Ninotaki Temple 14 Sasaguri Pilgrimage

 

Ninotaki Temple is yet another of the temples on the Sasaguri Pilgrimage that has a waterfall for ascetic training and numerous Fudo Myoo statues.

Ninotakiji is a Koyasan Shingon temple.

The honzon, like its counterpart of the original Shikoku Pilgrimage temple 14, is Maitreya, the Future Buddha.

Sometimes known as Miroku in Japan, he is sometimes said to be a Buddha, sometimes a Bodhisattva.

It is a fairly large temple complex by the standards of most of those on the Sasaguri Pilgrimage.

The main hall was built in 1998.

It is unusual in being built completely out of Teak brought from Myanmar.

Other halls within the grounds are a Daishi Hall, a Kannon Hall, a Jiko Hall, a Benten Hall, and Inari Shrine, and a Sorei Hall.

The Jiko Hall enshrines Jiko, the nun who founded the temple.

However, for me, the most interesting was the multiple Fudo's around the two waterfalls...

The previous post in this series on day 2 of my walk along the Sasaguri Pilgrimage was on temple 20, Nakanokawachi Jizo-do.

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 It will not be published or made public.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.

Ryushintei Garden at Sorinji Temple

 

When I arrived at Sorinji Temple in the outskirts of Ube, Yamaguchi, the day was ending and the temple was in shadow with light fading fast.

I caught a glimpse of colour behind the buildings and upon investigating, was stunned to discover an amazing garden....

It is said to be the oldest garden in all of Yamaguchi.

Sorinji Temple was founded in 1670, but it was built on the site of a much older temple.

The original temple was called Fusaiji, and was founded in 777 by a monk from China.

It is believed that the garden dates from the mid to late  14th Century, although the great garden designer and scholar Mirei Shigemori suggests it might be even earlier

In 1983 the garden was designated a National Place of Scenic Beauty.

It is a pond garden, with a couple of features that, while not unique, are quite rare.

The pond has two straight lines of stones. They are called Yodomariishi, and represent boats at anchor in a harbour.

They are said to be "treasure ships" on their way to Horai, the mythical Daoist home of the immortals.

The other unusual feature is the areas of pebbles laid on the edge of the pond. See the third and fifth photos below.

This is said to represent the ebb and flow of the tides.

Another feature I didnt notice but read about later is a section of the railings along the porch overlooking the garden ahs a section with the lower railing removed.

This is so you can sit on the porch with your legs dangling over...

I hope to be able to return to Sorinji and see the garden in sunlight one day...

There is also a small "courtyard" garden between the buildings.

I visited at the end of day 24 of my walk along the Chugoku Kannon Pilgrimage. The previous post was on the unpleasant part of my walk earlier that day.

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.

Shiogahara Pond in Futatabi Park

 

After visiting the surprising Dairyuji Temple, I carried on further north on a mountain trail towards the next temple on the Kinki Fudo Myoo Pilgrimage.

Futatabi Park is a mountain park including Shiogahara Pond.

It was a very plesant and unexpected interludr....

On this crisp winter day it was picturesque, but I imagine a little earlier with full autumn colours it must have been spectacular.

There is not much in the way of facilities. A couple of cafes that open on weekends and holidays. No barbeques allowed, no fishing, and no camping, so just a place for strolling.

Within the boundary of the park is the Kobe Foreigners Cemetery.

The previous post was on Dairyuji Temple.

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.