Gokuraku - Jigoku

2018/04/12

Sennin 07 Yoro

- quote -
Yoro’s power is outlined in an old legend about a poor woodcutter who went into the woods to find firewood, and discovered the water of the spring had turned to rice wine. He filled a hyooten ひょうたん gourd with the spring water and brought it to his aged and ill father, who was returned to good health by the wine. The water-to-sake transformation was believed to be the gods rewarding the son for his dedication to his father.
.....
The Empress Genshō, visited the area, and renamed the period of her reign after it ...
- source : japaninfoswap.com/yoro-no-taki... -

元正天皇の霊亀三年、この樵夫の孝咸（こうかん）に因りて同郡多度山より醴泉（れいせん）出せり。故に改元ありて、霊亀の年号を改めて養老とせらる。これを以てこの樵夫の孝名、普（あまね）く世に知られたり。然れども、この樵夫が道を得て神仙となりたることは、未だこれを知る者無かりき。
- more
- reference source : nihonkogaku.com/content/report... -

Yōrō (養老) was a Japanese era name (年号 nengō, "year name") after Reiki and before Jinki.
This period spanned the years from November 717 through February 724. The reigning empress was Genshō-tennō (元正天皇).

The gourd, a most common water container for travelers in the Edo period, has become the symbol of Yoro town and there is a Gourd Festival.

ひょうたんと養老

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Yooro no Taki 養老の滝 Yoro no Taki Waterfall

The famous Yōrō Falls (養老の滝, Yōrō no Taki) is a waterfall in Yōrō Park located in the town of Yōrō.
There are a few other waterfalls in Japan with this name.

yooro no kooko 養老の孝子 filial piety at Yoro

about 26 cm high

. Yooro no Taki 養老の滝 Yoro no Taki Waterfall .
Once a pious son scooped some water from the waterfall pool and brought it home to his old parents.
When they took a sip - oh wonder - it had turned into sake and all their ailments were healed.

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Kooshi jinja 孝子神社（こうしじんじゃ）"Shrine of the Filial Piety"

岐阜県養老郡養老町 / Yoro Town Gifu
- reference source : sake.science/yoro... -

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松尾芭蕉　Matsuo Basho wrote:

盃の下ゆく菊や朽木盆
sakazuki no shita yuku kiku ya Kitsuki bon

below the sake cup
there is a chrysanthemum -
tray from Kitsuki

Written in 1675, 延宝3年, Basho age 32.
He took the inspriation from an old song, Yooroo 養老 Yoro.
The sake in the small cup is overflowing rapidly and becomes the famous waterfall of Yoro. Its flow looks like the chrysanthemums flowing in the river.

. Kitsuki bon 朽木盆 tray from Kitsuki .

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Nanigashi 草野某（なにがし）
was a Samurai who lived around 1580 in 美濃国本巣郡 Mino no Kuni, Motosu gun district.
His family was very poor and he lost his father at age 4. He was brought up by relatives and later went to Kyoto to the temple 西園寺 Saion-Ji.
There he got a letter from his mother, who was very ill and wanted him to come back soon. On his way he got involved in fights between Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Shibata Katsuie, but managed to find his way home. His mother was very pleased to see him. He took some medicine from his luggage and gave it to his mother as an expression of his filial piety.
Since his family was so poor, they could only eat rice and wild vegetables, and he decided to practise ablutions and austerities at the waterfall.
His mother died shortly after, but he had obtained the power to fly and change places freely and eventually left the waterfall to become an Immortal.

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HŌJŌGAWA - a noh play by kanze motokiyo zeami
Hachiman River
I am Chikuba Nanigashi, priest at the Kashima Shrine.
- Read the full translation
- source : ross bender -

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. Japanese Legends - 伝説　民話　昔話 – ABC-List .

The story of the filial piety and healing water from the waterfall is also known in 千葉県 Chiba, 香川県 Kagawa, 兵庫県 Hyogo and 茨城県 Ibaraki.

................................................................................. Gifu 岐阜県　養老町 Yoro

The son had to care for his father, who loved to drink Sake . . . and then found the miraculous pond at the foot of the waterfall.

kogane take 黄金竹 golden bamboo
美濃の養老の滝にある神社の後方に、毎年二本ずつ生えるが、一年で枯れる竹があるといわれていた。

tengu 天狗
美濃国養老郡一の瀬村付近では、大きな天狗の面を作り、村人が鉦や太鼓で囃したてながら隣村へと順に送り、山奥深くまで送っていく天狗祭がある。天狗が村里に出現して人畜に該をなすのを封ずるためであるという。明治初年まで行われていたらしい。

ubakiri ishi 姥切石
昔、石の傍らで悶死した女の霊が石に乗り移った。夜中になると石は人肌ほどに暖かくなり、奇声を発した。京都の高僧が歌を詠み、喝を入れるとそうならなくなった。その石は姥切石と呼ばれた。

zengashi iwa 膳貸岩
養老塚という石がある。法要のあるときに必要な数の膳椀を頼めば、翌日には岩の上に希望の数だけ膳椀があった。ある時1つを破損して岩上に返したためにそれ以来借りられなくなった。

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- reference : Nichibun Yokai Database -

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. sennin 天狗と仙人伝説 Legends about Tengu and Immortals .

. sennin　仙人と伝説 Legends about Immortals .

. Japan - Shrines and Temples - Index .

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2018/04/11

Butsusen 04 Suzuka Okina

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. - - - - - ABC-List of the Sennin Immortals Hermits - - - - - .
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Suzuka no okina 鈴鹿翁（すずかのおきな） Old Man Suzuka

He is Nr. 04 of the
. 日本の仏仙人16人 - The 16 Buddhist Immortals of Japan .

Like the
. Yoshinoyama Nyosen 吉野山女仙 Female Sennin from Mount Yoshinoyama .

he is also related to
. Tenmu, Tenbu 天武天皇 Emperor Tenmu Tenno .
when he was still Prince Ōama 大海人皇子 Oama no Oji and lived in exile in Yoshino.

Suzuka no Okina brought the Prince (who was also known as 清見原皇子 Prince Kiyomihara) to Yoshino to avoid fighting. From there the Prince kept fleeing to 鈴鹿山 Mount Suzukayama in Shiga.
The life story of the Prince continues, but the whereabouts of Suzuka no Okina are lost after that.
He was maybe the 鈴鹿山の神仙 Shinsen Immortal of the Mountain.

- - - - - Here is a PDF page with a photo of the Sennin:
Suzuka no Okina felt that the Prince would soon want to become Emperor (帝王の気).
Okina is shown with the Emperor, both riding a deer and crossing a river.
He has invited the Emperor to come with him to the realm of the Sennin (senkyo 仙郷) to introduce him to his daughter.
- reference source : nijl.ac.jp/pages/event/exhibition/images/kansou4.pdf -

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- quote -
Living quarters of Asuka Kiyomihara Palace
..... The building was one of the central facilities of Asuka Kiyomihara no Miya, or Asuka Kiyomihara Palace.
The building was used by Emperor Tenmu and Empress Regnant Jito from 672 to 694, during the Asuka period (593-710).

..... Other palaces built after the Nara period (710-794) have similar layouts to Asuka Kiyomihara Palace, leading experts to believe that the palace served as a model.
..... According to Nihon Shoki (Chronicles of Japan), written in 720, there were three major buildings at Asuka Kiyomihara Palace. To the “uchi no andono” building, Emperor Tenmu invited princes and other relatives.
At the “o andono” building, parties and other entertainments were held, while the emperor’s followers gathered at the “to no andono” building.
- source : heritageofjapan.wordpress.com.... -

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Kiyomihara Jinja 清見原神社 / 清見原宮
大阪府大阪市生野区小路2-24-35 // 2 Chome-24-35 Shōji, Ikuno-ku, Ōsaka

- quote -
The Kiyomihara Shrine is dedicated to Emperor Tenmu (673 - 686), the 40th emperor.
The date of erection is unknown. It is said that Emperor Tenmu stayed for a while in Ootomo Village (old name of Shoji) during his visit to Naniwa (ancient Osaka) and that the shrine was built to commemorate the imperial visit.
In 1909, five other shrines in the neighborhood were consolidated into this shrine, which was renamed the Shoji Shrine after the village name.
In 1942, the shrine was rebuilt in commemoration of the 2,600th anniversary of the accession of the first Emperor Jinmu, and the old name of Kiyomihara was restored.
- source : city.osaka.lg.jp/contents -

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Suzuka Mountains (鈴鹿山脈 Suzuka Sanmyaku)

a mountain range running through Mie Prefecture and along the borders of Gifu and Shiga prefectures in central Japan.
The tallest peak in the range is Mount Oike at 1,247 m (4,091 ft). In spite of its height, Mount Oike is not the most visited mountain; that distinction belongs to Mount Gozaisho because of its Gozaisho Ropeway, making reaching the peak much easier.
There are seven peaks in this mountain range.
- source : wikipedia -

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Suzukayama Shinmai 鈴鹿山新舞 new Kagura Dance of Suzukayama
performed in Hiroshima

- CLICK for more photos !

- quote -
Suzukayama is another hero versus demon piece based on a Noh drama.
The hero is Sakanoue Tamuramaro who was given the title of shogun (barbarian defeating generalissimo) for his success in defeating the Emishi in eastern and northern Japan.
There are many variations on the story, but this version seems to be based on the version of the story that has the demon being a "dog demon". Other versions have the demon being invisible.
The demon lives in a cave on Suzukayama which is near Ise. Apparently it was quite a dangerous place for travelers.
What is interesting to note is how halfway through the dance the upper part of the costume is undone and drops to act like a flared skirt during the spinning.
- source : ojisanjake.blogspot.jp/2012/01/kanzui-matsuri... -

- further reference : suzukayama dance -

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. Yoshinoyama 吉野山 a power spot in Nara .

. sennin 天狗と仙人伝説 Legends about Tengu and Immortals .

. sennin　仙人と伝説 Legends about Immortals .

. Japan - Shrines and Temples - Index .

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2018/04/10

Butsusen 02 Udohama 03 Yoshinoyama

西村重長 Nishimura Shigenaga (1697 - 1758)

A dance performed by a heavenly maiden who arrived at Udohama, Suruga Province in the reign of Emperor Ankan is known.
安閑天皇の御世、駿河国の宇土浜に天女が降って舞ったものを模したという.

. Miho no matsubara 三保の松原 Miho pine grove .

Miho no Matsubara is known as the site of the legend of Hagoromo 羽衣 "the Feathered Robe",
which is based on the traditional swan maiden motif.
The story of Hagoromo concerns a celestial being flying over Miho no Matsubara who was overcome by the beauty of the white sands, green pines, and sparkling water. She removed her feathered robe and hung it over a pine tree before bathing in the beautiful waters.
A fisherman named Hakuryo was walking along the beach and saw the angel. He took her robe and refused to return it until she performed a heavenly dance for him. As the angel could not return to heaven without her robe, she complied with Hakuryo's request. She danced in the spring twilight and returned to heaven in the light of the full moon leaving Hakuryo looking longingly after her.
- quote wikipedia -

歌川国貞　Utagawa Kunisada (1786 - 1865)

Udohama and Yoshinoyama are stories of two tennyo 天女 heavenly maidens.

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Yoshinoyama Nyosen 吉野山女仙 Female Sennin from Mount Yoshinoyama

She is Nr. 03 of the
. 日本の仏仙人16人 - The 16 Buddhist Immortals of Japan .

She lived during the time of 天武天皇 Emperor Tenmu (631 - 686)
吉野山二女仙 indicates that there were two of them.

. Tenmu, Tenbu 天武天皇 Emperor Tenmu Tenno .
Prince Ōama 大海人皇子 Oama no Oji
Prince Oama pretended to be a monk at the temple in Yoshino,

tennyo 天女 the Heavenly Maiden
Once Tenmu Tenno played the 琴 Koto near a waterfall in Yoshino. On the cliff opposite the river something strange like a colorful cloud appeared. Looking closer it had the form of 天女 two heavenly maiden, clad in traditional layered robes, performing a ritual dance.

This is the beginning of the ritual gosetchi no maihime 五節の舞姫 Gosechi no Mai .
This imperial dance is performed to our day, even in Kabuki.

- more photos source : deep.wakuwaku-nara.com/kiyomi -

吉野川 - 天皇淵 Yoshinogawa Tenno-Buchi Tenno Riverpool at river Yoshinogawa
Nearby is the shrine 浄見原神社 Kiyomihara Jinja.

Tenmu Tenno was quite taken by the dance of the Heavenly Maiden. He composed a poem:
おとめ子が乙女さびしもからたまを袂にまきておとめさびしも
をとめども　をとめさひする　唐たまを　たもとにまきて　をとめさびすも

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. 04 Suzuka no okina 鈴鹿翁（すずかのおきな） Old Man Suzuka .
is also related to Tenmu, Tenbu 天武天皇 Emperor Tenmu Tenno
when he was still Prince Ōama 大海人皇子 Oama no Oji and lived in exile in Yoshino.

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. tennyo 天女, hiten 飛天　"heavenly maiden"
flying Apsara, divine nymph, celestial maiden .

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. sennin 天狗と仙人伝説 Legends about Tengu and Immortals .

. sennin　仙人と伝説 Legends about Immortals .

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Butsusen 01 Koma no Kikori

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Koma no Kikori 高麗山樵（こまのきこり）woodcutter from Mount Komayama

He is Nr. 01 of
. 日本の仏仙人16人 - The 16 Buddhist Immortals of Japan .

His father was 真珠男（またまお）Matamao and his mother 白綿女（しらゆうめ）Shirayume. His parents are known as 神仙 Sennin, living at 春嶽（はるだけ）Mount Harudake in 相模国大磯 Oiso, Sagami.
On orders of Yamanokami 山の神, the God of the Mountain, they had placed the baby at the shrine of Koma Myojin高麗明神.

山下長者 Yamashita Choja did not have any children of his own. He found the baby near a tree in the shrine compound and educated it.
When the boy was older, Koma no Kikori went back tho the mountains to look for his parents.
He lived from leaves and nuts and at the age of 15 mastered the art of flying freely. Now the boy could visit his real parents on the mountain and fly back to the valley to see his foster parents. Eventually he said good bye and never came back to the Yamashita family.
But the family of Yamashita prospered and became very rich (長者 choja means millionaire) over many generations.
Some stories about them from the Kamakura period are known.

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Hiratsuka, Mount Komayama 高麗山 and Mount Fuji in the background.
Koraiyama is another reading for this mountain.
It is only 168 m high.
There was a temple, 高麗寺 (こうらいじ) Koraiji, near the mountain. It was founded by 高麗若光（こまのじゃっこう) Koma no Jakko, a prince from Korea, Goguryeo.
Jakko arrived in Asuka (then the capital of Japan, now a village near Nara) but had to witness from afar how his country crumbled until the Chinese / Silla finally ripped it to pieces. He never returned to Goguryeo.
The Asuka Imperial Court held the people from Goguryeo in high regard. Jakko was made a high-ranking court official and was granted the title of kokishi, a hereditary title bestowed upon important people of foreign origin.
There are other shrines, 高麗神社, Koma Jinja, in his honor.
source : japanvisitor.com...

. The Korean heritage 韓国　Kankoku 　朝鮮 Chosen .

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Yamashita Choja 山下長者 Remains of the residence
神奈川県平塚市山下 Kanagawa, Hiratsuka

- quote -
山下長者が誰なのかはわからないが、仇討で有名な曾我十郎祐成の妾となった虎御前がこの地で暮らしていたという伝承がある。鎌倉時代にはそれなりに地位のある人物が居を構えていたものと思われるが、その起源は謎に包まれている。山下長者屋敷を扇谷上杉氏との戦いで北条早雲が立て籠もった住吉要害とする説がある。それが今では主流となりつつあるが、この程度の規模しかない城館に籠るというのは考えにくい。単純に考えれば高麗山城を含めた一帯を早雲の反抗の拠点として考えたい。
- reference source : jyokakuzukan.la.coocan.jp/007kanagawa/003yamashita... -

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. sennin 天狗と仙人伝説 Legends about Tengu and Immortals .

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2018/04/02

Sennin Japan 10 11

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10 善仲 Zenchu and 11 善算 Zensan

They were twins, born in 708 in the Nara period. They were both priests.
Their father was 藤原致房 Fujiwara no Munefusa.

They belong to the
. 日本の仙人37人 - The 37 Immortals of Japan .
with the number 10 and 11.

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10 善仲 Zenchu (708 - 768)

He and his brother became acolytes at the temple Tennōji 摂津天王寺 Settsu Tenno-Ji in Osaka at age 9, Their master was 栄湛 priest Eitan.
They were both very wise children and called shindoo 神童 Shindō child prodigy, Wunderkinder.

In 727 they left the city and retreated to a hermitage at 勝尾山 Mount Katsuosan.

One of his disciples was 開成 Kaijo, who later founded the temple 弥勒寺 Miroku-Ji, now known as 勝尾寺 Katsuo-Ji.

Zenchu died on the 15th day of the second lunar month it the second year of 神護景雲 Jingo-Keiun at age 61.
His normal name was 藤原 Fujiwara.

Kaijo was the son of emperor Kōnin 光仁天皇 Konin Tenno (709 - 782).

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. Katsuooji 勝尾寺 Katsuo-Ji .
2914-1 Aomatani, 箕面市 Minoh City (Northern Osaka) - It is located close to the Mino Waterfall.
This temple is famous for its Daruma collection.

source : Loot at YouTube

- quote -
According to an English language brochure given out at the temple, the site was first occupied late in the Nara period
by two priests, Zenchū and Zensan.
The Miroku-ji temple was erected in 765 CE. The name "Katsuō-ji" was given by the Emperor Seiwa. The temple was burned in 1184 CE. The present Main Hall and Temple Gate were rebuilt by Toyotomi Hideyori.
Katsuō-ji is the 23rd temple in the Kansai Kannon Pilgrimage.
"Winner's Luck" and Daruma
The word "katsu" in the temple's name refers to winning. People buy daruma dolls hoping to obtain "winner's luck". If the wish is fulfilled, the daruma is often returned to the temple and left somewhere on the grounds.
- - - More in the WIKIPEDIA !

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11 善算 Zensan (708 - 769)

His live record is the same as his elder brother Zenchu.
Zensan died on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month it the third year of 神護景雲 Jingo-Keiun at age 62.

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. 日本の仙人37人 - The 37 Immortals of Japan .
with the number 10 and 11.

. sennin　仙人と伝説 Legends about Immortals .

. Japan - Shrines and Temples - Index .

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2018/03/02

Ninnaji Kyoto

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Ninnaji 仁和寺 Ninna-Ji, Kyoto

京都府京都市右京区御室大内33 / 33 Omuro-Ouchi, Ukyō-ku, Kyoto,

- quote
the head temple of the Omuro school of the Shingon Sect of Buddhism. Located in western Kyoto, Japan, it was founded in AD 888 by the retired Emperor Uda. It is part of the "Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto", a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Ninna-ji was founded in the early Heian period. In 886, Emperor Kōkō ordered the construction of the Nishiyama Goganji Temple to bless the nation and propagate Buddhist teachings but he did not live to see its completion. Emperor Uda saw the construction to its completion in 888 and named it "Ninna" after the regnal year of the late Emperor Kōkō's reign. From 888 to 1869 it was traditional for reigning Emperors to send a son to the temple to take over as head priest when a vacancy arose.
After retiring from his throne, Emperor Uda became the first Monzeki, or aristocratic priest, of Ninna-ji. From then on until the end of the Edo period, the temple saw a succession of head priests of imperial lineage. . . .
888 (Ninna 4, 8th month): Construction of the newly created Buddhist temple of Ninna-ji (仁和寺) was completed; and a former disciple of Kōbō Daishi was installed as the new abbot.
... Uda entered the Buddhist priesthood at age 34 in 900. Having founded the temple at Ninna-ji, Uda made it his new home after his abdication. ...
The nengo era name of Ninna (885 – 889)
. . . 　More in the WIKIPEDIA !

- March 21
Visiting three Kobo temples, san Kobo mairi 三弘法参り,
.. also : san Kooboo moode 三弘法詣で (in Kyoto, at temple Tooji on the first to third of January)
Visiting Ninna-Ji, O-Muromairi 御室参り　仁和寺
..... (Famous for its beautiful cherry blossoms, Omuro sakura .)
. Kobo Daishi 弘法大師 - kigo for late spring .

. 近畿三十六不動尊巡礼 Pilgrimage to 36 Fudo Temples in Kinki .
第14番 Nr. 14 - 仁和寺 Ninna-Ji - Kyoto

都名所図会　Kyo Meisho Zue

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shuin　朱印 book for the temple stamp

omamori お守り amulets

- Homepage of the temple
- source : www.ninnaji.jp... english

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source : sankei.com/west/news...

五大明王壁画 Wall painting of Fudo Myo-O and the five Fudo

. Fudo Myo-O 不動明王 .

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. Onipedia 日本の鬼 The Demons of Japan .

Ninna-Ji wall paintings with Oni demons in hell

kimono with Ninna-Ji as motive

仁和寺の御室で降りぬ秋袷
Ninnaji no Omuro de orinu aki-awase

at Ninna-Ji in Omuro
they get off -
autumn kimono
Tr. Gabi Greve

Takazawa Ryooichi 高澤良一 Takazawa Ryoichi

- - - - - autumn an Ninnaji

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仁和寺の御室のさくら塩漬けに
Ninnaji no Omuro no sakura shiozuke ni

the Omuro cherry blossoms
from Ninna-Ji
as salty pickles

本田八重子 Honda Yaeko

shiozuke - sakura blossoms are pickled in salt and enjoyed as tea

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. Japanese Legends - 伝説　民話　昔話 – ABC-List .

The horse painted on a votive tablet by 巨勢金岡 Kose no Kanaoka took off each night and devastated the nearby fields.
It could only be stopped by crushing its eyes.

. Kose Kanaoka, Kose no Kanaoka 巨勢金岡 (?802 - ?897) .
a court painter of the Heian period.

The Tengu from 愛宕山 Mount Atagosan and 比叡山 Hieizan often came to the great 六本杉 cedar tree of Ninna-Ji to rest.
Once a priest took shelter under the tree in the rain and saw two palanquins taking off in the direction of Atagosan and Hieizan. It must have been the vengeful spirits of people who died with a grudge and had become Tengu.

. Tengu 天狗と伝説 Tengu legends "Long-nosed Goblin" .

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- reference : Nichibun Yokai Database -

仁和寺氏神社の絵馬　ema from the clan Shrine of Ninna-Ji

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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 - Index .

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- - #ninnaji #omuroninnaji -
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2018/02/26

Toran Ni Sennin

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. sennin　仙人と伝説 Legends about Immortals .
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Toranni 都藍尼（とらんに）Toran-Ni - 女仙人 Toran no Ama, a female Sennin　

She is Nr. 09 :
. 日本の仙人37人 - The 37 Immortals of Japan .

The Buddhist nun Toran-Ni lived in Nara at the foot of 吉野の山 Mount Yoshino, studied Buddhism and lived for more than a few hundred years.
Mount Oominesan 大峰山 was a mountain for religious practise, but not allowed for women to climb. Even now there is 女人結界門 a limit as to how far women should climb.
Toran-Ni was not satisfied with this prohibition and one day started to climb. Immediately the weather turned bad, with thunder and lightning, making her loose her way. She also lost her walking staff 杖, which got stuck in the ground and grew to a huge tree.
Rocks where she stepped on begun to crack and tumble downhill and a pond appeared in their place.

There are other mountains in Japan claiming Toran-Ni was there, like 立山 Tateyama, 白山 Hakusan and 高野山 Koyasan.

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Toran-ni: The Old Hag Who Violated the Anti-female Cordon
The woman who is known simply as the Nun Toran (Toran-ni), a legendary person, is believed to be the sister of a minor mountain ascetic who trained with En no Gyōja (d. 701). The first literary reference to her occurs in the Honchō shinsen-den ...
"Toranni, native of Yamato province, achieved several hundred years of long life through her mystical ascetic training. Regrettably, however, her overconfidence led her to penetrate the sacred Mount Kinpusen, only to have Kongo Zao (the tutelary deity of Mt. Kinpusen), who never permits women to cross its boundary, to strike her with lightning. Toran's staff changed into a tree, the earth caved i to create a lake. She left traces of her nail marks on the mountain rock".

- - - "Women, Gender and Art in Asia, -- MORE
- source : MeliaBelli Bose -

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- quote -
Daisen Shinkō - 大仙 Mount Daisen
Beliefs and practices associated with Daisen, a mountain located in the western part of Tottori Prefecture, also known as Hōki Fuji. It consists of a number of peaks, including Misen, Tengugamine and Sankomine. The highest is Kengamine (1792 m.). The access route from the north starts from a settlement that has formed around the Tendai temple Daisenji. Beyond this are the inner shrine of Ōgamiyama Shrine, and the shrine dedicated to the attendant kami, Shimoyama Shrine.
Many elements connected with the view that the mountain is the Other Realm, where the spirits of the dead go, can be found in, for example, the Muromachi-period Amida Hall and the site known as Sainokawara. In the Izumokoku fudoki (post 713) the mountain is called Ōgamidake, and Yatsukamizuomitsuno no mikoto is said to have used it as a rudder when he brought in more land to extend Izumo Province (kunihiki). In the Engishiki (905-27) it appears as Ōgamiyama Shrine. Ennin's Diary (Nitto guhō junrei kōki, covering 838-47) records that Ennin made prayers here when he was embarking for China, and so its links with Tendai Buddhism were born.
It was famous as a shugen (see Shugendō) mountain in the Heian period and is mentioned in such works as the Uji shūi monogatari (ca 1190-1242), Ryōjin hishō (ca 1169), Shin sarugaku-ki (Fujiwara Akihira, 1058-65) and Hokke genki.
A shugenja called Kikō is said to have been active here in the Kamakura period. The oldest local legendary history is the Daisenji engi emaki with a colophon dated 1398 (the original was destroyed in a fire in 1928). It relates that a great rock fell from the southeastern side of the Third Palace of the Tushita heaven and split into three - Kumano, Kinpusen, and Daisen. In connection with this, the "mountain" name of Daisenji is Kakubansan (lit. "corner of rock").
The divinities Monju (Manjushri), Kannon (Avalokiteshvara) and Jizō (Kshitigarbha) manifested themselves at the pagoda and are venerated as the Gongen of the Three Places (sansho gongen) (see gongen shinkō).

The founding legend says that a hunter from Tamatsukuri in Izumo called Yorimichi entered the mountain from the bay at Miho chasing a golden wolf. When he tried to shoot it Jizō rose out of the earth and the wolf transformed into an old nun called Toran-ni. The wolf was an incarnation of the mountain kami (yama no kami), who, as a nun, persuaded Yorimichi to seek after enlightenment, and gave him the name of Kinren to encourage him in his religious training. Thus Yorimichi is considered to be the founder of Daisen.

A special feature of the cult was its veneration of Jizō on the basis of belief in the mountain deity and the view that the mountain was the Other Realm. In the late Heian period a cult arose around the central image of Daisenji, Daisen Chimyō Gongen, identified as an avatar of Jizō.
In the Muromachi period Shimoyama Myōjin, the attendant deity (misaki kami), was venerated for its association with Daisen Chimyo Gongen, and was said to enshrine the spirits of a white fox and a shugen practitioner.
The belief spread over a wide area, on the basis of oracles (takugen) and reports of miraculous events (reigen) emphasized by yamabushi. Daisenji came under the jurisdiction of Hieizan in the Edo period. Gōen, the head priest of the temple at the beginning of the period, systematized the organization and ritual, and is therefore called the restoring patriarch.
A fief of 3000 koku was bestowed on the temple, which supported 42 subtemples. The separation of kami and Buddhist practices and worship (shinbutsu bunri) was carried out in 1875. Daisenji was abolished and the main hall of Daisen Chimyō Gongen was turned into the inner shrine of Ōkamiyama Jinja.
In 1903, the temple name of Daisenji was revived and the former Dainichi Hall was converted into the Main Hall, and remains so today. Shugen practices disappeared, but the shrine priests (jinshoku) perform the rite of mohitori, bringing down herbs and water from the summit of the mountain, which preserves elements of the former Misen zenjō, climbing to the summit of Misen, which used to be held on the fourteenth day of the sixth month.
In the Bitchū region (in present-day Okayama Prefecture), Daisen is written with the characters 大仙 rather than the usual大山; a branch shrine has been established locally and veneration rites for the dead are performed there. There remains a strong tradition of veneration of the dead also at the base of the mountain, where gongen confraternities (kō) venerate Chimyō Gongen on the 24th of February and October in order to memorialize ancestors.
Again, at the foot of the mountain, there is a strong devotion to the mountain as a protector of livestock; horse and cattle fairs used to be held in villages there every year on the twenty-fourth day of the fourth month, the day associated with the deity, which developed in the Genroku era (1688-1704) into the Bakurōza, the biggest such fair in the country.
The Daisen Kuyō Taue, a rice-planting festival, best symbolizes the beliefs surrounding Daisen as a water (suijin) and agricultural deity. Here an ox with its horns brightly decorated is led into a rice field and young women plant rice to the beat of accompanying music. This festival is still held at various places and times.
- source : Kokugakuin Suzuki Masataka -

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. Yama no Kami 山の神 God of the Mountain
and his messenger, the Yamainu 山犬 Wolf .

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. Mount Daisen 大山 / 大仙 - Tottori .
Mount Daisen, which stood directly from the Sea of Japan, was regarded as one of the most important mountain for Japanese Shugendo. According to ‘Izumo Kokudo Fudoki, which was completed the edition in 733, this mountain was called ‘Ookamitake’’, literally, ‘Mountain of the great god.’

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. Zenkiboo Zenkibō 前鬼坊 Zenkibo of Mount Ōmine, Nara .
那智滝本前鬼坊 Nachi Takimoto Zenkibo / 大峰山前鬼坊 Ominesan Zenki-Bo
the husband Zenki　前鬼 and his wife Goki 後鬼 - and the priest En no Gyoja　役行者.

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. sennin 天狗と仙人伝説 Legends about Tengu and Immortals .

. sennin　仙人と伝説 Legends about Immortals .

. Japan - Shrines and Temples - Index .

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- - #toranni #femalesennin -
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2018/02/25

Gama Sennin Toad

Gama Sennin, known literally as the ‘toad hermit,’ a character based on the historical civil servant and alchemist Liu Hai of 10th century China. Various accounts associate Gama with a large, three-legged toad by which he can be identified. Gama was thought to be able to release his spirit from his body, metamorphose, and fly with the aid of his magical companion. Chinese prototypes of this theme sometimes represent the immortal sitting on or resting his foot on the animal and holding a string of gold coins, with which he is supposed to have lured the toad from its hiding place in a well. ...
- source : collections.artsmia.org/art -

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- the Harvard Art Museum collection

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Photo curtesy of Tosh Beppu, October 2007

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source : 佐野大作 facebook
養老高田まつり Festival Float

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. sennin to netsuke 仙人と根付 Netsuke of Immortals .

Netsuke from Galerie Zacke, facebook

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- quote -
Jiraiya (自来也 or 児雷也, literally "Young Thunder"),
originally known as Ogata Shuma Hiroyuki, is the toad riding character of the Japanese folklore Jiraiya Gōketsu Monogatari (児雷也豪傑物語, "The Tale of the Gallant Jiraiya"). The tale was adapted into a 19th-century serial novel, a kabuki drama, several films, video games and a manga, and has also served as a source of influence for various other works.
In the legend, Jiraiya is a ninja who uses shapeshifting magic to morph into a gigantic toad. As the heir of a powerful clan in Kyūshū of the same name, Jiraiya fell in love with Tsunade (綱手), a beautiful young maiden who has mastered slug magic. His arch-enemy was his one-time follower Yashagorō (夜叉五郎), later known as Orochimaru (大蛇丸), a master of serpent magic (the kanji 大蛇 literally means "giant snake" or "serpent"). It was first recorded in 1806.
- MORE in the Wikipedia ! -

- quote -
The Magic Serpent (怪竜大決戦 Kairyū Daikessen)
The Mystic Dragons' Decisive Battle) is a 1966 tokusatsu kaiju/ninja fantasy film produced by Toei Company Ltd. This film is a loose retelling of the famous Japanese folktale, Jiraiya Gōketsu Monogatari (The Tale of the Gallant Jiraiya).

Just like Toei's many superhero shows, this film is just as action-packed and colorful. And to entertain younger audiences, the hero Jiraiya and the villain Orochimaru use ninja magic to transform into daikaiju to battle each other (this was also done in the original story, even though the animals were not necessarily gigantic). Despite the many differences between this film and its source material, this has remained a cult classic.
- - - More in the WIKIPEDIA !

Princess Tsunade Hime 綱手姫 is standing on a Namekuji to cross over the sea to meet her lover, Jiraiya.
. namekuji 蛞蝓 (なめくじ / ナメクジ) slug .

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. Join the Sennin on facebook ! .

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. sennin 天狗と仙人伝説 Legends about Tengu and Immortals .

. Japan - Shrines and Temples - Index .

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- - #senningama #gamasennin #toadsennin -
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2018/02/22

Tsuru Sennin Crane

費長房　Hichobo (Fei Chang Fang)

He is riding a crane, holding a sutra scroll in his hands.
He was the disciple of the Sennin 壺公（ごこう) Goko. (ここう Koko).
He tried to become a sennin but could not pass the exam of his master. Nevertheless he became an immortal.
Some sources say he was eventually killed by 鬼神 a Demon Deity.
鶴に乗る仙人は鶴仙人といわれるが、費長房の他にも「王子喬（おうしきょう）」や「黄鶴楼（こうかくろう）」など、何人かいたようだ。
- reference : fukushima-museum.jp... -

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Sennin 壺公（ごこう) Goko. (壺公ここう Koko) "Honorable Jar"
Late Han period.
Koko Sennin was selling medicine in the market of 汝南の市場 Jonan. He had a 壺 jar hanging from his waist, and in the evening slipped into the jar and spent the night. He had lived in 天界 the heavenly realm, but was banished because he had commited a crime.
The warden of the market place, 費長房 Hichobo, was fascinated by him.
The special realm of Koko is called
kochuuten 壺中天 / こちゅうてん Kochuten, "Heaven in a Jar"
Often a name for a restaurant.

Some illustrations snow Goko slipping into a gourd
hyootan sennin 瓢箪仙人 "Gourd Immortal"

... . in ancient China, when gourds served the purpose of carrying water on long embarkments. In addition to simply water, medicine was also stored in the gourds; this is where the image of it as a “symbol of health, vitality and immortality ” was derived.
mubyootan 六瓢箪 "six gourds", a pun with mubyoo 無病 "no illness"
and thus a specially auspicious symbol.
. hyootan 瓢箪 Hyotan gourd art motives .

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- back to
kookaku sennin 控鶴仙人 "Sennin riding a crane"

名草神社 Nagusa Jinja
Hyogo / 1755-6 Yokacho Ishihara, Yabu, Hyōgo

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北野天満宮 Kitano Tenmangu

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source : watanabe san facebook

飾り瓦 roof tile from 石作神社 Ishizukuri Jinja, Aichi
愛知県あま市甚目寺石作郷61

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Tsuru Sennin 亀仙人 the modern "Crane Immortal"

- quote -
Master Shen is the Crane Hermit (鶴仙人 Tsurusen'nin), Minister Shen, master of the Crane School and Mercenary Tao's older brother. Whilst they both trained at the Mutaito Training Academy, a rivalry quickly grew between Shen and Master Roshi. Master Shen and Mercenary Tao, likewise, began to fight over the smallest things. Eventually, a simple spilled bowl of rice was enough to break the brothers apart.
- - - MORE
- reference source : dragonball.wikia.com/wiki/Master_Shen...-

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- quote -
OSHIKYO
Das Netsuke zeigt uns ein auf einer rechteckigen Siegelbasis ruhendes Rind, auf dem ein bärtiger Weiser gemütlich sitzt und ein langes Blasinstrument an seine Lippen hält. Das Sitzen auf einem Rind darzustellen, wobei sich meistens eine Union in meditativer Versunkenheit vorfindet, ist sehr beliebt und man kann den einfachen Bokudo genauso antreffen, wie den legendären Laoze, den Begründer des chinesischen Daoismus. Dieser war für den aus kaiserlichem Geblüt stammenden Oshikyo (chin. Wangze Kao) ein leuchtendes Vorbild, das ihn zu einem Leben als einsamer Eremit veranlaßte. Zusammen mit der Fee Fukyuko lebte er dreißig Jahre im Heshe Gebirge. Das alte Netsuke mit sehr schöner goldbrauner Patina zeigt ihn mit einer schon etwas abgegriffenen Haube und einem faltenreichen Umhang, die Schalmei schön angelegt und in einer Linie mit dem Rindsschweif, das Tier lauscht ebenfalls dem sphärischen Wohlklang.
- source : Wolfmar Zacken -

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. sennin to netsuke 仙人と根付 Netsuke of Immortals .

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source : artsy.net/artwork/suzuki-harunobu...

Parodies of Hichobo and Urashima Taro
Suzuki Harunobu

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. sennin 天狗と仙人伝説 Legends about Tengu and Immortals .

. sennin　仙人と伝説 Legends about Immortals .

. 亀仙人 Kame Sennin - "The Turtle Immortal" .

. tsuru kame, tsurukame 鶴亀 Tortoise and Crane .
symbols of long life in China

. Japan - Shrines and Temples - Index .

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- - #tsurusennin #craneimmortal #oshikyo #hichobo #goko #koko-
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