Friday, July 25, 2025

Buttsuji Temple 12 Chugoku Kannon Pilgrimage

 


Like many Zen temples and monasteries, Buttsuji displays a portrait of Bodhidharma, the legendary monk credited with introducing Zen.


Located in the mountains north of Mihara on the coast of Hiroshima, Buttsuji was a huge monastery complex in its heyday.


Though much reduced in size since then, there are still multiple structures on either side of the Buttsuji River.


It was founded in 1397 as a Rinzai sect Zen temple.


At its peak it had 88 sub temples and 3,000 branch temples.


On the narrow road approaching the temple are several of the former sub-temples, like Yotoku-in , the second photo of this post.


The temple suffered periodic declines and rebuilding during the long period of warfare among the various clans vying for power and other fires.


In 1795 a big fire destroyed many of the main buildings but they were rebuilt by 1805.


In 1905 it became the head temple of the Buttsuji branch of Rinzai, with currently 47 branch temples.


WhenI visited on this trip the leaves were only just beginning to turn, but later the temple will attract many visitors for the full autumn splendor.


Earlier I posted on the small pond garden and the large karesansui garden....


The Lecture Hall dates to 1805 and has a seated Shaka Nyorai flanked by Manjusri and Fugen. The two photos above and the one below.


On  the other side of the river steps lead up to the Pagoda.


Below the pagoda are several other statues









Thursday, July 24, 2025

Nishinotaki Ryusui Temple 42 Shodoshima Pilgrimage

 


I arrived at Nishinotaki Temple via the mountain footpath that ran from temple 41, Bukkokusan, so I didn't see the quite dramatic entry approach until I left.


Nishinotaki epitomizes all that is so great about the Shodoshima Pilgrimage:- a cave, fantastic views, and lots of Fudo Myoo....


The entrance to the small cave is beside main hall.


Inside is a sacred spring, and according to the various legends  it concerns a dragon that attacked a local village and was pacified and confined in the cave resulting in the sacred spring today.


The honzon is an 11-faced Kannon.


A forest fire in 1970 destroyed all the buildings.


The Goma-do is a vermillion, concrete structure with the best views... photo 17 below


A little further up the mountain is a Fudo statues with attendants... photo 14 below.


There are several other Fudo statues including the one on the altar in the goma-do photo 11 below


For those who come by car there is a long staircase lined with lanterns


The previous post was on temple 41 Bukkokusan.














Wednesday, July 23, 2025

500 Rakan at Buttsuji Temple

 


The statues of the 500 Rakan at Buttsuji Temple are all made of stone and seem to be fairly recent in origin.


Not sure how many there are, certainly not close to 500, but there is space for more to be added and a couple seem to be almost new.


What I had not seen before is that each figure was named.


Also, to the left of the name was the name of the person who had donated the statue....


Nothing more to add, so please peruse the photos....


The previous post was on the gardens here at Buttsuji.....


Next I will look at the temple itself......