Though not far from the busy city of Kobe, Dairyuji is not well known and not well visited as it is situated in the middle of the mountains north of the city.
As the crow flies, only 2k from Shin Kobe station, but with no public transport you either drive, or, as I did, hike
.
Just below the Nio Gate is a Jizo statue surrounded by dozens and dozens of smaller Jizos with brightly-coloured bibs.
The Nio themselves are quite interesting, with somewhat stronger facial features than most nio.
The temple has a reputation for protection against paralysis.
The honzon, a secret Buddha, is a Standing Kannon
After passing through the Nio gate steps and vermillion torii lead up to an Inari shrine.
According to kegend, the temple was founded in 768.
A court aristocrat was in the mountains searching for a suitable site for a temple under orders of Empress Suiko.
He was attacked by assassins sent by the priest Dokyo. He was saved by the sudden appearance of a dragon.
He established the temple at the place the event happened. Dairyuji means Great Dragon Temple.
The backstory is that Dokyo was a monk who achieved unheard of levels of power by being favoured by Empress Shotoku. He is said to have healed her, but some speculate that they became lovers. An oracle was received at Usa Hachimangu that was interpreted to mean that Dokyo should be made the next emperor.
This caused great consternation among the courtiers and powerful clans, and Wake Kiyomaro was sent to Usa and obtained another oracle that contradicted the first. That Dokyo and Kiyomaro were enemies is without doubt. Some have likened Dokyo to Rasputin.
The temple is one of the very many that Kobo daishi is said to have visited on his way to China to study and then visited again on his return.
The temple is now a Shingon temple and has a Daishi Hall.
During the unrest of the Nanboku-cho Period in the 14th century, the temple was part of a castle and was destroyed several times but rebuilt.
The current structures date from the Edo Period.
The temple is perhaps best known for its large, vermillion Mountain Gate, but as I arrived via the footpath I didn't get to see it.
A Bokefuji Kannon for protection against dementia and senility.
Though there are many different Kannon statues here, I was here to visit the Goma-do which houses the Fudo Myoo.
The Fudo statue dates to the Edo Period and is flanked by a Daishi and a Jizo.
From here I carried on north towards the next temple located in Yamada.
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