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.

Jodoji & Jizoji Temples 43 & 45 Shodoshima Pilgrimage

 

Temples 43 and 45 on the Shodoshima Pilgrimage occupy the same site.

Jizoji, number 45, was a small temple not far away that because of a decreasing amount of parishioners decided to merge with Jodoji, and is now the Jizo Hall at that temple.

Jodoji has a delightful thatched Shoin that dates from the early Edo Period that was restored in the 1970's

Th3 main hall of Jodo-ji is made of concrete but is surprisingly elegant, with the concrete surfaces left untreated 

The honzon of Jodoji is an Amida Buddha.

The honzon of Jizo-ji is, not surprisingly, a Jizo. It is noted for being a Jizo for protection against fire.

I was unable to find out the identity of the small shrine in the grounds.

As well as the thatched Shoin, the other interesting thing for me were the Onigawara ...

There were three distinct designs....

Theprevious post in this series on day 4 of my walk along the Shodoshima Pilgrimage was on temple 42, Nishinotaki

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Kumano Brush-making Museum

 

The small mountain town of Kumano in Hiroshima is the undisputed brush capital of Japan, with about 80% of brushes made here.

Fude no Sato is a museum dedicated to the art of brush-making and is located on the hillside behind Sakakiyama Shrine.

The Kumano area was quite poor and so in the winter season the men would head up to Nara and Wakayama for seasonal work. On their way back they would buy brushes and inskstones and partially fund their journey by selling them.

They started to make the brushes in the early Edo period, but it did not really take off until the mid 19th century when three individuals created the Kumano brush industry by combiing the best elements from different brush styles from around the country.

With the advent of compulsory schooling in the early Meiji years, when every schoolchild had to study calligraphy, the business boomed and employed a large percentage of the population.

In the post-war period there was a decline in demand for calligraphy brushes and so the brushmakers moved into the very lucrative market of high-end makeup brushes.

As well as showing the wide variety of brushes made, there are also demonstrations on brush making.

It is also possible to  take short classes in brush making.

It may have changed since the time I visited, but there was almost no information in English, however, most things are easy enough to figure out.

The previous post was on Sakakiyama Shrine nearby.

Atrium at Seahawk Hotel

 

The atrium at the Seahawk Hotel in Fukuoka is huge.

When the hotel was built in 1995 it was the biggest hotel in Japan so its fitting that the atrium would be so large.

It was designed by the Argentinian-American architect Cesar Pelli.

He also designed the Osaka Museum of History that I posted on previously.

The design of the atrium is said to be based on the shape of a shell.

Movable fabric screens shiled the interior from direct sun....

The highest poit of the atrium is the huge glass wall about 40 meters in height.

Huge palm trees and flowing water are a feature...

The atrium is home to numerous shops and several eateries...

The previous post in this series on the modern architecture of Fukuoka was on the Seahawk Hotel main building.