Jizo Pilgrims Introduction

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. Pilgrimages in Japan .
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Pilgrimages to Jizo Bosatsu 地蔵菩薩 - 地蔵霊場 Jizo Reijo

. - Jizo Bosatsu 地蔵菩薩 Jizō - Introduction - .

. Roku Jizō, Roku Jizoo 六地蔵 Roku Jizo, Six Jizo Statues .
Jizō vowed to assist human beings in each of the Six Realms of Rebirth.


The 24th day of each month is considered the Special Day for Jizo, 縁日 ennichi.

under construction
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................................................... Aichi 愛知県 ..................................................

知多半島くるま六地蔵 Chita Hanto 6 Jizo

岡崎三十六地蔵 Okazaki 36 Jizo

尾張六地蔵 Owari Roku Jizo



................................................... Chiba 千葉県 ..................................................

安房白寿六地蔵 Boso Hakuju Roku Jizo

第1番 高倉山　真野寺
第2番 尾浦山　海福寺
第3番 藤林山　藤栄寺
第4番 慈眼山　耀沢寺
第5番 太子山　長福寺
第6番 長安山　東光院　石堂寺


................................................... Ehime 愛媛県 ..................................................

伊予六地蔵 Iyo Roku Jizo


................................................... Fukuoka 福岡県 ..................................................

筑前六地蔵 Chikuzen Roku Jizo

北九州六地蔵 Kita Kyushi Roku Jizo


................................................... Fukushima 福島県 ..................................................

会津二十一地蔵

................................................... Hyogo 兵庫県 ..................................................

神戸六地蔵 Kobe Roku Jizo


................................................... Kanagawa 神奈川県 ..................................................

鎌倉二十四地蔵 Kamakura 24 Jizo

Records show that the Kamakura Jizō Pilgrimage of 24 sites has existed since 1725. With the decline of Buddhism, however, the pilgrimage gradually became obsolete, especially after the Meiji Imperial Restoration of 1868. After Shintō was designated as the state religion, many of the Buddha statues were thrown away, destroyed or just disappeared.
In 1901, Jizō worshippers checked how many Jizō statues were extant and confirmed there were 24. To promote worship for Jizō, Buddhist groups reinstated this pilgrimage in the same year. Most of them are located in the city of Kamakura, but a few will be found at the outskirts of the city.
- source : Mark Schumacher -


................................................... Kyoto 京都府 ..................................................

京都六地蔵 Kyoto Roku Jizo
since 1157

第1番 法雲山　浄妙院　大善寺
第2番 恵光山　浄禅寺
第3番 久遠山　地蔵寺
第4番 常盤山　源光寺
第5番 千松山　遍照院　上善寺
第6番 柳谷山　徳林庵

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洛陽二十四地蔵 Rakuyo 24 Jizo



................................................... Kyushu 九州 ..................................................

in 福岡県 Fukuoa,, 佐賀県 Saga and 長崎県 Nagasaki
九州二十四地蔵 Kyushu 26 Jizo


in 長崎県・佐賀県
西海六地蔵 Saikai Roku Jizo



................................................... Mie 三重県 ..................................................

東海近畿三十五地蔵 Tokai Kinki 35 Jizo


................................................... Nara 奈良県 ..................................................

大和地蔵十福 Yamato 10 auspicious Jizo


................................................... Shimane 島根県 ..................................................

古江六地蔵 Furue Roku Jizo
since 1983, all located in 松江市 Matsue

第1番 華巌山　道栄寺
第2番 瑞應山　金剛寺
第3番 延林山　成相寺
第4番 来慶山　実西寺
第5番 起雲山　瑞龍院
第6番 金亀山　満願寺


................................................... Tokyo 東京都 ..................................................

. 江戸六地蔵 Edo Roku Jizo .

Temples on the six exit roads out of Edo, to pray for safety on the road.
Erected by priest 地蔵坊正元 Jizobo Shogen.



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江戸東方四十八地蔵 Edo 48 Jizo in Eastern Edo
mentioned in the Tokyo Saijiki, but now almost forgotten

江戸山の手二十八地蔵 Edo Yamanote 24 Jizo

東都六地蔵 Tokyo Roku Jizo

玉川六地蔵 Tamagawa Roku Jizo

. Pilgrimages in Edo - Tokyo .


................................................... Wakayama 和歌山県 ..................................................

東海近畿三十五地蔵 Tokai Kinik 35 Jizo


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- - - - - reference - - - - -


ニッポンの霊場へようこそ - all pilgrimages of Japan
- source : nippon-reijo.jimdo.com -


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. Join the Jizo Bosatsu Gallery - Facebook .



. Pilgrimages in Japan .

. O-Mamori お守り　Amulets and Talismans .

. Japan - Shrines and Temples - ABC .


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- - #gokurakujizopilgrims　#jizopilgrims -
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Pilgrimages in Japan

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Pilgrimages in Japan
- Introduction -

Pilgrimages to a certain number of temples related to a deity are very popular in Japan.

- quote -
RESOURCE GUIDE - JAPANESE PILGRIMS & PILGRIMAGES
In Japan, pilgrimages can be classified into two general types:
(1) multi-site circuits and (2) single-site pilgrimages.
.
Sites Sacred to Kannon Bosatsu in Kamakura
Sites Sacred to Kannon Bosatsu Nationwide
Sites Sacred to Jizō Bosatsu in Kamakura
Sites Sacred to Seven Lucky Deities in Kamakura
Sites Sacred to Amida Nyorai in Kamakura

Mark Schumacher also introduces the equipment for a pilgrim, from the stamp book to the robes, hat and walking stick.
- source : Mark Schumacher

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- - - - - Pilgrimages to Buddhist Deities

Amida Reijo 阿弥陀霊場
. - source : http://nippon-reijo.jimdo.com - .

- Saikoku Aizen Reijo 西国愛染霊場 -
- 地蔵院 Jizo-In, Seki - Nr. 10 -

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

. Jizo Bosatsu 地蔵菩薩 - Introduction .

. Kannon Bosatsu 観音菩薩 . *

. Shichifukujin 七福神 Seven Deities of Good Luck .

. Yakushi Nyorai Pilgrimages 薬師如来霊場 - Introduction .

東海近畿地蔵霊場 Tokai Kinki Jizo Bosatsu Pilgrimage

. . Saigoku Aizen Deity Pilgrimage 西国愛染霊場 .

. 近畿三十六不動尊霊場第9番 Kinki 36 Fudo Temples .

. 摂津国八十八箇所 Settsu no Kuni 88 Temples .

. 下総四郡八十八所霊場 Shimofusa Four Areas 88 Pilgrimage - Tesshow .


摂津国三十三箇所 Settsu no Kuni 33 Kannon Temples
神戸十三仏霊場 Kobe Jusanbutsu
ぼけ封じ近畿十楽観音霊場 Bokefuji Kinki Juraku Kannon

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. Tokyo - Edo Pilgrimages .
Gofunai 御府内八十八ヶ所霊場 88 Henro Temples in Edo
江戸三十三観音霊場 Pilgrimage to 33 Kannon Temples of Edo
. . . and more


. Kanto Henro Pilgrimage 関東八十八ヶ所霊場 Kanto 88 Henro Temples .

. Shikoku Henro 四国お遍路さん Pilgrims in Shikoku .
Kobo Daishi Kukai 弘法大師　空海
Pilgrimage to 88 temples in honor of Kobo Daishi Kukai


. Zenko-Ji mairi 善光寺参り - Nagano .


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Japanese Buddhist Pilgrimage
Michael Pye



Japanese Buddhist Pilgrimage
explores the ritual practice of “circulatory pilgrimages” – the visiting of many temples in a numbered sequence. Every year, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims travel such temple routes, seeking peace of mind, health and wellbeing for themselves and others as the benefits of such meritorious endeavour. This form of pilgrimage appears to be unique to Japan. The practice began centuries ago and involved visiting 33 temples devoted to the Bodhisattva Kannon, spread widely over western Japan. Soon afterwards the equally famous pilgrimage to 88 temples on Japan’s fourth island of Shikoku came into prominence.

This is the first comprehensive study of all the major and many of the minor routes, The book also examines how the practice of circulatory pilgrimage developed among the shrines and temples for the Seven Gods of Good Fortune, and beyond them to the rather different world of Shintō. The varying significance of the different pilgrimages is also explored. In addition to all the information about the routes, the book includes numerous illustrations and examples of the short Buddhist texts chanted by the pilgrims on their rounds.
- source : .equinoxpub.com/home -


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- - - - - mairi 参り is usually a pilgrimage to a Shinto shrine.

. Pilgrimage to Kyoto shrines (Kyoo mairi 京参り ) .

Ise Shrine Pilgrimage, O-Ise-Mairi, Ise Mairi 伊勢参り
O-kage mairi お陰参り "Thanks pilgrimages" or "blessing pilgrimages,"
nuke mairi 抜参（ぬけまいり）

Konpira Shrine Pilgrimage, Konpira Mairi 琴平参り


Shinbutsu 神仏霊場
- source : http://nippon-reijo.jimdo.com -

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. Pilgrimage to 22 famous Shrines 名神大社二十二社参拝 .
The shrines are located in Kyoto, Nara, Mie and Osaka.


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Reference

ニッポンの霊場へようこそ - all pilgrimages of Japan
- source : nippon-reijo.jimdo.com -

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. O-Mamori お守り　Amulets and Talismans .

. Japan - Shrines and Temples - ABC .


[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　. TOP . ]
[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
- - #gokurakupilgrims ###pilgrim ####pilgrimages -
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jigoku-e paintings of hell

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. Onipedia - 鬼ペディア　- Oni Demons - ABC-List - .
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jigokue, jigoku-e 地獄絵 paintings of hell


CLICK for more hell paintings !


. Juu Oo 十王, Juo, Ju-O - 10 Ten Kings of Hell .
- Introduction -


. Kawanabe Kyōsai 河鍋暁斎 Kawanabe Kyosai Hell Paintings .

. Jigokudani　地獄谷 ”Hell Valley" - Jigoku no Tani 地獄の谷 .
At Hell Valley on Mount Tate in Etchû Province,
Nikushi Dôjin Demonstrates a Battle of Frogs and Teaches Magic to the Two Comrades Yoshikado and Iga Ju
Etchû Tateyama no Jigokudani ni Nikushi Dôjin kawazu kassen no ki o arawashi Yoshikado Iga Ju no ryôyû
「越中立山の地獄谷に肉芝道人蛙合戦の奇をあらはし良門伊賀寿の両雄に妖術を授く」
by Yoshitora 芳虎画


. Ninnaji 仁和寺 Ninna-Ji, Kyoto - Hell paintings .


- - - HELL SCROLLS - - -
Masuda Family Hell Scroll
Gaki Zoshi (Stories of Hungry Ghosts) Tokyo National eMuseum
Hell Scroll (Tokyo National eMuseum)
Hungry Ghosts Scroll (Tokyo National eMuseum)
Scroll of the Hungry Ghosts (Kyoto National Museum)
- source - Mark Schumacher -

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- quote
Depicting the horrors of hell through art
is a tradition in Buddhism that goes back at least 1,000 years in Japan. By depicting the suffering in store for sinners, the artworks were supposed to scare people onto the straight and narrow.
But if that’s what this late 19th century scroll was for, it might have had the opposite effect. We’ve never seen such a cute hellscape!



This particular scroll is part of Waseda University’s collection and is a copy by an artist called Kanshou of an unknown earlier hell scroll. His style is simple and kind of spindly, making the humans and devils look cartoonish. The combination that doodling style and the sometimes nonsensical situations makes for a very cute package, in our opinion.
- source : en.rocketnews24.com - 2015 -




Having beans thrown at you, being glared at while sitting in a flower - - what horror!
So, Hell.
It’s supposed to be a scary, not-so-cool place, right? All that fire and torture and eternal suffering are supposed to be the ultimate punishment for not acting like a good person during your life. Makes sense that it would be depicted as a pretty miserable place in artwork then, right?

- Look at more photos of Hell illustrations :
- source : en.rocketnews24.com - 2016 -
Original Source: Waseda University Library via CuRAZY

kanshoo jigoku emaki 観象（かんしょう）「地獄絵巻」Kansho
- source all photos : mag.japaaan.com/jigokuemaki -



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Jigoku Soshi 地獄草子 Hell Scroll


CLICK for more photos !
地獄草紙 東博本 雨炎火石

地獄を描いた12世紀の絵巻物。地獄草紙と呼ばれる絵巻物は、東京国立博物館本（国宝）、奈良国立博物館本（国宝）、旧益田家本甲巻、旧益田家本乙巻の4巻があった。このうち旧益田家本乙巻は、現在では、地獄を描いたものではないとされ、「辟邪絵」（へきじゃえ）と呼ばれるようになっている。
- - - More in the WIKIPEDIA !

- quote -
This scroll consists of seven painted scenes, six of which are accompanied by text. The scenes were based on descriptions of the sixteen lesser hells given in Kisekyô (literally, "Sutra of the World Arising"), which was translated into Chinese by Jnanagupta (d. 600). According to the sutra, around the eight greater hells lie sixteen lesser hells - the hells of "The Black Sand Cloud," "Excrement," "The Five Prongs," "Starvation," "Searing Thirst," "Pus and Blood," "The Single Bronze Cauldron," "Many Bronze Cauldrons," "The Iron Mortar," "Measures," "The Flaming Cock," "The River of Ashes," "The Grinder," "Sword Leaves," "Foxes and Wolves," and "Freezing Ice."
Today, these scenes are ordered such that the second, tenth, ninth, eleventh, first, sixth, and fifteenth hells appear in succession. A scroll fragment of the "Hell of the Single Bronze Cauldron" in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston is thought to have originally been part of the Nara set.
Each section of the text begins with the phrase, "There is yet another hell,"
to which is added a description based on Kisekyô, in which the cause for the sinners' fall into a particular hell is recorded. According to one view, however, the seventh scene, rather than depicting the "Hell of Foxes and Wolves" (J. Korô jigoku) described in Kisekyô, represents the "Hell of Wolves and Foxes" (J. Rô yakan nairi) that appears in Dairôtankyô ("Great Sutra of the World Arising").
The paintings are executed with supple lines embellished with a variety of dark, rich colors. They have a somewhat oppressive air and yet at the same time suggest a sense of transcendental peacefulness. The style of the "Hell of the Iron Mortar" recalls the frontispiece of the Chûson-ji Temple sutras, while that of the "Hell of the Flaming Cock" shows the influence of Chinese paintings of the Song dynasty (960-1279). This handscroll has the most delicate expression of all the extant "Illustrated Scrolls of the Six Paths of Rebirth" (J. rokudô emaki), a category that includes other Hell Scrolls, the Scrolls of the Hells for Buddhist Novices (J. Shamon jigoku zôshi), the Hungry Ghosts Scroll (J. Gaki zôshi), Extermination of Evil (J. Hekijae), and the Scroll of Diseases and Deformities (J. Yamai no sôshi).
It is highly probable that these Illustrated Scrolls of the Six Paths of Rebirth correspond to the "Paintings of the Six Paths" (J. rokudô-e) mentioned in textual sources, which were commissioned by Emperor Goshirakawa (1127-92, r. 1155-58) and stored originally in Rengeô-in Temple (Sanjûsangendô).
- more
- reference source : emuseum.jp/detail -

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Shamon jigoku zôshi 沙門地獄草紙 Scrolls of the Hells for Buddhist Novices
Shamon Jigoku - a hell for monks


CLICK for more photos !

- quote -
Monk-in-Hell Scroll (Hell of boiling excrement)
This is the fifth volume of Jigoku Zoshi (picture scroll depicting hell) with seven volumes in total, which had been handed down to the Masudas. The Jigoku Zoshi owned by the former Masudas had long been handed down as a set of Jigoku Zoshi and Hekija-e (a painting that depicts a scene of evil being punished and exterminated) (National treasure; owned by the Nara National Museum).
It has been known that the set depicts the Shamon Jigoku (a hell for monks), which is explained in the Batorasetsu Sutra contained in the Butsumyo Sutra comprising 16 volumes and this drawing corresponds to the Fusshi Jigoku in the Shamon Jigoku. The Jigokuhen Gobyobu, a folding screen on which hell was drawn and which was used at the Butsumyo-e Service that had been practiced at Court since the early Heian period, depicts the Shamon Jigoku. Since it is possible that the Hekija Deity (deity that expels evil) was also drawn on this folding screen, some believe that the Jigoku Zoshi of the former Masudas, including this one and Hekija-e originally constituted one picture scroll that was created based on the design of the Jigoku Gobyobu.

While this drawing displays the traditional techniques of Yamato-e in the Heian period as exemplified by the handwriting in the style of Jakuren school in the legend and the careful sketches and shading in character drawing, it also shows characteristics of a transitional period to the Kamakura period, such as the line drawing of Mezurasetsu (servants in hell) represented in the extremely fat or thin bodies. It can be said, therefore, that this was created during the period from the end of the Heian period to the early Kamakura period.
- source : emuseum.jp/detail -

- reference : shamon jigoku zoshi -


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gaki zôshi, gaki zooshi 餓鬼草子　Gaki Zoshi - Hungry Ghosts Scroll
-----　. . . CLICK here for Photos !

hekijae, hekija-e 辟邪絵　Hekija-E - Extermination of Evil, Exorcists Scroll
Hekija 辟邪 deity that expels evil
----- . . . CLICK here for Photos !

yamai no sôshi, yamai no sooshi 病草紙　Yamai no Soshi - Scroll of Diseases and Deformities
----- . . . CLICK here for Photos !


. rokudoo　六道 Rokudo - Six realms of existence .
and gaki 餓鬼 the hungry demons

rokudô emaki, rokudoo emaki 六道絵巻 Rokudo Emaki - Illustrated Scrolls of the Six Paths of Rebirth
----- . . . CLICK here for Photos !

rokudoo e 六道絵 Rokudo-E - Paintings of the Six Paths


. Tengu no dairi emaki 天狗の内裏絵巻 The Tengu Palace .
Minamoto no Yoshitsune visiting Hell with a Tengu guide

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. information of facebook .
naraku ならく / 奈落 hell, hades - sanskrit : naraka, niraya - Naraka

. Juu Oo 十王, Juo, Ju-O - 10 Ten Kings of Hell - Ten Yama Kings .


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Korean painting of hell



Choson period or later. Korea. First quarter of the 20th century.

- shared by Walter on facebook -


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Hell paintings on folding screens 地獄絵　襖絵 fusuma-e



（北上市永明寺蔵）Iwate Kitakami
from an exhibition at 北上市和賀町岩崎の鬼の館

- source : furusato.fmii.co.jp -



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Hell paintings on hanging scrolls　 地獄絵　掛け軸 kakejiku





綾部安国寺の地獄絵 Hell paintings from Ankoku-Ji in Ayabe, Kyoto


. . . CLICK here for more Photos !



. 8 scrolls from a temple in Nagano .


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jigoku ezu 地獄絵図 Hell Paintings


CLICK for more hell paintings !

冷え性の母に極彩地獄絵図
hieshoo no haha ni gokusai jigoku ezu

for my mother
who is always feeling so cold -
this colorful painting of hell

Hasegawa Sogyo (Hasegawa Soogyo) 長谷川双魚 (1897 - 1987)

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地獄絵図たんねんに見る西日来て
吉野義子

地獄絵図右往左往の紙魚の跡
島青櫻

地獄絵図拝して自戒常楽会
名越夜潮

地獄絵図方丈に吊り虫干しす
澤野粂子

地獄絵図赤く輝き冬に入る
細木蓉子

暑さなど何ぞ原爆地獄絵図
古橋成光

立ねぷたいちばん下は地獄絵図
松宮梗子

ソフトクリーム舐めて見てゐる地獄絵図
奥村せいち

十夜果て箱に収むる地獄絵図
北野民夫

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manga hell paintings


CLICK for more photos !

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図説 地獄絵の世界 The illustrated world of Hell Paintings
小栗栖 健治





地獄絵を旅する: 残酷・餓鬼・病・死体 Travelling in the world of Hell Paintings
加須屋誠




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- English reference -

. O-Mamori お守り　Amulets and Talismans .



. 矢田寺 Temple Yatadera - Yata Jizo Son 矢田地蔵尊 .
Nara Prefecture, Yamato-Koriyama, Yatacho, 3549
... this temple was founded in 679 after Emperor Tenmu fled here during a civil war and prayed for victory.
It is famous for the Jizo statues.

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

地獄絵の鬼が溢るる春浅し
jigoku-e no oni ga afururu haru asashi

on the hell scroll
there are so many demons -
spring just beginning
Tr. Gabi Greve

榎本愛子 Enomoto Aiko

. WKD : "thin spring" 春浅し (はるあさし) haru asashi .



CLICK for more photos !

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地獄絵に空白はなし安居寺
jigoku e ni kuuhaku wa nashi Ango-Ji (Yassui-Ji)

on the hell painting
not a bit is unpainted -
temple Ango-Ji

松田都青　Matsuda san




- detail -


source :　henro.gozaru.jp
「安居寺」と書いて「あんこじ」と読むらしい


- quote -
安居寺 Ango-Ji /
富山県南砺市安居4941 / 4941 Yasui Nanto-shi, Toyama
In the 2nd year of the Yoro era (718 C.E.), Angoji temple was founded by Shingon Buddhist Patriarch Zenmui Sanzo, who was visiting from India. I
n the Nara period, it served as Emperor Shomu's temple, as well as that of the Kaga Domain in the Edo period, and is thus the home of many treasured items. Notable among these is the standing statue Mikae Amidanyorai, "The Staring Amida Tathagata". The most prized possession of the temple is a wooden statue of Kanon Bodhisattva from the early Heian period (designated important cultural asset), which can be seen at its unveiling once every year on October 18th.
- source : www.tabi-nanto.jp -

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地獄絵の火にあたたまる十二月
鈴木鷹夫

地獄絵の鬼に止れり春の蝿
栗田やすし

地獄図絵のなかへわめきて蝉の昼 河野南畦
地獄図絵昼つかさどる黒揚羽 河野多希女
地獄図絵朱責めの暑さつづきをり 河野多希女
地獄図絵黒き揚羽が寺を抜け 河野南畦 湖の森
地獄絵ざつと見て ま 何とかなりそう 沙羅冬笛
地獄絵に諭さるる子や地蔵盆 芦澤元子
地獄絵に野萩の風のひとしきり 南光 翠峰
地獄絵に青き山あり蕨餅 野池玉代
地獄絵に風の牡丹を加ふべし 大木あまり

地獄絵のあと涅槃図にひざまづく 石野 冬青
地獄絵のうらの金箔雁のこゑ 三森鉄治
地獄絵の女は白し秋の風 武藤紀子
地獄絵の底で暴れる冬の蝿 井上純郎
地獄絵の朱が目に残り迎鐘 田中驕星
地獄絵の朱色や爪で剥がしたき 池田澄子
地獄絵の水蒼かりし桜かな 有光令子
地獄絵の破れ繕ふ土用干 高田たみ子
地獄絵の襖開けたる花見かな 福島せいぎ
地獄絵の赤を春着の裾に見し 大山安太郎
地獄絵の赤深谷の茸にも 矢島渚男 船のやうに
地獄絵の飯の炎となるお風入れ 高澤良一
地獄絵の飯は火を噴き盆の寺 長谷川櫂

地獄絵を媼の拝む彼岸寺 渡辺威人
地獄絵を見て日盛りを戻るなり 佐藤信子
地獄絵を高く掛けゐし大昼寝 石寒太 翔
地獄絵を黒羽に吊る冬田かな 古舘曹人

寒詣一灯地獄絵を照らす 石倉啓補
廻廊に地獄絵並ぶ花祭 佐藤石花
春陰やむかしこの世の地獄図絵 稲垣きく
炎天を来て地獄絵に見入るなり 佐藤美恵子
白山茶花地獄絵のごと蜂群るゝ 高木雨路
秋風に赤き地獄絵かかりけり 八木林之介
鐘楼のなかの地獄絵うそ寒し 福田甲子雄
雪とける寺地獄絵に朝日射す 中山純子 沙羅
鶏頭花地獄絵の闇たつぷりと 石田阿畏子

こはごはと地獄絵のぞく宵閻魔 鈴木胡月
こほろぎや地獄絵花鳥なかりけり 斉藤夏風
冷まじや地獄絵仕置の白女體 高澤良一 素抱
- source : HAIKUreikuDB -


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地獄画の垣にかかりて鳴雲雀
jigoku e no kaki ni kakarite naku hibari

in the hell painting
perched on a fence...
a lark sings

- Tr. David Lanoue

. Kobayashi Issa 小林一茶 .
17 haiku about hell by Issa


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かわいい仏像 たのしい地獄絵 - Gentle Buddha Statues - Enjoyable Hell Paintings
須藤 弘敏 (著), 矢島 新 (著) - amazon com

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Nihon Ryōiki - Record of Miraculous Events in Japan
Haruo Shirane, Burton Watson



The Nihon ryoiki, a collection of setsuwa, or "anecdotal" tales, compiled by a monk in late-eighth- or early-ninth-century Japan, records the spread of Buddhist ideas in Japan and the ways in which Buddhism's principles were adapted to the conditions of Japanese society. Beginning in the time before Buddhism was introduced to Japan, the text captures the effects of the nation's initial contact with Buddhism--brought by emissaries from the king of the Korean state of Paekche--and the subsequent adoption and dissemination of these new teachings in Japanese towns and cities.

The Nihon ryoiki provides a crucial window into the ways in which Japanese Buddhists began to make sense of the teachings and texts of their religion, incorporate religious observances and materials from Korea and China, and articulate a popularized form of Buddhist practice and belief that could extend beyond monastic centers. The setsuwa genre would become one of the major textual projects of classical and medieval Buddhism, with nearly two dozen collections appearing over the next five centuries. The Nihon ryoiki serves as a vital reference for these later works, with the tales it contains finding their way into folkloric traditions and becoming a major source for Japanese authors well into the modern period.
- source : cup.columbia.edu -

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NHK 特別展「地獄絵ワンダーランド」NHK Exhibition Jigoku-E Wonderland
August 2017

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. Hell in Japanese Art .
by Ryouji Kajitani (Author), Naoki Nishida (Author), Yoshitoshi Tsukioka (Artist), Kyosai Kawanabe (Artist), Kazuya Takaoka (Designer)



... artists such as Kazunobu Kano, Nichosai, Yoshitoshi Tsukioka and Kyosai Kawanabe.

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. jigoku no oni 地獄の鬼 demons of the Buddhist hell .
and their legends

. Japan - Shrines and Temples - ABC .


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[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
- - #gokurakujigokue #jigokue #paintinsofhell #hellpaintings #haikujigoku #haiku #haikuissa #issa -
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Neko Yakushi

[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
. Yakushipedia - ABC-Index 薬師如来 .
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Neko Yakushi 猫薬師 Yakushi Nyorai and the Cat



source :　rhinonotunokeshihan.blog

猫薬師如来 Neko Yakushi Nyorai

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- - - - - Fukushima 福島県 - - - - -

薬師瑠璃光如来堂の猫像 The Cat Deity of the Yakushi Ruriko Nyorai Do Hall
The Cat Deity of Fukushima 福島県の猫神

伊達市梁川町山舟生字鍛治屋場 / Kajiyaba Yanagawamachi Yamafunyū Date-shi, Fukushima



The local people call this hall 日面薬師堂 Hizura Yakushi Do, since it is located at the border between the hamlets of Kajiyaba and Hizura.
It is situated on a hill with stone steps leading up in the compound.
The hall has been founded in 1639.

There is also a statue of Jizo Bosatsu from 1997 in the compound -
「南無富多卦佐地蔵尊」平成九年 (1997).

On the way up to the hall there are many stone markers and statues.
One of them is the Cat Deity.



- source : nekonokamisama.blog -


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- - - - - Nagano　長野県 - - - - -

瑠璃寺の薬師猫神 Ruji-Ji no Yakushi Neko Kamisama
長野県伊那 812 Ojimasan, Takamori, Shimoina District, Nagano

「もりわじん」の猫薬師 Mori Wajin no Neko Yakushi
inspired by the Daibutsu of Nara


source :　kinnyanko.blog.fc2.com


薬師猫神様 Yakushi Nekokamisama - by Mori Wajin

In former times, the Cat was an important "Deity" to help protect the silk worm farmers from the many mice. Mori Wajin doubled this deity with Yakushi Nyorai.




2006年
● 大作「薬師猫神」製作 -　長野県 瑠璃寺へ奉納




- source : www.takamori.ne.jp - Mori Wajin -

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Kotaroo Yashiki 小太郎屋敷 The Home of the Kotaro Family
kaibyo Kotababa, Kodababa 怪猫小太ばば The Monster Cat Kotababa, Kota Baba

Once upon a time
in 根津村 Nezu village a 六部 Rokubu Pilgrim took a retreat 長命寺大日堂 in the Dainichi Hall of the temple Chomei-Ji, when many young cats gathered around him and begun chanting:
国分寺の「小太ばば」来なけりゃ踊りにゃならん
"If Koda Baba from Kokubun-Ji does not come here, we cyan't dance!"

After a while a huge monster cat (kaibyoo 怪猫) came down with a storm and begun a wild dance with the small kittens.
Rokubu hit the monster cat with his staff and she fled, splatting blood on the way.

Next day it became clear that the "monster cat" was in fact an old grandmother in the home of Kotaro in the hamlet next to Kokubun-Ji.
So Rokubu went to visit her and saw that the old hag had hurt her leg on the spot where he had hit the cat last night.

To save her soul Rokubu begun to pray to Yakushi Nyorai and in a short while the cat showed her true nature and fled to the mountain 尾野山 Onoyama.
When the family searched the house, they found the bones of an old woman hidden under the veranda.
To our day, there is a stone marker with the inscription Rokubu 「六部」 in the compound of Kokubun-Ji

. 六部(ろくぶ) Rokubu pilgrimage, Rokubu pilgrim .
六十六部 Rokujurokubu, Rokujuroku Bu pilgrimage - Introduction


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- - - - - Tokyo 東京 - - - - -


Tokyo 三宅島 三宅村 Mitake Island

Yakushi Sama no kara neko 薬師様のカラ猫

When a child cries and mother does not know what to do about it, she tells it
"Here comes the karaneko cat of Yakushi Sama!".
薬師様のカラ猫だぞ


karaneko 唐猫 ?

. Yakushi Legends from Tokyo / Edo 　東京 - 江戸と薬師さん　 .


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- - - - - Tottori 鳥取県 - - - - -

三朝薬師の湯 Tottori Misasa　Yakushi no Yu Hot Spring

Koyama no Neko Yakushi 湖山の猫薬師 Yakushi the Cat from Koyama

Once upon a time
there was a Yakushi Do Hall dedicated to Yakushi Nyorai in the village of 賀露（かろ）町 Karo-Cho, which had been build by 伏野長者 the rich Village Elder Fushino of Koyama 湖山長者.
He lived comfortable with many servants and one cat, well beloved by him and the maid servants. Fushino had taught his cat how to say prayers and live a benevolent life.
But his wife did not like cats at all.
(The story about the cat continues below.)

When Fushino died, there was nobody to say prayers and venerate at the Yakushi Hall any more. It declined rapidly.
Then one night, the villagers saw a strong light at the top of Mount Koyama 湖山. This happened for many nights in a row, so the villagers went up to the mountain top and there they found the statue of a Buddha sitting under a pine tree.

"If a Buddha is sitting here, it must be a blessed place for rituals. Let us take the statue back home to venerate it."
The young folks of the village brought it downhill and all villagers could pray to it now.
Then someone realized what had happened:

"This is the Yakushi Nyorai of Karo village. He must have felt homesick for Mount Koyama and come back to sit there!"
So they hurried to built a small hall for the statue and found a priest named 浄西坊 Kiyonishi Bo for the daily duties.

One day when priest Kiyonishi was saying his daily prayers he saw a light shining from under the statue. When he stretched out his arm to touch in, it was the mummy of a cat with red hair and its eyes where still shining.

That night he had a dream and a cat talked to him:
"I am the cat of the rich village elder Fushino of Mount Koyama.
But his wife did not approve of my living in their home and I was kicked out.
I lived in 因幡山 Mount Inabayma for a while. One maid servant of Fushino once came to search for me and we had a talk, but I stayed on. As a present, I gave a white envelope to the maid servant.
When the maid opened the envelope back home, there was a painting of a dog inside, and 10 large pieces of gold.



Fushino's wife was surprized, but soon had a plan.
"If the maid got 10 pieces of gold, I am sure they will give 100 to me, the Lady of the House" and off she went to Inabayama.
She stayed there over night, but when she opened the sliding door just a bit to have a peek into the other room, she saw a huge white cat, just ready to jump at her.
The lady was too afraid and could not move in her shock.
At this moment the cat that had lived in her home turned up too and said:
"Remember, you have always been so mean to me. Now I get my revenge!"
and the cat jumped to the throat of the woman and bit her to death.

(Now the legend goes back to Yakushi san and the story the cat told in the dream.)

One day I was walking near the fields when the area suddenly flooded and became a pond and me, not able to swim, was swept right into the middle of the new pond (Koyama Ike 湖山池), getting weaker and weaker as I struggled to stay above water. Finally I died.
My body stayed there and eventually became a small island, 猫島 Nekojima, "Cat Island".
The Village Elder had taken good care of me while I was still alive.
So when I died I did not leave this world, became a mummy and now are back to help others!"



Just then Kiyonishi woke up from his dream.
He remembered that a cat with red hair had come to his place to live here about 5 or 6 years ago. This cat used to put its paws together like a human being in prayer. This must have been the cat from the Village Elder, now become a mummy.

When he had reasoned so far, Kiyonishi jumped out of his bed, took the mummy of the cat, placed it in a small sanctuary and placed it at the right side of Yakushi Nyorai in his temple.

Since then, Yakushi from Koyama has been called "猫薬師 Neko Yakushi" "Yakushi the Cat".
And of course, in the temple hall there are no mice at all.

Farmers come here to get a special amulet that will keep the mice out of their homes and rice storage.
If something is lost and people come here with a prayer sincerely to find it, indeed, it will soon be found.

- reference -


- quote -
Koyama Pond Area
Close to Hakuto Beach, with a plentiful amount of sweetbriers.
A lagoon separated from the sea by deposits from the Sendai River.

The Koyama Pond is located 6 kilometers west of central Tottori City in eastern Tottori, close to Tottori Airport. It was an inlet of the Sea of Japan, but became a closed lagoon when deposits from the Sendai River separated it from the sea. There are seven islets in the pond, and the largest, Aoshima, has a park with a well-equipped promenade and camping ground.

This pond, being 4 kilometers long from east to west and 2.4 kilometers wide from north to south, is almost a lake in size and is a sanctuary for eels, carp and other freshwater fish. They still practice a traditional style of fishing there, called "Ishigama-ryo," where fishers form a trap with large rocks and wait for the fish to enter.
- source : www.jnto.go.jp/eng -


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Yakushigama, Yakushi no Kama　薬師窯 Yakushi Kiln



Wishing a Happy New Year 2014!



The name of this kiln dates back to a legend of Gyoki Bosatsu, who had built a small sanctuary for Yakushi Nyorai 薬師如来の祠, which was in the compound of Chugai Toen Company till the end of the Edo period.

It was said to be able to cure eye disease and removed to the temple Hoosenji 宝泉寺 Hozen-Ji, where to our day there is a festival in honor of Yakushi Nyorai, O-Yakushi San 「お薬師さん」 in November (from 8 to 12).

Since its founding the Yakushi Kiln has been protected by Yakushi san and has been able to produce many items that make people happy and feel well. Some are amulets to prevent eye disease.

- source : www.yakushigama.jp -

Chugai Toen 中外陶園
〒489-0821 愛知県瀬戸市薬師町50 / Aichi, Seto, Yakushi-Machi

. . . CLICK here for more cat Photos !


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


- - - - - reference - - - - -
- source : yokai database -

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【仏屋さかい 大猫仏展 概要】
昨年5月に開催した初の作品展で大反響を巻き起こした、仏屋さかいの木彫「猫仏」。その愛らしくも上品な佇まいは国内のみならず海外の仏像ファンからも絶大な人気を博しています。

- source : butuzou-affili.info/sakai -

- source : 仏像ワールド on facebook -


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source :　www.art-seinin.com


. manekineko 招き猫 the Beckoning Cat .
- Introduction -



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 .


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[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
- - - #yakushineko #nekoyakushi #yakushigama #yakushikiln #moriwajin - - -
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Yakushi Legends Tokyo

[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]

. Yakushipedia - ABC-Index 薬師如来 .
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Yakushi Nyorai 薬師如来 the Buddha of Medicine - Bhaisajyaguru
Legends from Tokyo / Edo 　東京 - 江戸と薬師さん　
- and
Tako Yakushi 蛸薬師 Octopus Yakushi 　

Spelled 多幸薬師 TA KO Yakushi for a lot of happiness and good luck.

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. Kinegawa Yakushi 木下川薬師　Yakushi from Kinegawa .
- Kigegawa Yakushi Engi - misspelling of Kinegawa

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三宅島 三宅村 Mitake Island

Yakushi Sama no kara neko 薬師様のカラ猫

When a child cries and mother does not know what to do about it, she tells it
"Here comes the karaneko cat of Yakushi Sama!".
、薬師様のカラ猫だぞ

karaneko 唐猫 ?

. Neko Yakushi 猫薬師 Yakushi Nyorai and the Cat .


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. Tako Yakushi 目黒の蛸薬師 Octopus Yakushi in Meguro, Edo .
多幸薬師 TA KO Yakushi for a lot of happiness and good luck

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- - - - - and one more Tako Yakushi in Kyoto

Tako Yakushidō (Octopus Yakushi Hall), Eifukuji Temple 永福寺 (lit. = Temple of Eternal Fortune), Kyoto
浄瑠璃山林秀院永福寺 - 京都市中京区新京極蛸薬師東側町５０３


- quote -
The temple originally stood in Nijo Muromachi and was founded in 1181. The engi, retold in the temple's pamphlet, informs believers about the miraculous origins of the temple.



In the Muromachi ward of Kyoto lived a rich man who shaved his head and sought his refuge in the Yakushi Buddha of Enryakuji on Mt Hiei 比叡山. Year after year, he made monthly pilgrimages to this Buddha. But as the years went by, he became old and weak, and one day, he spoke in front of the Yakushi Buddha:

"I am getting too old to continue my practice of monthly pilgrimages. Please let me have your image to place in my home, Lord Yakushi!"

After uttering this wish, the devout believer descended from Mt Hiei. That night, the Yakushi Buddha appeared to him in a dream and spoke: "In a certain place, a stone Yakushi statue carved by St Dengyo 伝教大師 [i.e. Saicho 最澄, the founder of Enryakuji and Tendai Buddhism] himself has been buried. You can take that home."

Full of joy, the next day the wealthy man climbed the mountain and when he dug in the indicated spot he indeed found a holy image hewn from stone that emitted a wondrous light.

He took this image home and built a hall of six by four bays for it. This temple was called Eifukuji, or Temple of Eternal Bliss, and it greatly flourished and young and old, men and women, flocked in great numbers to the temple to pay their respects.

In the Kencho period (1249-56)　of Emperor Gofukakusa　後深草天皇 (1243 - 1304) there lived a monk called Zenko 善光 in this temple. It happened at one time that his mother fell ill. Although he took good care of her, she did not recover and spoke from her bed to Zenko: "If only I could eat some octopus (tako タコ), I like that so much from since I was young, that my illness might get better!"

Zenko was not allowed to buy octopus, a living being, for a meal because he was a Buddhist monk and therefore he was greatly distressed. Still, the thought of his sick mother was stronger than his awe for the precepts, so he took a wooden box in his arms and went to the market to find an octopus.

When he walked back, some people became suspicious that he, a monk, had bought a living creature for food and they followed him all the way to the gate of his temple, pressing him to show what was in the box. Zenko could not refuse and prayed with all his heart to the Lord Buddha: "I have only bought this octopus to help my mother recover from her illness. Lord Yakushi, please help me out of this difficulty!"

When he opened the box, the eight-legged octopus had been transformed into a set of eight sutra scrolls お経の巻物 and a light shone from them in all four directions.



The people who saw this all pressed their hands together in prayer and sang the praises of the Lord Yakushi, the Buddha of the Lapis Lazuli Paradise.

Strangely enough, the scriptures turned again into an octopus who then jumped into the pond in front of the temple where he changed into the form of the Yakushi Buddha. He emitted a green Lapis Lazuli light and when this struck the head of Zenko's mother her illness was immediately healed. She rose from her bed and in a loud voice sang the praises of the Lapis Lazuli Buddha, over and over again.

Thus the temple came to be known as Octopus Yakushi. From then on, when people visited and prayed for relief from illness, they immediately were healed; when women prayed for children, they were blessed with offspring; and all difficulties and problems were eliminated.

This reached the ears of His Majesty the Emperor and in 1441 the temple received an Imperial License. Since then prayers have been said here for bountiful harvests, the Emperor's long life, and the peace of the nation. When one prays ardently for divine protection, no wish is left unfulfilled: in the present world the seven ills are immediately dispelled and the seven blessings immediately granted.
- source : Ad Blankestijn -


To our day, the octopus is featured at the temple at the Yakushi Hall 蛸薬師堂
to rub for healing.



nade Yakushi　なで薬師　Yakishi to be rubbed

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ema 絵馬 votive tablets
ema 絵馬 votive tablets
- source : yaplog.jp/emain -


CLICK for more photos !


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oboosan to tako お坊さんとタコ The priest and the octopus

Once upon a time
a priest on a trip was walking along the beach, when suddenly a large octopus came out of the waves and pleaded "Please let me be your student"!
So the priest took the octopus out of the water and carried it with him on his trip.

By nightfall the priest had completely lost his way. To ask for a shelter he knocked at a farmhouse. The owner was a man with bitter face, but when he realized the priest was carrying a delicious-looking octopus, he let them in.

While the priest was chanting the sutras for Yakushi Nyorai, the farmer prepared a very hot bath and tried to throw the octopus in it. Just at that time the priest interrupted his chanting with a loud shout of "Pay Attention"「喝！」 KATSU! and the clever octopus made his escape from the hot bath, while the farmer looked quite perplexed.
Next morning the priest and his octopus companion continued their trip safely.

The farmer, who had not gotten his delicious boiled octopus last night, was mubemling to himself and then tried to get into the hot bath himself. Just then - out of the bathtub came the large legs of an octopus and tired to suck at the body of the farmer.
This octopus was in fact Yakushi Nyorai, to whom the priest had prayed the night before.
Yakushi San begun to suck out all the bad intentions of the man's heart and attitude.



The farmer became quite a gentle caring man, after Yakushi san had sucked out his all maliciuos intentions.
And the trip of the priest and his octopus companion continued.



source :　hinoki-diary.blogspot.jp

delicious Tako wafers with sweet filling 明石銘菓：たこ最中


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kuruma kaeshi no O-Yakushi san 車返のお薬師さん Yakushi who brought the car to a stop

In the time of the Kamakura Shogunate 鎌倉幕府 (1192 - 1333) they were transporting the statue of Yakushi Nyorai お薬師さん from 奥州平泉 Hiraizumi far away in Tohoku to Kamakura.
On their way, when they passes Shiraito 白糸の地, the cart suddenly became very heavy and did not move any more.
So the drivers decided to leave the statue here and built a small Hall for it.
They say that Yakushi had choosen this region of Shiraito for his stay.


- still trying to locate the Shiraito 白糸 -

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Repairing a Yakushi statue from the Edo period



薬師如来立像（江戸時代）の現状・保存修復
http://buddha-statue.at.webry.info/200901/article_1.html


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- - - - - reference - - - - -

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

- source : manga nihon mukashibanashi -

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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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