Sunday, February 7, 2021

Io-ji Temple 54 on the Kyushu Pilgrimage

Io-ji

Io-ji temple is not very large and is located not too far from the ruins of Yatsushiro Castle in Yatsushiro. The temple was patronized by the Matsui Clan who rued the area from the mid 17th Century. The chunky stone Nio guarding the temple are very much in Kyushu style.


The honzon of the temple is Yakushi Nyorai, housed in a seperate Yakushi-do. There are several Kanno statues in the grounds and a couple of Fudo Myo.


There is a shrine to Ashite Kojin, and many ema in the shape of legs and hands were left there.


There was a statue and a painting of some deity riding a white horse, but I have no idea who it is.


2 comments:

  1. The deity on the white horse might be Shogun Jizo !
    .
    thanks for a great visit!
    Gabi

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    1. That makes sense.... I understand Shogun Jizo was very popuar among samurai and the temple was patronized by the ruling samurai clan

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