Ankokuji Temple 25 Iwami Kannon Pilgrimage

 

Ankokuji is not far from Tadaji, temple 24, and even closer to Komyoji, temple 26, and is located in Kamiko, a little upstream from Shimoko.

I was surprised by how substantial a temple it was, and then I learned that it has the tombs of several generations of the Masuda Clan, who ruled the area. They were descendants of the Fujiwara governor Kunikane, who changed their names. They later moved from this area, where the national government offices were located, to the area where the city of Masuda is now located.

It was originally called Fukuenji and was said to have been founded in the early 8th century. It fell into disrepair but was revived in the early 12th century as a Tendai Temple and flourished under the patronage of the governor Fujiwara no Kunikane.

It again fell into disrepair after a big fire but was revived as a Rinzai Zen temple in the early 14th century by the wife of Masuda Kanenaga to pray for her deceased father.

In 1348 the temple was chosen to be the Ankoku Temple for Iwami Province.

In 741, the emperor ordered the building of a Buddhist monastery called Kokubunji in each province. It was an attempt to impose central control over the country. These Kokubunji were usually built at the site of the government offices of each province. The Iwami Kokubunji and government offices were located in this area of Shimoko.

In 1348 Ashikaga made Ankoku Temples in each province of the country for similar reasons. Whereas the traditional Buddhist sects were dominated by the Imperial court and their related families, when the warriors took over the country they usually chose Zen temples as they were new sects not yet under the control of the old guard.

There is a fine pair of ceramic komainu.

The hillside behind the main hall is planted with azalea bushes.....

Mu guess is that the red shrine in the pond is a Benzaiten shrine...

There is also a small karesansui garden in the front...

Shachi and other roof ornaments from earlier versions of the temple....

The previous post was on the interior sights of nearby Tada-ji Temple.

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Daikoji Temple 67 Shikoku Ohenro Pilgrimage

 

Daikoji, temple 67 on the Shikoku Pilgrimage, is located in a fairly out-of-the-way rural area at the bottom of the mountains, with no big towns nearby.

It was established, about 1 kilometer from its current location, in 742 as a branch of Todaiji temple.

The Nio Gate was built in 1318 but rebuit at its current location in 1796.

The Nio are dated to the mid Kamakura Period, around the mid 13th century.

They were repainted in 1790 and are the biggest wooden nio in Shikoku.

Kobo Daishi visited in 792, and thirty years later came back and rebuilt much of the temple.

Two huge trees flanking the approach are said to have been planted by Kobo Daishi himself.

Daikoji was unusual in that it was partly Tendai and partly Shingon, with a Tendai hall still remaining today.

At one point there were 24 Shingon halls and 12 Tendai halls....

A major fire detroyed most of the temple, possibly caused by Chosokabe Motochika, possibly not.

When I visited in 2012 they were already flying banners to celebrate the 1,000th anniversary of the Pilgrimage in 2014...

The temple moved to its current location and was rebuilt in 1597. The current main hall dates to 1741.

The honzon is a Yakushi Nyorai, commonly known as the Medicine Buddha. It is a secret Buddha unveiled to the public every 60 years.

Known as Sanko (triangle) Pine...

Kumano Sansho Gongen Shrine was seperated from the temple after shinbutsu bunri...

The previous post was on Unpenji, temple 66....

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Futagoji Temple 1 Kyushu Fudo Myoo Pilgrimage Part Two

 

Futagoji Temple, number 1 on the Kyushu Fudo Myoo Pilgrimage, is located at the heart of the Kunisaki Peninsula, and the heart of the ancient shugendo system of Rokugo Manzan.

This is the second post, as when I visited I took so many photos they could not reasonably be contained within a single post.

The first post looked at the approach to the temple, the entrance, and the large Goma Hall.

Now we cross the huge slab of stone that is a bridge to head up the steps to the next level and then on to the Okunoin.

A small shrine to Daikoku, one of the Seven Lucky Gods....

Like the other temples of the Rokugo Manzan form of Shugendo, Futago-ji is said to have been founded in 718 by the legendary monk Ninmon.

Being a mix of Tendai Buddhism and Usa Hachimangu, "shinto" torii and shimenawa are plentiful at Rokugo Manzan sites.

At this level is the Lecture Hall, housing a Shaka Triad. The first photo of this post is of the main altar.

Shaka Nyorai, in English, Sakyamuni the historical Buddha, is flanked by a Yakushi and an Amida.

There is a wonderful mural behind the main statues...

There are numerous other statues including the 4 shitenno.

The lecture hall was destroyed during the period of Shinbutsu Bunri in 1868 and was rebuilt in 1991.

It is used during the Oni-e fire festival in January.

Up another set of stone stairs and we come to the approach to the Okunoin.

The current building was built in 1846 with donations from the Matsudaira daimyo of Kitsuki domain.

In a small cave behind the hall is a sacred spring. The water is said to give eternal youth and longevity.

The main statue enshrined is a Thousand-armed Kannon.

The previous post was on the lower level of Futagoji,... the approach, Goma Hall etc.

If you would like to subscribe by email just leave your email address in the comments below. It will not be published and made public. I post new content almost everyday, and send out an email about twice a month with short descriptions and links to the last ten posts.