財.

Long ago in the Tenpyo period (729 - 749), when the Empress 孝謙天皇 Koken Tenno (718 - 770) was very ill and asked his diviners for advise, they told him:
"In Mutsu 陸奥 there is a very very high cedar tree 大杉 and its long branches produced a shadow until your living quarters, causing your illness."
So he ordered one of his ministers, 某(なにがし) the Dainagon Nanigashi, to have the tree cut down.
The minister found a huge cedar tree at the village of Tsukidate and had it cut down. From the cutting surface blood spilled on the ground. But on the next morning all was healed and the tree was standing there as before.
However many times they cut it down, the same thing happened. Then a diviner told them to prepare a rope of the reeds in a field North-East to the cedar tree and cover the cutting wound with it.
The splinters from cutting flew in all directions and were soon gone.
Finally the illness of the Empress was healed.
So he ordered to have a temple build over the stump of the cedar tree. Later Jigaku Daishi 慈覚大師 passed here and had a statue of Yakushi Nyorai placed on the altar.


The temple, built in 760, was called Soorinji 双林寺 Sorin-Ji.


宮城県栗原市築館薬師台双林寺
1-1 Tsukidateyakushidai, Kurihara, Miyagi

The temple became quite famous and had more than 48 sub-temples  in its compound.
But during the Middle Ages it declined through fire and fighting.
In 1591 it was re-built on orders of Date Masamune.
In the compound is the new hall 薬師瑠璃殿, / 薬師堂 - Ruridono 瑠璃殿
where the statue is now called
「お薬師様」 O-Yakushi sama, 「杉薬師様」 Sugi Yakushi Sama.

Every year on November 3 there is a special festival at the Yakushi Hall.
Tsukidate Yakushi Matsuri つきだて薬師まつり, also called
Fujiwara Ichizoku Yakushi Matsuri 藤原一族薬師まいり Yakushi Festival of the Fujiwara clan.

The festival is based on another legend of Kurihara town, the
しづはた姫物語 Shizuhata Hime Monogatari.

When the princess of the Fujiwara clan (Shizuhata, later 北の方 Kita no Kata) was on her way to Hiraizumi, she became ill on the way and prayed at the Cedar Tree Yakushi temple. She got healed on the spot and later, when she was with the Fujiwara clan, she had her retainers come to pray at this temple in a long parade.

The region of present-day Kurihara was part of the ancient Mutsu Province 陸奥の国, and has been settled since the Jomon period by the Emishi.
During the later portion of the Heian period, the area was ruled by the Northern Fujiwara. During the Sengoku period, the area was contested by various samurai clans before it came under the control of the Date clan of Sendai.

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- - - - - Legends from 雙林寺 Sorin-Ji temples in Japan - - - - -

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Gunma 群馬県 - 子持村 Komochi village

tsuru 鶴 a crane
The carving of a crane at 双林寺 the Temple Sorin-Ji came to live at night and devastated the fields.
The hunters had to shoot it down.

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Gunma 渋川市 Shibukawa city

Tadanori sakasazakura 忠度逆さ桜 the upside-down cherry tree of Tadanori
The cherry tree at 双林寺 the Temple Sorin-Ji is called "upside-down cherry tree".
Once a zatoo 座頭 blind minstrel appeared in front of the second priest of the temple.
He recited from the Heike Monogatari 平家物語 Tale of the Heike clan.
He quoted the poem
行暮れて木の下蔭をと宿せば花ぞ今宵のあるじならまし
and then disappeared.
The priest thought it must have been the spirit of Tadanori.
Tadanori had appeared on a white horse and thrown his whip made from cherry wood toward the sky and disappeared.
The whip had taken roots and became the cherry tree.

行暮れて木の下蔭をと宿せば花ぞ今宵のあるじならまし
"Were I, still traveling as night falls,
to make a sheltering tree my inn,
then would my host tonight be
the blossoms themselves?"
. Taira no Tadanori 平忠度 (1144 – 1184) .
. The Tale of the Heike (平家物語 Heike Monogatari) .

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Gunma 渋川市 Shibukawa city 雙林寺 Sorijni

The Seven Wonders from Temple Sorin-Ji 双林寺の七不思議
sakasa sakura 逆さ桜 Upside-down cherry tree
一つ木拍子
蛇頭水
山門の小僧
底無しの井戸
繋ぎ榧
赤門の鶏

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- reference -

Monsters, legends and Yakushi 妖怪データベース
- source : nichibun yokai database

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. O-Mamori お守り Amulets and Talismans .

. Yakushi Nyorai 薬師如来 the Buddha of Medicine - Bhaisajyaguru .
- Legends about Yakushi Nyorai -

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- - - Postscript - - -

Just when I had finished this article, with the words Miyagino and Wakabayashi still fresh in my mind, there was an article in the Japan Times
about the reconstruction efforts after the earthquake of March 11, 2011 -

- quote -
Innovation helps Tohoku’s tsunami-hit farmers bounce back
by Megan Rowling - Japan Times -
SENDAI –
Even before a tsunami swamped fields east of Sendai in March 2011, Chikako Sasaki and her husband, a rice farmer, had dreamed of starting a business selling food made from their own produce. . . .
. . . The company in Wakabayashi Ward also has a processing facility nearby, and is planning to expand its other activity of making boxed lunches for convenience stores and public events.
. . . The company, which began operating almost two years ago in Miyagino Ward with capital from five young local farmers and disaster relief grants and loans, employs around 40 people and is branching out into organic vegetables too.
. . . Drainage pumping stations were quickly restored after the disaster with new ones now being built to double capacity needed to cope with the 50 cm of ground subsidence caused by the quake.
To cover the extra cost of the new pumping stations, the Sendai’s city government has installed solar panels near its agriculture and horticulture center in Wakabayashi.
With a capacity to generate power for 150 households, the solar plant has recently begun producing electricity, which is sold to the grid.
- source : Japan Times April 01, 2015

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. Ennin - Jigaku Daishi 慈覚大師 . - (794 – 864)

. Japan - Shrines and Temples - ABC .


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