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.

Buttsuji Temple 12 Chugoku Kannon Pilgrimage

 

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.

WhenI visited on this trip the leaves were only just beginning to turn, but later the temple will attract many visitors for the full autumn splendor.

Earlier I posted on the small pond garden and the large karesansui garden....

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

The previous post was on the statues of the 500 rakan at Buttsuji.