Nakanokawachi Jizo-do Temple 20 Sasaguri Pilgrimage

 

Nakanokawachi Jizo-do is known locally as Kakurin-ji, the 20th temple on the Shikoku pilgrimage that Nakanokawachi Jizo-do represents on this miniature version of the pilgrimage.

Though there is a very narrow road that passes near the temple, the best route is via a steep trail.

Yesterday was almost completely on asphalt roads, but it seems today there will be quite a bit of trails for those who walk the pilgrimage.

The honzon is a Jizo, and there are also many other statues around, including a couple of Fudo.

However, the most intriguing was a Kuginuki Jizo, a nail-pulling Jizo, within a giant pair of pincers.

This seems to derive from a more famous nail-pulling Jizo in Kyoto, and the background being that the "nails" to be pulled are karmic sufferings from a previous life.

The previous post was on temples 17 and 78.

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Futagoji Temple 1 Kyushu Fudo Myoo Pilgrimage

 

Futago-ji Temple is located right in the cemtre of the Kunisaki Peninsula in Oita.

It is the first temple of the Kyushu Fudo Myoo Pilgrimage, with a cluster of other temples of the pilgrimage also in the Kunisaki Peninsula.

I arrived here on day 5, after having visited the other temples earlier as I had been following a route that roughly followed an ancient yamabushi pilgrimage route around the peninsula in a clockwise direction.

I had visited Futagoji several times before, most recently posting about it when I visited on an earlier 5-day walk around the peninsula in Autumn colors season.

Said to have been founded in 718, along with numerous other temples around the peninsula.

It is now considered the head temple of the Rokugo Manzan, the unique syncretic, shugendo sect.

In earlier times it was the head of the central area of the Rokugo manzan system.

In this first post I am just showing things around the lower area of the temple complex.

The main worship hall on this level is the Goma-do.

Enshrining Fudo Myoo, it was the focus of my visit.

All the photos from this point on were taken inside the Goma-do.

In the next post in the series I will cover the Okunoin and the other sights along the way to it...

The previous post was on Jinguji Temple 2, which I visited the evening before.

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Taking Tea at Fumon-in Temple Matsue

 

Fumon-in, a small Tendai temple near Matsue castle, has an Edo-period teahouse used by the great tea master and daimyo, Fumai, and also later by the writer Lafcadio Hearn.

The small bridge you must cross to reach the temple is itself the subject of a ghost story made famous by Hearn.

In the grounds is a fairly big Inari Shrine. Originally established in Wakamiya Shrine to the north of the castle, the priest of Fumon-i was charged by the lord of the castle to perform ceremonies at the shrine. It was moved here in 1870 following the separation of Buddhas and kami.

The thatched roof of the teahouse Kangetsuan can be seen from the temple's outer grounds

The honzon of the temple is a Fudo Myoo and there are several other, smaller, stone Fudo's in the grounds.

Plastic bamboo...

Binzuru

The temple was originally established in 1607 by the first lord of Matsue, Yoshiharu Horio. Called Ganno-ji it was located further away from the castle.

It burned down and in 1699 was rebuilt at the current location and renamed Fumon-in.

The current location was chosen as it protects the castle from the dangerous influences that come from the NE.

The temple is now most famously known for the teahouse Kangetsuan.

Built in 1801 in the temples small, pond, stroll garden...

Fumai Matsudaira, the great tea master, is said to have visited often.

Visitors can walk in the garden and look inside the teahouse, but not enter.

In the next post in this series I will post about Kangetsuan.

After exploring I returned to the temple and the priest's wife brought me a matcha and sweet to enjoy.

The previous post in this series on Matsue was on the garden and teahouse at the nearby Matsue History Mueum.

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Daishoin Temple 14 Chugoku Pilgrimage Part 1 Nio, Rakan, Fudo Myoo

 

Daisho-in is the main temple on Miyajima and was the temple that administered the Itsukushima Shrine for most of hstory.

It is a fairly large complex with mutliple halls, however most of the structures were destroyed or damaged in a big fire in 1887.

It is said that Kobo Daishi himself visited the island and practised on top of Mount Misen and then founded the temple.

However, this cannot be historically confirmed, although archeological evidence on Mount Misen suggest there was a Buddhist presence on the island as far back as the Nara Period.

There is a fine pair of Nio in the Niomon.

In the grounds are a set of Rakan,... not sure how many, but unusually they were wearing hats.

The honzon of the temple is Miki Daigongen, which I mentioned in an earlier post on Mitakidera.

I took so many photos at Daishoin that I have split them into two posts.

It was early November, so the Fall foliage had not yet reached its full splendour, but it was pretty enough...

In the treasure hall are numerous statues collected from around this temple,including this fine Fudo, said to be carved by Kobo Daishi.

Also a Nio from earlier times...

The Onarimon, "Imperial gate"

In front of the Chokgando Hall

In the Chokgando Hall is the main Namikiri Fudo Statue....

Surrounded by small statues of Hyakutai Fudo and Sentai Fudo...

The previous post was on the approach to Miyajima and to the temple...