Aki Kokubunji Temple

 

Aki Kokubunji was one of the monasteries that were established by Emperor Shomu in the mid 8th century as a national system of temples to both spread Buddhism and also solidify political control.

Each temple was to enshrine Yakushi Nyorai and have a 7-storey pagoda. Often government offices were built nearby. The Kokubunji for Aki Province was established here in what is now Saijo.

Excavations in the area around the current temple have revealed many details and the area is now a history park.

The original temple disappeared long ago, and the oldest remaining structure is the Niomon built in the mid 16th century.

The  Goma Hall was built in the early 19th century.

The main hall was rebuilt in 2004.

The Yakushi honzon was burnt several times and has been extensively repaired. It is a secret Buddha shown every 33 years, te next time in 2038.

Another Yakushi statue can be seen in a small Yakushi-do. It has also been extensivey repaired and dates back to the late Heian Period.

In the Heian Period the government offices were moved to what is now Fuchu, and many monks moved there too...

At some point many Shingon monks settled in the area and it became a Shingon temple.

The previous post in this series on day 14 of my walk along the Chugoku Kannon Pilgrimage was on Mitate Shrine, the main shrine of Saijo.

Ichinotaki-ji Temple 40 Sasaguri Pilgrimage

 

Ichinotaki Temple in the mountains of Sasaguri is said to have more than 500 statues, including a set of rakan.

Temple number 40 on the Sasaguri Pilgrimage, it is fairly high up a narrow valley.

Several shrines and altars line the approach path including the Tamamitsu Inari Shrine, pictured above, and the Shokankiten Hall next door to it.

The temple was established, by local donations, in 1892.

The honzon is a Yakushi Nyorai.

There are actually two waterfalls, the larger considered male, and the smaller, female.

With the waterfall comes many Fudo Myoo's, and I previously posted photos of 18 of them...

There is quite a large Bato Kannon, sometimes called Horsehead Kannon

Theer are alo numerous, but not 500, expressive statues of rakan, first photo of the post and the next couple of photos...

There is supposed to be one clutching a bunch of banknotes but I couldnt find it...

The statue below was very unusual, at least in this area. It is a Ta no kami, a god of the rice paddy.

When viewed from the rear it is unambiguously a phallus.

En no Gyoga, often found at waterfalls as the legendary founder of Shugendo.

The Seven Luck Gods.... only one of which is Japanese....

Looking down on Ichinotaki Temple

The smaller "female" falls....

The previous post was on the Fudo Myoo statues of Ichinotaki....

Tomonoura Temple Walk Part 2

 

During the Obon period of mid-August, most of the temples in Tomonoura have curtains and lanterns displaying the temple crest.

Hosenji was quite a large temple, founded in 1358 by Daikaku Daisoji, a high-ranking priest of the Nichiren sect.

He was supported by Emperor Go-Kogon.

There remains a huge stump of a pine tree that was a National Natural Monument until it died in 1991. It is said to have been planted by Daikaku himself and was therefore more than 630 years old when it died.

Hosenji was yet another Tomnoura temple that was used as lodgings for Korean envoys.

Heading south the next temple was Nanzenbo, distinguished by its impressive bell tower gate.

Nanzenbo was established in 1573 and moved to its current location in the mid Edo Period. It is a True Pure Land sect temple.

The tower gate and main hall are both Tangible Culturl Properties. It is believed the gate was built in preparation for the 12th Korean delegation.

Next was Amidaji, but its gates were closed and it wasn't wearing decorations so I didn't go in, which is a shame as it is home to the "Great Buddha of Tomo" said to be a particularly fine and large statues of Amida.

Amidaji is a Pure Land sect temple founded in 1565. Apparently the cemetery contains some gravestones that are unique to Tomonoura.

Next up was Myoenji, originally founded as a Tendai temple in the coutryside outside Tomonoura in the 13th century and later converted to True Pure Land.

In the mid 15th century it moved to its current location after being pressured by the warlord of its area to convert to the Nichiren sect. Along with neighbouring Amidaji, it has an Edo-period bell.

Narrow lanes lead further up the hillside to the biggest and highest temple of the area, Ioji.

The biggest building is not the main hall, but rather the Mikagedo, otherwise known as the Founders Hall.

It is a Shingon temple said to have been founded  by Kobo Daishi himself in 826.

The main hall, pictured below, dates to 1685, although the bell tower is about 40 years older.

The honzon is a standing Yakushi Nyorai.

Ioji Temple is a well-known spot for getting a great view looking down on Tomonoura and especially for watching sunrise.

However, a path with about 600 steps leads much further up the hillside to the Taishiden.

From here the views are much more expansive and reach to Shikoku on clear days.

For me, however, the highlight of Ioji were the Nio guardians.

Unfortunately I can find no information on them or their age, but they are obviously quite old and therefore that eerie quality that comes with deterioration..... kind of like how I'm feeling nowadays...

The previous post was Part One of my Tomonoura Temple Walk.