Zenkoji Guide A new interpretation

Transcription

1 Zenkoji Guide A new interpretation The Zenkoji cathedral, in which there is Zenkoji statue. This cathedral was build 1703~1707.[1] History of Zenkoji: The statue of an incarnation of Buddha is the most important artifact in the Zenkoji religion. The statue is called Amida Nyorai. How was the statue made? The statue was made in India. It appeared because of the needs of a rich man whose name was Gakkai. He was very greedy and had no religion at first. When his lovely, beautiful daughter became seriously sick, he asked Shakamuni to save her. But Shakamuni told him it was impossible to save her because her sick was caused by Gakkai s own bad deeds. In this world everybody has to say goodbye whom they meet and every life must end. Nobody can avoid from this fundamental principle. You should understand this and change your greedy, ill-natured ways. Please go home and nurse your daughter on her deathbed. In front of Nagano station, there is statue of Nyozehime who is daughter of Gakkai. [2] Gakkai despaired and wanted to die. Shakamuni felt sorry him and taught him the only method to save his daughter. Turn over a new leaf from your gilt you have done, and repeat the spell NAMAMIDABUTSU from the west side of your house. This will invite Buddha and his follower saints. Then, not only your daughter but also another people will recover completely from their sickness. When Gakkai repeated the spell, Buddha and 1 two saints appeared as a temporally image. They showered the medicine over the people by dipping a willow branch in a pot. People across the land were cured. However, Gakkai s daughter had died already but, by Buddha s light, she recovered. Everybody in the country prayed to the three Buddhas. Gakkai offered many thanks to Buddha, and explained to say Shakamuni that he wanted to make a copy of three Buddhas so that he and his people would always remember and always offer their prayers to Buddha. Shakamuni said this was good, but it would be better to use special gold for making the statue. However the special gold could only be found in the castle, which was in a deep sea. The castle was called Ryuguh. And so it was difficult to get. Shakamuni sent super messenger and got the special gold by the principle logic of Buddha. When the gold was placed on the special table, the statue of three Buddhas was appeared. Gakkai was very happy and made big cathedral for the Zenkoji statue. All the people of the country believed in Buddhism and prayed to the Zenkoji statue. How did the statue come to Japan? Before Gakkai died, he asked Buddha if his spirit could remain in the world so that he may continue to serve Buddha. His wish was granted and he was born again as a King of Kudara in Korea-500 years later. However, the King did not remember his past life, and so the statue of Buddha appeared in the imperial palace to remind the king of his former life. He regretted his bad ways and prayed to the Zenkoji statue. All people of the country believed Zenkoji statue too. The statue stayed in Kudara for more than a thousand years and saved many people. In the era of 9 th King, Zenkoji statue told him

2 that it would go to Japan and save people who had committed a crime. The king and all his loyal subjects were struck by grief, but they bowed to Buddha s wish and sent the statue to Japan. When the statue leave Kudara, Buddha told them that nobody could avoid the pain of parting, so it was better to wish to be born again in Paradise. The statue arrived at Naniwazu in Osaka during the era of Emperor Kinmei. Ambassador and priests brought the statue to the Emperor. The emperor asked his advisers whether he should accept the statue or not. Almost all of his advisers said he should refuse the statue save for one man. His name was Iname Soga. He planed with the Emperor to accept the statue. The emperor bowed to Soga s request and prayed to the statue. 19 years later, the people of Japan were suffering from a terrible disease. The emperor asked his advisers how the disease could be stopped. One of his advisers, Okoshi Mononobe, said to the emperor that the reason for the plague was the statue. As the emperor, who was descendant of Japanese god had believed and prayed to Buddha from foreign country, the traditional god was angry. So, the Zenkoji statue of Buddha should be abandoned. It was sad the emperor soon agreed with Mononobe. Mononobe and his son Moriya tried to burn and melt the statue, but they couldn t destroy it. In their surprise they throw the statue into the pond of Horie in Naniwa. Shotokutaishi, who made Japan s first constitution and united the country, and was also a believer in Buddhism battled with Moriya and defeated him. He went to pond Horie and pleaded with the Zenkoji statue to return the Palace. The statue replied to Shotokutaishi that it could not go to the palace, because it was waiting for someone under water. How did the statue come to Nagano? There was a very poor farmer in Ina, Shinano country, which 2 was then a southern part of Nagano prefecture. His name was Yoshimitsu Honda. Governor of Shinano country ordered Yoshimitsu to go to capital with him as attendant. Yoshimitsu took his son Yoshisuke with him. They stayed for 3 years. When the governor returned to Shinano country, Yoshimitu asked the governor if he could spend some time looking around the historic spots. Yoshimitsu walked around the capital. When he was walking at the famous Horie of Naniwa, there came a bright light from under the water. He felt scared and tried to pass by the place. But something came from the water and clung to his back. Yoshimits was overcome by fear and tried to beat it off. Then, there came a voice from his back. Dear Yoshimits. Don t fear. I am deeply linked with you. I am Buddha, whom you have always loved. I have waited for you for a long time. I will tell you a tale of your life... before you were born. You were a rich man in India named Gakkai. You called me from paradise and took care of me. Then, you were born in Kudara as a King, named Shomei. Now you have born in Japan, named Yoshimitsu. I have returned to you. You should realize and bereave me. As I will always take care of you, take me to your country. I want to save the greedy people. Yoshimitsu moved to tears and prayed with rapt attention. And so he took the statue to Shinano country, Ina. He put the statue his house and prayed very hard every day. His house was so poor and dirty that he decided to make a new temple for the statue with the help of village people. But the statue didn t stay in the new temple. It soon came back to his dirty house. The statue said. A rich and beautiful temple holds no meaning without sincere prayer. Even if this house is poor and dirty, it is comfortable for me, because there are people who really pray for me. The statue stayed in Ina for 41 years. It said to Yoshimitsu Please take me to Nagano. I have a

3 strong connection to this land. Yoshomitsu took The story of the cow and the old lady: the statue to Nagano and made a new temple. But There was an old lady in Komoro, where is south incredibly it soon came back to his poor house. east of Nagano. She was very greedy and impious. Suddenly his son, Yoshisuke died. Yoshimitsu One day when she was washing her clothes in the and his wife were struck with grief. But Yoshisuke river, a cow picked her clothes on its horn and run was helped by Buddha who returned him to this a way. She followed the cow for many kilometers world. On the way back he saw a beautiful until they finally arrived in the Zenkoji. Then, she woman being attacked by demon. He joined with was struck by the realization that she had no the Zenkoji Buddha and together they saved the religion. She regretted her past life and became a woman. The woman got back her breathe in the firm believer in Buddhism. palace and Yoshisuke lived again in Shinano Zenkoji temple accepted women: country. The woman was Empress Kogyoku. She feudal times, woman could not enter temples. gave many thanks to the Zenkoji Buddha and Almost all temples were built by feudal lords. But ordered that a great cathedral be built in Nagano. the Zenkoji temple was made by the people. It has The always accepted every body, both men and cathedral was called Zenkoji after Yoshomitsu. Under women. Beautiful guardians: This is summery of the history of Zenkoji. There are two big Why is the Zenkoji statue hidden from us? Until guardians at the front entrance of temple. [3] One 654 ad, everybody could see the Zenkoji statue. has its mouse open the other is closed. The But Zenkoji statue said Please put me into a statues are dynamic and realistic and were built small palace and erect a door before me. Evil in the style of the Meiji era. They were made people come to touch me and breath on me. I don t Koun Takamura and Unkai Yonehara, who was like to see them to bear their guilt and be thrown famous artist of Meiji. into hell. From that year on we could not see the Zenkoji statue. Now we can see only a copy of the Zenkoji Buddha, which is kept in front of the door. The real Zenkoji Buddha is behind the door, which we can never see. Properties of Zenkoji: The Zenkoji does not Five pigeons: Going up a slight slope, we find have a written record, only tradition. The temple a big gate. [4] It is called Sanmon. This has a big is religious and not bureaucratic. The Zenkoji golden flame on the second floor. In the flame we does not have a specific denomination, it accepts can see the name Zenkoji in Chinese characters. all faiths. So, the Zenkoji has always been loved We can find five pigeons in sculpture of the by the people. characters. Tour in the womb of Buddha: Under the cathedral of Zenkoji, there is a dark tunnel. When we enter the tunnel, we can t see anything. We walk in the dark. We feel along the wall. Then, we find the key and touch it. After that, we can find a slight light and pass through the tunnel. The key is a symbol of the teaching of Buddhism. This is the process of life. 3

4 Storehouse of sutra: There is a small house on the left hand side near the front of the Big bell: We find a big bell on the right side of cathedral. [5] It is also on the west side of the front of the cathedral. [7] On January 7th 1998, cathedral. There is big shed in the house. The the bell informed the world that the Olympic shape of the shed is octagon and it has a wooden games had began. Of cause it chimes everyday handle. If we push the handle, it is the same as and at the end of the year, 108 times to renounce reading the sutra. What an easy way to read the worldly desires. sutra! Cathedral tolerated big earthquake: We Six statues of Zizo: We find six statues of Zizo on right hand side of the face of Sanmon. [8] Six had a big earthquake in There were big mean six levels of life in Buddhism. They are hell, landslides and livers flooded. Many houses were hungry demon, beast, struggle, human, and destroyed. It was called Zenkoji earthquake. haven. They are the side of our consciousness. We Evidence of the earthquake is the twisted column circulate these processes in spiral in our life. of the cathedral. Other evidence is the trace of being hit by a heavy bell. The bell dropped from a hook and chipped column. But the cathedral survived. Recently it is said that wood was not completely dried the carpenters had very wisely taken even the chance of an earthquake account. Lied Buddha: We find the statue of Shakamuni Nirvana near east of six statues of Zizo. [9] There are many Buddhism inns around the house of Nirvana. The Nirvana statue was always followed Zenkoji statue. It was made in Kamakura era. Footprint of Buddha: Shakamuni forbid people to pray his icon when he died. The There are many temples of sects: Daikanjin followers puzzled and thought of a way to bypass this decree. And so the footprint was worshipped. They made footprint of Shakamuni and prayed very hard. Footprint is is Tendai sect and Daihongan is West Hongan sect, under which are most important ones. There are many part of photo. [6] temples of another sect. Daikanjin has many treasures. Priest of Daihongan is a woman. [10], [11] 4

5 Konokonbo [15] is inn of Buddhism, which supports Daihongan sect. We can eat priest s vegetarian diet. It is very nice taste and fits sake. Rosary touch: Daihongan pray There are many Buddhism inns around Zenkoji. Priests of Daikanjin and in the cathedral everyday morning. On the way to their house from cathedral, they touch their rosaries to our heads. We feel holy mood through touching the rosary. Yayoiza [16] is good restaurant, in which we can eat good steamed meat and vegetable. Also we can eat good sweets and coffee. Tombstone of Yoshimitsu: There is a shrine behind Zenkoji, which name is Yubuku. [12] There is a tombstone under the big oak trees in the shrine. It is said the stone is tomb of Yoshimitsu Restaurant Sakura [17] is very nice restaurant of Honda, who founded Zenkoji temple. Japanese taste. Also we can drink good sake, because it is sake maker. There are charming shops around Zenkoji: Red pepper shop Isogoro [13] is most famous souvenir shop. Taste of pepper is very nice. It is Umbrella shop Mikawaya [18] is very charming. popular with compact souvenir. We can see good original designed handmade umbrella. Of cause we can order our original pattern and buy. The master and his wife are very nice. Manju shop Tsuruya [14] is also popular. The Manju is steamed by sake. The taste and smell is very nice. Japanese cake shop Kiseei [19] is very nice. We can buy original Japanese cake and Oyaki 5

6 dumpling. Yakitori restaurant Toriken [24] has strong personality. Yakitori is special good taste. It is master s original one. Eels shop Sumiyosi [20] is behind Zenkoji temple. We can eat very nice eels. After going to Zenkoji temple, many people go to eat eels to this Oyaki restaurant for power up. dumpling homemade Oyaki shop and Shoeido Manju, [25] sells which have traditional country taste. An old lady makes these Oyaki and Manju herself. Japanese cake shop Eishindo [21] sells also Hanami dumpling, Japanese cake and rice cake. The taste is very nice. Ogawa village shop [26] sells farmer s original product and Oyaki. Especially, I like dried Buckwheat noodle restaurant Kitanoya [22] is old, mushroom. but taste is very good. Templa and Zarusoba is Souvenir crafts shop Takei [27] sells interesting best combination, I feel. The restaurant has very crafts souvenir. good Templa. Restaurant Mankatei [23] has good Jaanese dish. Especially the view is very nice in Sakura season. Night view is best. Shinano museum have good arts. Especially, there are many beautiful arts of Kaii Higashiyama who is Japanese painter. [28] There may be more interesting points in Zenkoji. Please find yourself your interpretation. 6

7 By the way, this year is Gokaityou. Gokaityou Please enjoy walking around Zenkoji! means open the door of a copy of Zenkoji statue. (April 28, 2003) We can see only the copy statue. In front of the face of cathedral, there is tall and thick wooden Note: Gothic numbers in the document show pole. The pole is tied onto the hand of the copy the number of map. statue by a long string. If we touch the pole, we can get same merit to touch the copy statue. The copy statue is incarnation of the Zenkoji statue, which we can never see and touch. Usually we can t see even the copy statue. We can see the copy statue once seven years. It is Gokaityou. If you touch the pole and get signed document, it is same that you pray to Amida Nyorai for going to paradise. In addition, we have flower festival from From April to May we can see many flowers both side of Chuoh Street from Nagano station to the entrance of Zenkoji temple, Daimon. Especially April 28 to30, we can see beautiful carpet of tulip petal on the Street of Zenkoji Daimon. This is called infiorata. Many people come to see this beautiful carpet. [29] 7