- Dragon Temples

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. Dragon Shrines .
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autumn deepens -
this internet pilgrim
still on the road

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Temples with the "dragon" in their name

The Dragon in temple names refers to the Chinese dragon bringing clouds.
It also refers to local legends about snakes and dragons in a pond.
Another source is the posthumous Buddhist name of the temple founder, which often contains "Dragon".

There are usually more than one temple with the same Dragon name.




under construction
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. Bonten　梵天 Baramonten, Brahma .

. Ryuugeji 竜花寺 Ryuge-Ji "Dragon Flower Temple" .
2085 Muramatsu, Shimizu Ward, Shizuoka
静岡市清水区村松２０８５
and
竜海寺　Ryukai-Ji, 竜心寺 Ryushin-Ji, 竜天寺 Ryuten-Ji and 竜王寺 RyuO-Ji.


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To be checked

Ryuufkukuji 龍福寺　Ryufuku-Ji "Dragon Luck Temple"

Ryuuganji 龍岩寺 Ryugan-Ji "Dragon Rock Temple"

. Ryuugeji 龍華寺 Ryuge-Ji "Dragon Lotus Temple" .
- GE can also be the Bodhi tree of Maitreya

Ryuujooji 滝上寺 Ryujo-Ji "Dragon Above Temple"
Ryuujooji 龍城寺 Ryujo-Ji "Dragon Castle Temple"

Ryuujuuji 竜樹寺　Ryuju-Ji "Dragon Tree Temple"
. The translator Nagarjuna was called Ryuju, Dragon Tree

Ryuukooji 龍湖寺 Ryuko-Ji "Dragon Lake Temple"
... Ryuusuiji 龍水寺 Ryusui-Ji "Dragon Water Temple"

Ryuukooji　龍興寺 Ryuko-Ji "Dragon Prospering Temple"

Ryuumonji 竜門寺 Ryumon-Ji "Dragon Gate Temple"
Ryuuonji 竜穏寺 / 龍穏寺 Ryuon-Ji "Dragon Calm Temple" (H)

Ryuushooji Ryusho-Ji
龍昌寺
龍翔寺
龍照寺
龍勝寺 Ryusho Nagarjuna Temple

Ryuutaku-ji 龍沢寺 Ryutaku-ji"Dragon Swamp Temple"
Ryuutenji 龍天寺 Ryuten-Ji "Dragon Heaven Temple"
Ryuutooji 龍頭寺 Ryuto-Ji "Dragon Head Temple"
Ryuuunji, Ryoounji 龍雲寺 Ryuun-Ji, Ryoun-Ji "Dragon Cloud Temple"
Ryuuzooji龍蔵寺 Ryuzo-Ji "Dragon Store Temple"


Shinryuuji 信竜寺 Shinryu-Ji “Trusty Dragon Temple”
Shooryuuji 昌竜寺 Shoryu-Ji“Flourishing Dragon Temple”
Sooryuu-ji 蒼龍寺 Soryu-Ji“Blue Dragon Temple”


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Anryuuji 安竜寺 Anryu-Ji “Peaceful Dragon Temple”


Banryuuji 蟠竜寺 Banryu-Ji“Coiling Dragon Temple”


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Dannoo Hoorinji 檀王法林寺 Danno Horin-Ji
Kyoto
In the compound of this temple is a
Ryuujindoo 龍神堂 Ryujin Do Hall Dragon Hall
with a statue of



Kamogawa Ryuujin　加茂川龍神　
Kamogawa Dragon Deity
with a special ritual on June 1 (or the first sunday in June) to pray for safe rain and a good harvest.
ryuujin hooyoo 龍神法要

Prayers are made to this deity in times of drought or too much rain.
The statue is gentle like a Kannon statue, with a fearful dragon with long arms on her head.
It was made in 1666 by order of Emperor Reigen Tenno 霊元天皇, after the river Kamogawa caused a great flooding.
The Deity represents one of the Eight Great Dragon Kings 八大龍王 in its Buddhist version. Later Buddhist versions of the Dragon King Deities became more popular.

The temple was founded by Hoosei Rooryoo-e 望西楼了恵 (1243 - 1322) under the auspicious of Emperor Kameyama 亀山天皇

source : www.dannoh.com
京都市左京区川端通三条上る法林寺門前町36

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. Gyokuryuuji 玉竜寺 Gyokuryu-Ji
"Pearl Dragon Temple" .



. Honryuuji 本竜寺 Honryu-Ji“Original Dragon Temple” .


. Hooryuuji 宝竜寺 Horyu-Ji “Precious Dragon Temple” .
- - - - - 法龍寺 Horyu-Ji "Law Dragon Temple"


. Jyooryuuji 浄竜寺 Joryu-Ji “Pure Dragon Temple” .



. Kairyuuooji 海龍王寺 Kairyuo-Ji
"Sea Dragon King Temple" .


. Keiryuuji 慶龍寺 Keiryu-Ji“Celebratory Dragon Temple” .
Keiryuuin 慶龍院 Keiryu-In


. Kinryuuji 金龍寺 Kinryu-ji - Golden Dragon Temple .
Goldener Drachentempel
The Golden Dragon (kinryuu son 金龍尊) is often mentioned in the Suvarna- prabhasa-sutra "Golden Light Sutra" (Goldglanz Sutra).


. Kooryuuji 光竜寺 Koryu-Ji“Light Dragon Temple”
Kooryuuji 興竜寺 Koryu-Ji“Rising Dragon Temple”
Kooryuuji 高竜寺 Koryu-Ji“Tall Dragon Temple" .



. Manryuuji 万竜寺 Manryu-Ji “Myriad Dragons Temple” .
萬龍寺


. Ooryuuji 黄竜寺 Oryu-Ji“Yellow Dragon Temple” .


. Ryooan-ji 龍安寺 /竜安寺 Ryoan-Ji, Royanji
"Dragon Peace Temple" .


. Ryuudooji 龍洞寺 Ryudo-Ji "Dragon Cave Temple" .
Ryuu no makura ishi 龍の枕石 stone pillow for the dragon
Dragon's pillow rock


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Ryuugaiji 龍蓋寺 Ryugai-Ji "Dragon Lid Temple"
(gai has various symbolic meanings in Buddhism)
better known as Okadera　岡寺 Hill Temple, in Akusa, Nara.

It was founded by Priest Gien (義淵) during the 7th century, and is the 7th temple on the Kansai Kannon Pilgrimage.
The statue of Gien is one of the national treasures of Japan.

During the time of Emperor Tenchi 天智天皇　Gien made an exorcism of a local vicious dragon, banned him in the pond and put a lid on it to keep it safe there.
Drachendeckel-Tempel.


- quote -
Is this temple the inspiration behind Dragon Ball Z?
Visit Okadera Temple and the monks will likely say to you, “This is the Dragon Ball Z Temple. It is here where wishes can be granted.” Come back at them with a quip about the anime and the 7 dragon balls (they’re waiting for it) and laughs are bound to follow as is the story of Okadera.



- - - - - The Temple and its Legends
According to temple legend a Buddhist monk named Gaien confronted a dragon that was marauding what is now Asuka Village. Gaien defeated the dragon and imprisoned it under the floor of a small pond. He placed a large rock, a “ryugai” or dragon lid, in the pond to prevent the dragon from escaping. Thusly Ryugaiji Temple, Okadera’s formal name, was founded in 663. Supposedly, the dragon’s heart was “reformed” by its fight with Gaien and it became one of the temple’s deities. Japanese dragons have a ball near the end of their tail that contains magic. It is said that by the power of this dragon ball wishes can be granted.

Dragon balls, Okadera’s most powerful variety of amulet, can be purchased (￥600ea.) but they are not of the 1 through 7 star variety. Known as “ryutama” 龍玉　(dragon balls) or negaitama (wishball), Okadera’s dragon balls are made of wood, inscribed with Okadera’s kanji characters, and contain a small paper scroll. Write your wish on the scroll and hang your dragon ball on one of the designated trees in the temple’s garden.

Besides dragon ponds and dragon balls, Okadera is home to the Nyoirai Kannon Bosatsu wish granting seated Buddha statue, the oldest ceramic Buddha in Japan at 1200 years old, a 3-story pagoda overlooking the central Asuka Village area, several beautiful and historic buildings, and a garden of maple and deciduous trees that become riotously colorful in the fall.
- source : thesarusawablog.com -


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. Ryuuginji 龍吟寺 Ryugin-Ji -Singing Dragon Temple .
..... Ryoogin An 龍吟庵 Kyoto
ryuugin koshoo 龍吟虎嘯　 Dragon and Tiger lore



. Ryuukooji　龍口寺 Ryuko-Ji - Dragon Mouth Temple .
Fujizawa. Saint Nichiren and
Tatsu no Kuchi 竜の口 the "Mouth of the Dragon"



. Ryuukooji 龍光寺 Ryuko-Ji - Temple of Dragon's Ray .
Ryuukooin 龍光院 Ryuko-In
Ryookooin 龍光院 Ryoko-In
. . . . . and
Ryuutokuji 竜得寺　Ryutoku-Ji "Temple of Great Dragon Quality"

. Ryuukoo Fudoo 龍光不動尊　Ryuko Fudo Son . - Ginza, Tokyo



. Ryuuoo in 龍王院 Ryuo-In - Dragon God Hall .
at temple Kinpusenji 金峯山寺, Yoshino, Nara


. Ryuuooji 竜王寺 Ryuo-Ji "Dragon King Temple" .



. Ryuusenji 龍泉寺 Ryusen-Ji "Dragon Fountain Temple" .
Aichi, Nagoya 愛知県名古屋市守山区

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. Seiryuujii, Shooryuuji 青竜寺 Seiryu-Ji .
Azure Dragon of the East



. Senryuuji 泉竜寺 Senryu-Ji“Fountain Dragon Temple” .


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Shooryuuji 正龍寺 Shoryu-Ji - Real Dragon Temple

正龍寺 -鹿児島県指宿市山川
正龍寺 -埼玉県：大里郡／寄居町／藤田村
正竜寺愛知県：幡豆郡／吉良町／小山田村

Shooryuuji mura 正竜寺村- 山形県：酒田市
village named Shoryu-Ji


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. Tenryuuji 天龍寺 Tenryu-Ji "Heavenly Dragon Temple" .
. . . . . Tenryu-In 天龍院


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Unryuuji 雲龍寺 Unryu-Ji "Cloud Dragon Temple"
The dragon in the clouds is a metaphor for the enlightened mind, reaching out and above of the samsara world.

Saṅsāra or Saṃsāra (Sanskrit: संसार), (in Tibetan called "khorwa"), literally meaning "continuous flow",
is the cycle of birth, life, death, rebirth or reincarnation within Hinduism, Buddhism, Bön, Jainism, Sikhism, and other Indian religions.
©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !

Temples of this name
群馬県館林市 Gunma
兵庫県三木市 Hyogo





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. Zenryuuji 善竜寺 Zenryu-Ji “Good Dragon Temple” .


. Zenryuuji 全竜寺 Zenryu-Ji “Whole Dragon Temple” .


. Zuiryuu-ji 瑞龍寺 Zuiryu-Ji - Zuiryo-Ji
“Auspicious Dragon Temple” .


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. Henro Pilgrim Temples in Shikoku .

12 Temple of the Burning Mountai 焼山寺 Shozan-Ji
21 Temple of the Great Dragon 太龍寺 Tairyu-Ji / Dairyu-Ji
36 Temple of the Green Dragon 青龍寺 Shoryu-Ji
41 Temple of Dragon's Ray 龍光寺 Ryuko-Ji

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. Wakasa Bay 若狭湾 .

Wakasa Pilgrimage to 33 Kannon Temples
若狭の三十三観音
3 Dragon Temples

第０３番　金照山　　Ryuukeiin 龍渓院　Ryukei-In　
Dragon Gorge Hall
福井県三方郡美浜町丹生 47-1

第１１番　大龍山　　永源寺　　Dairyuuzan
福井県小浜市田烏 37-3

第１７番　龍雲山　　神通寺　　Ryuuunzan
福井県小浜市遠敷 56-2

http://www.kimura-product.co.jp/kannon7/wakasa33/wakasa.htm

There are more Ryukei-In in Japan.


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In Tokyo
Kinryuuzan Akakusadera 金竜山浅草寺
Kinryuzan - Golden Dragon Mountain
. Asakusa Kannon　浅草観音 .

Kinryuuzan no oidashi
きんりゅうざん の 追出（おいだ）し
to be driven out because of Kinryuzan
. . . . . and
Kinryuuzan no koi shirazu
きんりゅうざん の 恋（こい）知（し）らず
Kinryuzan does not know about love

When the temple bell rang in the morning, the lovers from the Asakusa pleasure quarters of nearby Yoshiwara had to part and the men had to go home.

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quote
Dragon lore
is traditionally associated with Buddhist temples. Myths about dragons living in ponds and lakes near temples are widespread. De Visser (1913:181-184) lists accounts for Shitennō-ji in Osaka, Gogen Temple in Hakone, Kanagawa, and the shrine on Mount Haku where the Genpei Jōsuiki records that a Zen priest saw a 9-headed dragon transform into the goddess Kannon. In the present day, the Lake Saiko Dragon Shrine at Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi has an annual festival and fireworks show.

Temple names, like Japanese toponyms, frequently involve dragons.
For instance, the Rinzai sect has Tenryū-ji 天龍寺 "Heavenly Dragon Temple", Ryūtaku-ji 龍沢寺 "Dragon Swamp Temple", Ryōan-ji 竜安寺 "Dragon Peace Temple".
According to legend (de Visser 1913:180), when the Hōkō-ji 法興寺 or Asuka-dera 飛鳥寺 Buddhist temple was dedicated at Nara in 596, "a purple cloud descended from the sky and covered the pagoda as well as the Buddha hall; then the cloud became five-coloured and assumed the shape of a dragon or phoenix".

The Kinryū-no-Mai "Golden Dragon Dance" is an annual Japanese dragon dance performed at Sensō-ji, a Buddhist temple in Asakusa. The dragon dancers twist and turn within the temple grounds and outside on the streets. According to legend, the Sensō Temple was founded in 628 after two fishermen found a gold statuette of Kannon in the Sumida River, at which time golden dragons purportedly ascended into heaven. The Golden Dragon Dance celebrates the temple founding and allegedly provides good fortune and prosperity.
©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !


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. Ryuu Jinja 龍神社 Ryu Jinja "Dragon Shrines"


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There are many more temples in Japan which are related to the Dragon, but do not carry its character in the name.

Mangan-Ji 満願寺 Kyoto - Tatsu no Myooken 辰の妙見
. Myooken Bosatsu 妙見菩薩 Myoken .
and the Star Shrines of Japan
Hokushin Myoken Bosatsu 北辰妙見菩薩
Hokushin Bosatsu 北辰菩薩　Sk: Sudrsti
Hokushin Jinja 北辰神社 -
..... "Northern Dragon Shrine" Pole Star Shrine

- Reference : 北辰神社 in Japan

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Saitatsuji 西辰寺 "West Zodiac Dragon Temple"
Hokkaido

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. Omamori 龍神札 Dragon God Amulets .


. Dragon Shrines .


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- dragontemples -
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Ryu-O Dragon King

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Ryuu-oo 竜王 Ryu-O - The Dragon King

Der Drachenkönig


source :　www.butuzou.co.jp

The Dragon King　龍王 (or Dragon God, Ryuujin 竜神)
is a manifestation of the Snake. His realm is the ocean and he can climb to the sky, provoke clouds and rain.


Temples named
Ryuuooji 竜王寺 Ryuo-Ji "Dragon King Temple"

滋賀県蒲生郡竜王町 Shiga

香川県小豆郡小豆島町 Kagawa


. Nine Children of the Dragon King 龍生九子 .


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In Buddhism we have the eight
Hachibushuu, Hachi Bushu 八部衆
Eight Legions, Eight Deva Guardians of Buddhism

. Hachibushu 八部衆.

Acht Gruppen göttlicher Wesen
Auch "Himmlische Drachen" (Tenryuu Hachibushuu) oder
"Drachengottheiten" (Ryuushin Hachibushuu) genannt.


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Hachidai ryuu-oo 八大竜王 Ryu-O
Eight Great Dragon Kings
Eight Dragon Kings
Acht grosse Drachenkönige



source :　www.ryu-sho.co.jp

Caraved from hinoki 桧 cedar wood.

Carved at a store called Dragon in Okayama
龍祥
岡山県岡山市南区新保1155-11


. Hachiryuu 八龍神社 Eight Dragon Shrines .

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Vishnu sleeping on Ananta

They are deities from India.


〔1〕Nanda 難陀（なんだ）（ナンダ Nanda の音写。「歓喜」の意）
アナンタ（Ananta）
. . . CLICK here for Photos !

〔2〕Hotsu Nanda 跋（ばつ）難陀（ウパナンダ Upananda「弟ナンダ」）
. . . CLICK here for Photos !

〔3〕Shagara 沙伽羅（しゃがら）（サーガラ Sgara「海」
. . . CLICK here for Photos !

〔4〕Washukichi 和修吉（わしゅきち）（バースキ Vsuki「九頭」）
ヴァースキ（Vaski)
. . . CLICK here for Photos !

〔5〕Tokushaka 徳叉迦（とくしゃか）（タクシャカ Takaka「多舌」）
タクシャカ(Taksaka)
. . . CLICK here for Photos !

〔6〕Anokudatsu 阿耨達（あのくだつ）（アナバタプタ Anavatapta「無熱悩」）
. . . CLICK here for Photos !

〔7〕Manashi 摩那斯（まなし）（マナスビン Manasvin「慈心」）
. . . CLICK here for Photos !

〔8〕Ubara 優鉢羅（うぱら）（ウトゥパラカ Utpalaka「青蓮華（れんげ）
. . . CLICK here for Photos !

source :　100.yahoo.co.jp

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quote
Hachidai Ryuu-ou (Eight Great Dragon Kings)
are mentioned in the Lotus Sutra (Hokekyo 法華経) and they appear sometimes in Japanese artwork.
These eight are dragon kings said to live at the bottom of the sea, apparently in reference to the eight dragon kings, each with many followers, who assembled at Eagle Peak to hear the Lotus Sutra as expounded by the Historical Buddha. According to the Kairyu-o Sutra 海龍王経　(Sutra of the Dragon King of the Sea, Kairyu-o-kyo), dragons are often eaten by giant man-birds called Garudas, their natural enemy.
The Phoenix is another enemy of the dragon. Nanda Ryuuou, who is one member of the Hachidai group, can sometimes represent the whole set, as he does in the Hokke Mandala 法華曼荼羅.
source : - Mark Schumacher -

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quote
eight great dragon kings
[八大竜王] ( hachidai-ryuo )
hachi ryuuoo 八竜王　/ 八龍王

Also, eight dragon kings.
Eight dragon kings who assembled at the gathering where Shakyamuni preached the Lotus Sutra, as described in the sutra. Kumarajiva's translation of the Lotus Sutra refers to them by their Sanskrit names:
Nanda, Upananda, Sagara, Vasuki, Takshaka,
Anavatapta, Manasvin, and Utpalaka.
According to the "Introduction" (first) chapter of the Lotus Sutra, each attends the gathering accompanied by several hundreds of thousands of followers.
source : www.sgilibrary.org

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hachi ryuu nichi / hachi ryuu no hi 八竜日 day of the eight dragons
The first day of the new year, according to the yin-yang philosophy, with the constellation
ki no e ne 春の甲子(きのえね)
first day of the rat and the element water
..... hatsu kasshi 初甲子（はつかっし）

. WKD : first day of the rat and the element water .

ki no to i no hi 乙亥(きのとい)の日 (otsugai)
second day of the wild boar
twelfth of the sexagenary cycle

This day brings bad luck and should not be used to start a business.


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quote
Dragon King’s Daughter
(represented on the Gohonzon Diagram by #22,
the Eight Great Dragon Kings)



Of all Shakyamuni’s teachings, only in the Lotus Sutra do women attain enlightenment. Shakyamuni challenges our misconception that time is needed to attain enlightenment. He also challenges us to realize that enlightened life exists not just in old learned men, but in the very young as well. That’s why there is no distinction among believers. The Dragon King’s Daughter is:

- not fully human
- female
- she attained enlightenment in an instant

Enlightenment is a state of life that is even difficult for Buddhas to fully comprehend. Yet, this state of life is available to us at every moment. The Dragon King’s Daughter represents attaining that enlightenment at this moment and then perceiving our life from this state. We use this wisdom available to us to constantly move our lives in a positive and happy direction.
source : www.gakkaionline.net


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Kairyuuooji 　海龍王寺　Temple KaiRyuo-Ji
Nara
奈良県奈良市法華寺
897 Hokkeji Kita-machi Nara City,




quote
Kairyuoji temple,
located to the east of Hokeji temple, was built for prayers for the safety of Japanese envoys during his voyage to China during the Tang Dynasty. The first chief priest of Kairyuoji temple, Genbo, was one of these envoys. He stayed in China for 17 years, together with Kibi no Makibi and Abe no Nakamaro.
During his return journey from China to Japan, his ship was caught in a violent storm, and he chanted the Kairyuo Sea Dragon King Sutra unceasingly.
It is said that the Sutra protected the ship, and since then, prayers for the safety of envoys crossing the sea to Japan have been offered at the temple.
source : www.pref.nara.jp


The tempel is famous for a five-storied pagoda.


small five-storied pagoda 五重小塔


source : genkikidx


Genbō (玄昉, d. 746), also known as Gembō,
was a Japanese scholar-monk and bureaucrat of the Imperial Court at Nara.

In 717-718, he was part of the Japanese mission to Tang China (Kentōshi) along with Kibi no Makibi and Abe no Nakamaro. Genbō stayed in China for 17 years before returning to Japan.
He was a prominent figure associated with the Hossō sect of Buddhism in Japan, appointed abbot (sojo) of Kōfuku-ji by Emperor Shomu.

740 (Tenpyō 12): Gembō made improper advances to the wife of Fujiwara no Hirotsugu, Hirotsugu petitioned for the removal of the priest, but Kibi no Makibi and Genbō conspired successfully to discredit him.
At the time of Genbō's death, it was popularly believed that he was killed by the vengeful spirit of Hirotsugu.
©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !


. Envoys to China 遣唐使 Kentoshi .

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The three Dragon Kings of shrine Muro Ryuketsu Jinja 室生竜穴神社
(Muroo ryuuketsu jinja)
(near tempel Murooji 室生寺 Muro-Ji in Nara)

Myokichijo Ryuketsu 妙吉祥竜穴
Mochiho Kichijo Ryuketsu 持法妙吉祥竜穴
Sashara Ebisu Kichijo Ryuketsu 沙遮羅夷吉祥竜穴

At the entrance to the shrine is a frame with the inscription
Zennyo Ryuuoo 善女龍王社 Dragon Lady Zennyo



Seiryoo Gongen 清滝権現 and
. the Dragon Lady Zennyo and Kannon .

. 善女龍王 carved by 円空 Enku .

. Zennyo Ryūō 善如龍王 / 善女龍王 .


. Dragon Shrines .



source :　nydwyn greendragon


Muro-ji
... by the Shingon Buddhist sect and completed in the early ninth century,
source : www.webpages.uidaho.edu

. WKD : Murooji, Murō-ji 室生寺 Muro-Ji .



Kichijoo ryuuketsu 吉祥龍穴 Kichijo Ryuketsu
Kissho Dragon Cave
an opening in the rocks behind temple Muro-Ji
The other two caves are not found today any more.

. . . CLICK here for Photos !


reference : Kichijooten 吉祥天 Kichijo Ten


The Ryuketsu in Nara is one of the three famous Ryuuketsu in Japan.
日本三大龍穴 three Dragon Holes of Japan:

. Kibune no Ryuketsu 貴船の龍穴 . kyoto
Bizen no Ryuketsu 備前の龍穴 (瀬戸内市, 岡山)


. . . . . btw


three great Dragon Deity shrine gates
roomon 楼門 tower gate

江ノ島神社楼門(神奈川)
赤間神宮楼門(下関市,山口)
武雄温泉楼門(佐賀)


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海龍王経
The sutra on the king of the sea dragons is now in the National Museum in Nara.



At the temple Kairyuo-Ji an annual ceremony is held in memory of priest Genbo and the Dragon King Sutra. Prayers are for the safety of the four seas, for those who have to go and come back safely and for those who lost their lives on sea.



Shikai Anon kigan hooyoo 四海安穏祈願法要
source :　aoniyoshi


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Shooryuuji 正龍寺 Temples named Shoryu-Ji

文治４年（1187年）城下に青龍が出現し、龍泉の湖をつくり、住んだそうです。
後に和尚が教化し、「八大竜王」としてこの寺に祀ったそうです。
鹿児島県指宿市 Kagoshima
source : 正龍寺


. Temples named Seiryu-Ji .


. Seiryuu, Shooryuu 青竜 / 青龍 Azure Dragon .
Seiryu, Shoryu


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There are also Shinto shrines dedicated to the Dragon king.

Ryuuoo jinja 龍王神社　Ryuo Jinja

. 竜王神社 Dragon King Shrines .


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. Ryuuoo in 龍王院 Ryuo-In - Dragon God Shrine .
at Kinpusenji Nara 金峯山寺　
Dedicated to the Snake Deity Nooten Ookami 脳天大神 Noten Okami


. "Dragon King Dance" 竜王の舞 ryuuoo no mai .
at Shrine Uwase Jinja 宇波西神社
and
Ranryoo oo no mai 蘭陵王の舞



. 白龍龍寿大神 White Dragon God for Long Life .

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goshiki ryuujin 五色龍神 Dragon God of five colors
In the 犬山市 Inuyama region and
金龍神 Golden - 白龍神 - White - 黒龍神 Black - 赤龍神 Red - 青龍神 Green
at 田無神社 Tanashi Jinja -Tokyo, Nishitokyo, 田無町3−7−4

ryuugonsan リュウゴンサン / 龍王神 the Dragon King Deity
Ehime

goshiki no tsume 五色の爪 nails of five colors of the 竜王 Dragon Deity
At the Temple Muro-Ji 室生寺の境内 along the river 室生川 the saint 慶円上人 Keien (1140 - 1223) once passed. At the riverside a female Dragon King 善女竜王 waited for him. He asked her to show her real features and after some discussion, she turned into a black cloud and showed her right hand. It had long nails of about 3 cm in five colors.
Since than the riverbank is called 爪出が淵 Tsumedegafuchi.

. goshiki 五色と伝説 Legends about the five ritual colors .

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. Ocean Dragon King Sutra: Ratnavati .


. Urashima Taro 浦島太郎
and the Dragon Palace .


. Dragon Temples .

. Nine Children of the Dragon King 龍生九子 .


Banryuu 蟠竜 Banryu“Coiling Dragon"
a dragon which is still on this earth, and has not yet climbed to heaven.



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Ryudo-ji temples

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Ryuudooji 龍洞寺 Ryudo-Ji "Dragon Cave Temple"

There are various temples with the name Ryudo-Ji in Japan.

under construction

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龍洞寺
岐阜県可児市今渡 1513
Gifu
Koyasu Kannon


Ryuu no makura ishi 龍の枕石 stone pillow for the dragon
source : www.aruku88.net




龍洞寺
山形県 寒河江市字上河原183
Yamagata, Sagae town

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Ryuudoo in 龍洞院 Ryudo-In

愛知県小牧市にある曹洞宗
Aichi, Komaki town
Soto zen sect


愛知県北設楽郡東栄町にある寺
Aichi, Toei town



北海道寿都郡寿都町にある曹洞宗の寺
Hokkaido, Suttsu gun （すっつぐん）
Soto zen sect



長野県上田市にある寺
Nagano,Uneo town


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Ryuu no makura ishi 龍の枕石
stone pillow for the dragon
Dragon's pillow rock



near shrine Kasuga jinja in Kakuda town.

Once upon a time, a dragon who lived there used it as its pillow.
The trees around this huge boulder are strangely twisted.
It became a natural treasure in Heisei 23 and is painted on a votive tablet of nearby temple Fukuooji 福應寺絵馬 Fukuo-ji.
This temple has a famous hall for ema.

春日神社の竜の枕石
宮城県角田市鳩原字寺
Miyagi, Kakuda town


. . . CLICK here for Photos !


There are other temples named Fukuo-ji in Japan.

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source :　www.rakudaclub.com/hotels

秘湯の宿 龍洞 Hot spring named Ryudo - Dragon Cave
Gunma, 水上温泉 奥利根


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. Dragon Temples of Japan .


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Zenryu-Ji Good Dragon temples

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Zenryuuji 善竜寺 Zenryu-Ji “Good Dragon Temple”

There are various temples with the name Zenryu-Ji in Japan.

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善竜寺
Hyogo, Tatsuno town 兵庫県たつの市龍野町上川原

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善竜寺 - 一雲山
Osaka 大阪市天王寺区下寺町2-1-17



Jodo sect 浄土宗.
founded in 1602.
Main statue is Amida Nyorai.
With a large graveyard.
source : futsu-no-otera.jp

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善竜寺
Tokyo, Asakusa 台東区西浅草1-9-2

Jodo sect 浄土真宗東本願寺派



source : temple_wasa_zenryu.shtml


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. Dragon Temples of Japan .


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Zenryu-Ji temples

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Zenryuuji 全竜寺 Zenryu-Ji “Whole Dragon Temple”

There are various temples with the name Zenryu-Ji in Japan.


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五雲山　全龍寺
Fukuyama, Kurobe 黒部市宇奈月町下立２９１１
Zen sect
Founded in 1552 by 松室文寿
Along the road of the local lords on their way to Edo.

With a special ceiling painting of 36 mountain hermits by Gusen
三十六歌仙天井絵図 - 七世石橋愚宣, from 1700
source : www.tera-tabibito.net



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全龍寺
神奈川県川崎市中原区下小田中５丁目３−１５
Kanagawa. also sometimes listed in Okubo, Tokyo.
Zen sect, with an eleven-headed Kannon 曹洞宗の寺院



source : www.yamato-sekizai.com

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全龍寺, Kaikisan 海亀山
東京都新宿区大久保１丁目
Tokyo, Shinjuki, Okubo

Homepage of the temple
source : www.zenryuji.net


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. Dragon Temples of Japan .


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Gyokuryu-Ji Pearl Dragon Temple

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Gyokuryuuji 玉竜寺 Gyokuryu-Ji
"Pearl Dragon Temple"

There are various temples with the name Gyokuryu-Ji in Japan.

Tamaryuuji 玉竜寺 Tamaryu-Ji


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玉龍寺 / 玉竜寺 松翁山
Aichi. 愛知. 春日井市庄名町1012-3

Soto Zen sect.
The main statue is a Sho Kannon 聖観世音菩薩



source : www.aruku88.net


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玉龍寺 - 寶雲山玉龍寺
Gifu. 岐阜県関市神野1603-1



Not related to any Buddhist sect, 無宗派
but
with international connections to Zen Buddhist centers

source : www.gyokuryuji.com


from the Zen Temple Shinzan-Ji　心山寺 HP
Gyokuryuuji is erected by great Zen master Bankei at Edo period.
source : shinzanji.com



Julian Daizan Skinner (Juran Daizan 寿鸞 大山),
(born November 22, 1963) is a British Rinzai Zen Buddhist Rōshi. He has also received Dharma Transmission in the Sōtō tradition of Zen. Daizan Roshi is the founder of the Zenways Sangha and head abbot of Yugagyo Dojo.

In 2003, Daizan began training with Rinzai Zen Master Shinzan Miyamae Rōshi of Gyokuryuji Temple in Gifu, central Japan. The temple was the former hermitage of the outstanding Rinzai Zen reformer Bankei Yōtaku Zenji (1622–1693).

source : English Reference -



Bankei Yōtaku 盤珪永琢 Bankei Yotaku, Yootaku
Bankei Eitaku
(1622-1693)



was a Japanese Rinzai Zen master, and the abbot of the Ryōmon-ji and Nyohō-ji. He is best known for his talks on the Unborn as he called it. According to D. T. Suzuki, Bankei, together with Dogen and Hakuin, is one of the most important Japanese Zen masters and his Unborn Zen is one the most original developments in the entire history of Zen thought.

Bankei Yōtaku was born in 1622, in Harima Province to a samurai turned medicine man named Suga Dosetsu.

At the age of 26 Bankei went to Gifu Prefecture to Daisen-ji where Gudo was abbot.
©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !



The haiku poetess Den Sutejo became a student of
Bankei Eitaku, 盤珪永琢, a Zen master (1622 - 1693). She built her temple Futai An 不徹庵 beside his temple Ryuumon-Ji 龍門寺 / 竜門寺, where she lived with about 30 other ladies. Her grave is at the temple Ryuumon-Ji.

. Den Sutejo 田捨女 (1633-1698) .


and temple 龍雲寺 Ryuun-Ji related to Bankei Yotaku
source : ryuun-ji.or.jp




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another Gyokuryu-Ji in Gifu

要仲山玉龍寺



This temple has been founded about 1270 years ago by Gyoki Bosatsu.

source : www.gero-navi.jp
Gifu, Gero town 岐阜県下呂市金山町中切１５４５

It is famous for a dragon painting on the ceiling.
竜杖昇天図

in autumn more than 100 maple trees of different kinds provide a spectacular scene.

. Gyoki Bosatsu 行基菩薩 .

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玉竜寺
Nara. 奈良県奈良市二名

with the grave of Honda Tadayoshi 本多忠義.
(1602 - 1676)
He was a daimyo of Arima and other domains
播磨姫路新田藩3代藩主、遠江掛川藩主、越後村上藩主、陸奥白河藩初代藩主。

History of 掛川藩, Kakegawa-han
Honda Tadayoshi, grandson of Honda Tadakatsu was assigned to Kakegawa next, and revenues were increased to 70,000 koku. However, in 1644, Honda Tadayoshi was reassigned to Murakami Domain in Echigo Province.
©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !



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. Dragon Temples of Japan .


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Zuiryu-Ji temples

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Zuiryuu-ji 瑞龍寺 Zuiryu-Ji
“Auspicious Dragon Temple”
Zuiryooji 瑞龍寺 Zuiryo-Ji

There are various temples with the name Zuiryu-Ji in Japan.


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Zuiryooji 瑞龍寺 Zuiryo-Ji
Gifu
岐阜市内
Rinzai Zen sect

quote
Zuiryoji is located in the centre of downtown Gifu. Zuiryoji Mountain and the southern slopes of Kinka Mountain provide the scenic backdrop as you enter the grounds of a religious community where, enclosed by a white wall, six temples straddle the approach.
At the far end stands the Zen training monastery of Zuiryoji itself.



In the second year of Onin (1468 CE), Lord Saito Toshiharu 斉藤利藤, a senior official of the Province of Mino (the ancient name for Gifu Prefecture), also known by his Buddhist name of Great Layman Myochin, consecrated a temple to the salvation of his late liege lord, the Duke Toki Nariyori 土岐成頼, and invited the highly respected Zen Master Gokei Soton Zenji to take up residence there.

In ancient times during the Asuka Period(552-645 CE), the temples of Churinji and Atsumidera of the Tendai Sect of Buddhism had stood on this venerable ground.
Subsequently, however, these spiritual centres had fallen into neglect and been abandoned.

The founder of the Tokai line, one of the four sub-groups comprising the Myoshinji family of temples, Gokei Soton Zenji, who also held the title Teacher of the Naion, dedicated himself to restoring the area, and in the second year of Bunmei(1470) completed work on seven temples.




Gokei Soton Zenji 悟渓宗頓禅師
initially concentrated his efforts of spiritual guidance in the Provinces of Owari (now western Aichi Prefecture) and Mino, but gradually through his influence Zuiryoji became known throughout Japan as an important centre of the Tokai line.

Gokei Zenji trained nine Zen Masters to be his Dharma Heirs, as well as over 700 other disciples.
Following the death of Gokei Soton Zenji on the 6th of September in the ninth year of Meio (1500), his disciples took it in turns in a system of annual rotation to be responsible for the running of Zuiryoji, and as a consequence the monastery was preserved.




... Inzan Ien Zenji 隠山惟琰禅師
did a great deal to promote the fortunes of Zuiryoji. He also left behind him some remarkable Dharma Heirs who became known as the Nine Sages. Life at Zuiryoji as a monastic training centre has continued during the one hundred and eighty or so years since his death.

Doing Zazen, Training, History and much more :
source : www.zuiryo.com


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瑞龍寺 Zuiryu-Ji
富山県高岡市
Toyama, Takaoka town

Soto Zen sect

observance kigo for late summer

. Hitotsu Yaito ひとつやいと one moxabustion .
for the tired monks and lay people. With the wish for health in the coming summer.



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. Dragon Temples of Japan .


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Oryu-Ji temples

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Ooryuuji 黄竜寺 Oryu-Ji“Yellow Dragon Temple”

There are various temples with the name Oryu-Ji in Japan.
There are also temples with this name in China and Korea.


. Yamabuki <> Yellow Daruma .


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.

. temples named Seiryu-ji .
seiryoo, seiryuu 青龍; 青竜 "blue dragon", "green dragon"
Azure Dragon God in the East


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黄竜寺
愛知県名古屋市南区呼続３丁目
Aichi, Nagoya


source with more photos:　www.aruku88.net


It used to be called 大雲山龍玄寺 when it was founded in 1468.
In 1758 the name changed to Oryu-Ji.
The remaining buildings of the entrance gate, main hall and Zendo hall date from 1767.

The main deity is a Kannon with a white robe
白衣観世音菩薩

In the compound of shrine Akiba Jinja 秋葉神社
with a shrine
Ooryuu Tenmangu 黄龍天満宮 Oryu Tenmangu
(In honor of Sugawara Michizane.)

- Reference -


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黄竜寺
秋田県横手市平鹿町醍醐字馬鞍117
Akita, Yokote town
Zen-temple


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CLICK for more amazing images !



Introducing Huanglong National Park - CHINA

The name describes the tail of a yellow dragon slithering through a valley, helping the King of the Xia kingdom, Xiayu, create the Min River here at Huánglóng (Huánglóng Jǐngqù; Yellow Dragon Valley; www.huanglong.com; admission Y200; 7am-6pm). A national park, it is indeed laced with a golden-hued calcium carbonate which, in the right light, certainly could lead one to conjure an altruistic mythical beast.

All the colours of the rainbow are here, actually, the landscape studded with waterfalls and terraced, coloured limestone ponds of blue, yellow, white and green. Consequently, it has earned the nickname Wǔcǎichí (Five-coloured Pool).

source : www.lonelyplanet.com


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. Dragon Temples of Japan .


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Manryu-Ji temples

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Manryuuji 万竜寺 - 萬龍寺　Manryu-Ji
“Myriad Dragons Temple"


There are various temples with the name Manryu-Ji in Japan.


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万竜寺、亀倉神社 - 宗帰命山万竜寺
長野県須坂市亀倉
Nagano, Suzaka town, Kamekura shrine
Tendai sect

Saint Tanshoo 但唱 Mokujiki Tansho 木喰但唱,
a monk and carver, came to this region around 1611 to practise austerities, especially mokujiki 木食修行, eating only barks of trees and a few vegetables for 1000 days. In 1617 his austerities practise ended and he build a small temple hall with 1000 statues which he carved himself.

Women came here to find the face of a lost child among the statues and pray for a child and family happiness. When they got pregnant, they made another offering of a statue.



萬龍寺のしだれ桜 shidarezakura

source : www.watarigraphic.com

The temple and shrine compound is also famous for its cherry blossoms in spring.






Manryuji no Kumasugi - cedar tree from Kumano
万竜寺のクマスギ　
This tree is about 30 m high and maybe 300 years old. Its circumference is 5 m.
It is a natural treasure of Suzaka town since 1986.
There are two large cedar trees at the entrance to the temple.
They are in fact Kumano Sugi 熊野杉, the seedlings have been carried here from Kumano.

Famous trees from Nagano prefecture
source : www.hitozato-kyoboku.com


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Saint Tanshoo 但唱 Mokujiki Tansho 木喰但唱
(? - 1641)

A monk of the Tendai sect. His teacher was Tanzei 弾誓. He practises austerities in the mountains of Shinano, Nagano and Kii, Wakayama.


In 1636 he founded the temple Nyorai-Ji 如来寺.
Statues of his five Wisdom Nyorai 五智如来像 are worshipped there.
They are well known under the name of
Takanawa no Daibutsu 高輪の大仏, the Big Buddha Statues of Takanawa.




They have later been placed in the temple Yoogyoku in 養玉院 Yogyoku-In in Tokyo, Shinawawa, Takanawa, where they can be seen today.
©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !



In Gifu, Toki town 土岐市 there is a temple called
Tanshooji 霊合山但唱寺 Tansho-Ji
Legend knows that saint Kanshoo shoonin 閑唱上人 Kansho Shonin founded it and carved 1000 Buddha statues.
Kansho is the pupil of Tansho.
He is also related to the Tokugawa family of Kishu.
In the region, in Tsumagi town 妻木町 there live many people who have moved from Mikawa. They worked as stone masons in the region.



statue of Kosodate Jizo Bosatsu, made by Tansho
子育て地蔵 - 但唱作


At temple Anshooji 安性寺 Ansho-Ji, Nagano, Komagane town
source :　www.city.komagane.nagano.jp


- REFERENCE 木食但唱 -


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- - - - - Kobayashi Issa - - - - -

I went to Tokumanji Temple and prayed to Jizo there --

段々に朧よ月よこもり堂
dan-dan ni oboro yo tsuki yo komoridoo

gradually the night mistier
hey, the moon deep in mist, hey
above the Child Protector's Hall　　
Tr. Chris Drake


This somewhat complex hokku was written on 1/23 or March 12 in 1806, when Issa climbed up to a Shingon-school Buddhist temple called Tokumanji and prayed to its famous statue of the bodhisattva Jizo, known as Child-Rearing Jizo (子育て地蔵). The Jizo at this temple became very famous after it cured a dying three-year-old child that was declared by doctors to have no hope of recovery. The father of the child went to the Jizo Hall of the temple and prayed there for seven straight days, and on the seventh day Jizo appeared to the father in a vision and told him the child would get well. When the father rushed home, he found the child had indeed recovered. Soon pilgrims began coming to the temple to pray to Jizo, and an annual week-long Jizo Fair began to be held in the tenth month. Issa's prayers were also made at the same hall where the father was said to have prayed hard for seven days, so it seems to be the hall mentioned in the last line of the hokku.

The hokku is a bit unusual -- and becomes rather long in translation -- because it has as many double meanings as a waka and a rhythm and paratactic word order suggesting a children's song, no doubt in honor of Jizo, the patron bodhisattva and protector of children as well as of pregnant women and mothers who have lost a child and of travelers. In the first line Issa's climb up the stone steps (dan-dan) to the temple at the top of the hill is paralleled by gradual changes taking place in the sky.

In the second line Issa uses yo, a particle used when strongly pointing something out, especially to children. Issa also refers to another yo here that means "night," thereby pointing out that the misty spring night is gradually becoming mistier, with the mist steadily covering the moon and making everything a bit indistinct. The adjective oboro, "misty," "cloud-covered," modifies "moon" as well as "night": gradually the night has become an oborozuki-yo, a night dimly lit by a misty moon.

In the third line Issa has apparently reached the Jizo Hall in the temple. A komori-dou in its first meaning refers to a hall at a large Buddhist temple or a Shinto shrine in which pilgrims can stay and spend all their time in prayer or doing meditation. In this hokku, however, it seems to refer to the Jizo Hall, in which the father of the sick child many years earlier secluded himself and prayed to Jizo for seven days, as indicated by the second meaning, Child Protector's Hall, that is Jizo Hall. Secluded inside the hall -- much as the moon is now shrouded in thick mist or clouds -- sits the venerable Jizo, as powerful as ever, whether he is directly seen or not.


source :　tanuki-bayashi.com/tokumanji
徳満寺 Temple Tokuman-Ji

A picture from Issa's time of the annual Jizo Fair at Tokumanji Temple in November. This was the only time of the year when it was possible to view the statue of Jizo in the temple's Jizo Hall. Issa visits in March. The temple is at the top of the picture, and at the bottom runs the Tone River, just northeast of Edo/Tokyo.

Chris Drake

. WKD : Kobayashi Issa 小林一茶 in Edo .


. Anzan Kosodate 安産子育て - all about Children .
ko sazuke 子授御守　amulet for getting pregnant
kodakara no ishi 子宝石 stone to get pregnant
obi iwai 帯祝い amulet for a safe pregnancy


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. Saint Mokujiki 木喰 / 木食 statue carver .
(1718-1810)


. Dragon Temples of Japan .


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