Saturday, September 20, 2025

Daishoin Temple 14 Chugoku Pilgrimage Part 2 Jizo, Kannon, Enma, Autumn Colours

 


This is the second part of my post on Daishoin Temple on Miyajima. The previous post is here.


Not sure exactly who this is but I suspect it is one of the Wisdom Kings.....


I believe this is a Kokuzo Bosatsu statue in what is called the Nyo Garden,,,,



The Hensho Kutsu is an artificial cave with an impressive ceiling of lanterns.


Here are 88 statues and a small amount of earth from each of the 88 temple on the Shikoku Pilgrimage.


There are many, many versions of Jizo here.....


The Amida-do enshrining an Amida trinity.


For more details on the history of Daishoin please check my previous post....








A tengu......


Some miniature Jizo....


Enma..... the Judge of "Hell"....


yet anither Fudo....


Theer are numerous Kannons here, including the one that was the main Buddha of Itsukushima Shrine until the separation of Buddhas and kami in 1868


Thursday, September 18, 2025

Daishoin Temple 14 Chugoku Pilgrimage Part 1 Nio, Rakan, Fudo Myoo

 


Daisho-in is the main temple on Miyajima and was the temple that administered the Itsukushima Shrine for most of hstory.


It is a fairly large complex with mutliple halls, however most of the structures were destroyed or damaged in a big fire in 1887.


It is said that Kobo Daishi himself visited the island and practised on top of Mount Misen and then founded the temple.


However, this cannot be historically confirmed, although archeological evidence on Mount Misen suggest there was a Buddhist presence on the island as far back as the Nara Period.


There is a fine pair of Nio in the Niomon.


In the grounds are a set of Rakan,... not sure how many, but unusually they were wearing hats.


The honzon of the temple is Miki Daigongen, which I mentioned in an earlier post on Mitakidera.


I took so many photos at Daishoin that I have split them into two posts.




It was early November, so the Fall foliage had not yet reached its full splendour, but it was pretty enough...



In the treasure hall are numerous statues collected from around this temple,including this fine Fudo, said to be carved by Kobo Daishi.


Also a Nio from earlier times...


The Onarimon, "Imperial gate"





In front of the Chokgando Hall



In the Chokgando Hall is the main Namikiri Fudo Statue....


Surrounded by small statues of Hyakutai Fudo and Sentai Fudo...


Tuesday, September 16, 2025

Hakata Port Tower


This was originally known as the Fukuoka Tower, but was renamed Hakata Port Tower when the new Fukuoka Tower was built.


It was built in 1964 and is 103 meters tall with an observation deck at 73 meters.


It was designed by Tachu Naito who designed many TV towers in Japan including Tokyo Tower.


He also designed the current Tsutenkaku Tower in Osaka.


It's open every day of the year, and entrance to the observation deck with a decent 360 degree view is free.


There are several ferry terminals around the tower for local and long distance ferries as well as cruise ships, so various buses can be used to visit the tower.


Around the tower is Bayside Place with numerous shops and eateries and a free two-storey aquarium tank as well as a popular onsen nearby.


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