Kanyoji Temple Gardens Mirei Shigemori Masterpiece

 

Kanyoji is the 15th temple on the Chugoku Kannon Pilgrimage, and is located in the mountains of Yamaguchi.

It is a Rinzai Zen temple and was founded under the instructions of the Ouchi Clan who controlled much of the area.

It was founded by a Zen master, Yodo Myoki, who had spent 11 years studying in China.

The principal image is a Kannon.

What the temple is famous for are the 6 gardens designed by Mirei Shigemori, arguably the greatest garden designer of the 20th century.

He designed the gardens towards the end of his career, and many consider them a masterpiece, along with his gardens at Matsuo Shrine in Kyoto.

The gardens represent garden styles from different historical periods.

As you approach the temple you pass by the Sogen Itteki Garden (photo 3). Done in the gyokukan style from the Muromachi Period. On this visit I only took the one photo but I took many on a previous visit that I will post about one day.

Photos 8 through 14 show the Jizo Yuka Garden.

Unusual in that it can be viewed from all 4 directions.

A pure karesansui garden composed of just white sand and rocks.

Said to be a Heian Period style.

It is said to represent Jizo playing with a child.

The main garden is located in front of the main hall and is also representative of a Heian garden.

It is a "curved water garden" but also incorporates a karensanui garden.

Popular in the Heian and Kamakura Periods, a curved water garden was used to float sake cups down while nobles competed to write poems...

The large stone grouping in the corner of the garden represents Mount Horai.

Mount Horai is a mythical mountain in ancient China and a common motif in Japanese gardens. It is also represented in another of the gardens here at Kanyoji, which I will cover in the next post.

On this occasion, I was here on day 21 of my walk along the Chugoku Kannon Pilgrimage.

One of the gardens, the Garden of the Eight Views of Xiaoxiang, is in Shigemori's unique modern style, but is usually closed to the public. I was able to view it on my previous visit so will post pics of it eventually.

In the next post I will look at the two gardens to the rear of the temple.

The previous post was on the nearby Nishoyamada Shrine and its autumn foliage.

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Mitakidera Temple 13 Chugoku Kannon Pilgrimage Part 1 Down Below

 

Mitakidera is a real hidden gem in Hiroshima. Tucked away in a narrow, steep, valley, it is only a few kilometers from the epicenter of the atom bomb blast, but was mostly unscathed.

There are many things to see in the steep climb up to the main hall, the first being theTahoto-style pagoda.

This was not here until 1951 when it was donated to the temple as a memorial to the bomb victims.

Until then, it was located at Hiro Hachiman Shrine near Yuasa in Wakayama.

It was built in the 1520's and has many colourful carvings that are worth checking out.

Mitakidera is said to have been founded in 809 by Kobo Daishi.

The honzon of Mitakidera is a Kannon, but also an unusual triple deity Sanki Daigongen, more of which in the next post.

Mitaki means three waterfalls, named after the three small waterfalls within the grounds.

Interestingly each is from a different souirce.

One of the many tsukubai, water basins, within the temple.

Mitakidera is known for its autumn foliage. I was here in early November, so they were just starting.

The Soshin Kannon Hall, built in the Edo Period and renovated in early Meiji.

Theer are so many things to see, and I took so many photos, that I have split this post into two parts...

Founders Garden..... not sure if this refers to only the major founders of this temple, or Shingon Buddhism in general. Obviously, Kobo Daishi is here..... Is it four variations of Kobo? Four monks or abbots connected to Mitakidera,... or 4 Shingon Patriarchs?

Behind the group of statues is Komaga Falls, the lowest of the three...

Incidentally, water from the three falls is used in the Peace Ceremony every year at the Peace Park and Museum.

From here the path leads up to the Bell Tower, which did suffer damage during the bomb blast.

There are many, many statues along the path. Quite a few are Kannons.

I think these are some of the Rakan.

Next you pass a small thatched teahouse and garden.

This is the Fudaraku Garden and Teahouse.

Unfortunately, it only opens during the fall foliage season.

The garden was built in the 1950's by the famous garden designer Mirei Shigemori.

Behind it is Bon no Falls, the second of the three.

Next I will post on the upper part of the temple. The previous post was on the Brush Museum in Kumano.

The second part on Mitakidera, with 30 more photos is here.