Maegamiji Temple 64 Shikoku Ohenro Pilgrimage

 

Temple 64, Maegamiji, was originally located high up on Mount Ishizuchi, the 1,982 meter high sacred mountain, highest mountain in West Japan, and a major Shugendo centre.

When En no Gyoja, the legendary founder of Shugendo was climbing the mountain in the late 7th century he encountered a man at the point he gave up trying to reach the summit. The mans words convinved him to keep going and on his way down after reaching the top and having a vision he established the temple.

Emperor Kanmu established 7 halls at the temple in the late 7th century.

Kobo Daishi is known to have visited twice.

All of this occurred at about 1,400 meters on the mountain, roughly where the modern ropeway ends.

In the Edo Period a small branch temple called Satozenjinji was built at the base of the mountain for people who could not make the tough climb up. This was where the huge Ishizuchi Shrine now stands, a little west of the current Maegami Temple.

The original temple on the mountain became known as the Okunoin.

In 1868 with the Shinbutsubunri declaration, the Buddhist sites connected to Ishizuchi either became shrines, or closed down.

After petitioning by local parishioners the current Maegami Temple was built at its current site.

In 1972 the main hall and its honzon, an Amida, were destroyed by fire and rebuilt with a new honzon which has always been a "secret Buddha."

The precincts contain a Gongen hall, a Daishi hall, a Goma hall, and a Konpira hall.

There is a waterfall for austerities with a Fudo Myoo. There are also an Inari Shrine and a Benzaiten Shrine.

The previous post in the series was on Temples 62 & 63.

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Ryufukuji Temple in Autumn

 

Ryufukuji is a Zen temple in Yamaguchi City. Originally it was Rinzai sect but was later converted to Soto sect.

It is one of the best places in the city to view autumn colours as the approach to the temple gate is lined with maple trees.

Once you pass through the gate all turns yellow from a huge Gingko tree...

Like so many temples, it has been rebuilt many times and moved to different locations.

Its current location is within the grounds of what used to be the Ouchi Clan mansion.

The Ouchi were an ancient clan, claiming descent from Korean immigrants. They are also believed to have introduced the cult of Myoken into Japan.

During the Muromachi Period (1336-1573), when Kyoto was devastated by war, the Ouchi established Yamaguchi as an alternative to Kyoto with many aspects of elite culture.

They were eventually defeated by the Mori Clan who went on to rule most of the Chugoku region.

The main hall with its cypress bark roof dates to 1479 and is an Important Cultural Property.

A small building in the grounds is a museum with artitacts relating to the Ouchi Clan.

The original temple, before renaming and relocating several times, dates to the first decade of the 13th century.

The honzon is a Shaka Nyorai, the Japanese name for Shakyamuni, the historical Buddha.

The previous post in this series on my walk on day 23 of the Chugoku Pilgrimage was also another autumn colours extravaganza, the Sesshu garden at Jyoei-ji Temple.

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Great Spring Festival at Taikodani Inari Shrine

 

Shunki Taisai translates to "Great Spring Festival," although, as far as I can tell, it is not a very common event.

In May 2011 we went down to Taikodani Inari Shrine in Tsuwano for their Shunki Taisai. As far as I know, they have not held one since.

It was quite a grand affair, with numerous priests, mikos, and representatives of the town dressed in samurai outfits.

I was very surprised to see some of the miko wearing swords.... don't think I have seen that before...

a Himorogi was set up in the shrines open courtyard. A himorogi is an area demarcated with 4 bamboos with shimenawa. It is believed this was the form shrines took in ancient times before they utilized buildings a la Buddhism.

First, the miko purified each other and then the townsmen.

Then it was the turn of the priests....

One of the great things about Tsuwano is that there are never crowds, so events such as this, or the Heron Dance or even Yabusame, you can get close to the action, not view things from a distance at the back of a crowd like at the major tourist destinations...

All the participants lined up and awaited the Guji, head priest.

The Guji arrives under the shade of a ceremonial parasol....

Then all the participants follow in procession and line up inside the himorogi...

Offerings are made and norito are read....

The guji then leads the procession up into the main hall of the shrine where further rituals are held.

later in the afternoon we watched kagura in a building half-way down the hill belwo the shrine...

The previous post in this series on Tsuwano was on the Taikodani Inari Shrine where this festival took place.

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