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.
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