Temples named Seiryu-Ji

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Seiryuujii, Shooryuuji 青竜寺
temples named Seiryu-ji or Shoryu-Ji

seiryoo, seiryuu 青龍; 青竜 "blue dragon", "green dragon"
Azure Dragon God in the East




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The Azure Dragon is one of the Four Symbols of the Chinese constellations. It represents the east and the spring season. It should not be confused with the mythological yellow dragon that is associated with the Emperor of China. It is also referred to in media, feng shui, other cultures, etc., as the Green Dragon and the Avalon Dragon.

It is known as Qinglong in Chinese, Seiryuu in Japanese, Cheongnyong in Korean, and Thanh Long in Vietnamese. It is sometimes called the Azure Dragon of the East (simplified Chinese: 东方青龙; traditional Chinese: 東方青龍; pinyin: Dōng Fāng Qīng Lóng, or sometimes simplified Chinese: 东方苍龙; traditional Chinese: 東方蒼龍; pinyin: Dōng Fāng Cāng Lóng).

Origin
In the novel Shuo Tang Yanyi (Tales of Tang Dynasty), the White Tiger's star is reincarnated as General Luo Cheng (羅成 / 罗成), who served Li Shimin.
The Azure Dragon's Star is reincarnated as General Shan Xiongxin (單雄信 / 单雄信), who served Wang Shichong.
The two generals are sworn brothers of Qin Shubao (秦叔寶 / 秦叔宝), Cheng Zhijie (程知節 / 程知节) & Yuchi Jingde (尉遲敬德 / 尉迟敬德). After death, their souls are said to possess heroes of the Tang & Liao dynasties, such as Xue Rengui (薛仁貴 / 薛仁贵) & He Suwen (郃苏文).

In other legends, the Tang Dynasty general Xue Rengui is said to be the reincarnation of the White Tiger's Star. While his archenemy, General He Suwen of the Liao Dynasty is said to be the reincarnation of the Azure Dragon's Star.

Influence
In Japan, the Azure Dragon is one of the four guardian spirits of cities and is said to protect the city of Kyoto on the east. The west is protected by the White Tiger, the north is protected by the Black Tortoise, the south is protected by the Vermilion Bird,
and the center is protected by the Yellow Dragon.

In Kyoto there are temples dedicated to each of these guardian spirits.
The Azure Dragon is represented in the Kiyomizu Temple in eastern Kyoto. Before the entrance of the temple there is a statue of the dragon which is said to drink from the waterfall within the temple complex at nighttime.
Therefore each year a ceremony is held to worship the dragon of the east. In 1983, the Kitora Tomb was found in the village of Asuka. All four guardians were painted on the walls (in the corresponding directions) and a system of the constellations was painted on the ceiling. This is one of the few ancient records of the four guardians.

In Korea, the murals of the Goguryeo Tombs found at Uhyon-ni in South Pyongan province features the Azure Dragon and the other mythological creatures of the four symbols.
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It was in 805 that Kūkai finally met Master Hui-kuo (746 – 805) the man who would initiate him into the esoteric Buddhism tradition at Changan's Qinglong Monastery (青龍寺). Huiguo came from an illustrious lineage of Buddhist masters, famed especially for translating Sanskrit texts into Chinese, including the Mahavairocana Sutra.
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. The Four Directions 東西南北 . .
Four Gods, Shijin (四神)

Tortoise (Black Warrior, Black Turtle-Snake) = North, Winter, Black, Water, Mountain　玄武
White Tiger (Kirin) = West, Fall, White, Metal, Road　白虎
Red Bird (Phoenix, Vermilion Bird) = South, Summer, Red, Fire, Sea　朱雀
Blue Dragon (Azure Dragon) = East, Spring, Blue/Green, Wood, River　青龍

In the city of Edo
Hiragawa was seen as the Green Dragon in the East.
In Kyoto
Kamogawa River in the East


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Azure Dragon Temple
Tempel des Grünen Drachen, Blauen Drachen
This name refers to the Chinese legends.


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Green Dragon Temple (Qinglong Temple 青龍寺 中国)
Green Dragon Temple is a famous Buddhist Temple from the Tang Dynasty (618-907). When it was built in 582, it was called Linggan Temple (Temple of Inspiration) and then renamed to its present one in 711. When Buddhism was prevalent during the Tang Dynasty, some Japanese monks were sent to China to study Buddhism. Six of them studied at Green Dragon Temple, and this led to a flourishing period of the temple in the ninth century.

Kukai, the most learned of the six monks, made great progress in learning Buddhist sutras, Sanskrit, poems and Chinese calligraphy. After his return to Japan in 806, he advocated the building of a Vagra Temple (Vagra means Buddhist Warrior Attendant) and founded the Zhenyan Sect (the True Word Sect). He is highly honored by both Japanese and Chinese, and in 1982 Kukai Monument was constructed inside the Green Dragon Temple.

For uncertain reasons the Green Dragon Temple which had no fortune, like other ancient temples was destroyed. This was perhaps during the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127).

The present temple was reconstructed in 1963. Memorial halls for the earlier monks and exhibition halls with some excavations displayed are all built in the Tang architectural style.

Green Dragon Temple is a place where the cherry blossoms can be enjoyed. Every year during May and June, an endless stream, of tourists comes to appreciate its beauty.
source : www.travelchinaguide.co



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There are a few temples of this name in Japan.

Seiryuuui

青森県青森市にある真言宗総本山高野山の青森別院 Aomori
山形県鶴岡市にある真言宗豊山派の寺院 Yamagata
滋賀県大津市坂本にある天台宗の寺院 Shiga
京都府京都市東山区にある浄土宗の寺院 Kyoto
..... at Hieizan 比叡山延暦寺の西塔の黒谷
鳥取県八頭郡八頭町にある真言宗醍醐派の寺院 Tottori
高知県土佐市にある真言宗の寺院 Kochi / Tosa Henro Nr. 36


and the famous tempel in China
中国の陝西省西安市

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. . . . . Aomori

Seiryū-ji (青龍寺)
is a Kōyasan Betsuin (an affiliate temple) located in Aomori, Aomori Prefecture.


昭和大仏
The temple was founded by a Great Acharya Ryūkou Oda (織田隆弘), who later built Shōwa Daibutsu (昭和大仏) in 1984. Roughly 21.35 meters in height, it is the tallest seated bronze figure of Buddha in Japan.
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. . . . . Kochi

. Temple 36 Shooryuuji 青龍寺 .


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. . . . . Kyoto

Seiryuji 青龍寺 on the Rakuyo Pilgrimage in Higashiyama, of Kyoto.
. . . CLICK here for Photos !



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sooryoo, sooryuu 蒼竜; 蒼龍 blue dragon
Azure Dragon God

Seiryuuji 成龍寺 Seiryu-Ji
Chiba 千葉県袖ヶ浦市久保田3212
http://www.seiryuji.com/


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. Shrines named Seiryu Jinja 青龍神社 .


. Dragon Temples


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