Myo-o-ji Temple 95 on the Kyushu Pilgrimage

Myo-o-ji Temple 95

Alsoknown as Tansofudosonmyoo Temple, Myo-o-ji is number 95 on the Kyushu ilgrimage and the reason I was in Hita on the 53rd day of my walk.

It was established here in the 1890's after being transferred from Nakatsu. A local priest had walked the Shikoku pilgrimage and was inspired to set up a temple, but at that time it was illegal to establish a new Buddhist temple.

The solution was to transfer an existing temple from somewhere else. It is not clear if any actual structure was transferred, or even if the honzon was transferred. Sometimes just the name of a temple was transferred.

The honzon is a Fudo Myo-o and therefore they conduct goma rituals here.

In the second photo is a shrine to Mizuko Kuyo, primarilydevoted to prayers for aborted children.

There was a great painting of what I believe is not Fudo, but a different Myo-o. Not sure ecxactly which of the Wisdom Kings it is as they appear in many forms, but it may well be Gozanze, though it could be Godari.

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Hita Preservation District in 2D

Hita

A series of photos taken in the historical preservation district in Hita, Oita, that focus on two-dimensional composition. Similar to the recent post I did on Omori.

Traditional Japanese architecture offers a variety of pleasing proportions and textures.

Juxtaposing with  natural forms.......

Sometimes a simple, repetitive pattern works..... this is in front of a museum of the local matsuri which I will cover in a future post....

Existing artwork and advertising is often a good subject. One wonders what a compulsory fire might be.

Many times property owners create their own aesthetic arrangements.....

A fundamental function of the photographer is to choose where to place the frame.....

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Ema Votive Plaques

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Hita Preservation District

Hita

Hita is a small town in Oita, close to the border with Fukuoka, and on the Mikuma River, which runs into the Chikugo River.

The old part of town is called Mamedamachi, and is a Preservation District with streets of old buildings from various times in the Edo Period.

Due in large part to its location in the middle of northern Kyushu, with well established roads and river transport routes radiating out to other parts of Kyushu, it was pretty much the political and economic capital of Kyushu for several hundred years.

First it was directly controlled by Hideyoshi, and then his successor, Tokugawa Ieyasu. Following him it was controlled by the Bakufu, and as such was known as a tenryo town.

Certain sections of the old town are very tourist-oriented with lots of gifts shops etc, though there are a few small museums and some temples.

I will be posting about various sites in the town over the next few weeks.

I was here on day 53 of my walk along the Kyushu Pilgrimage.

Koinobori