#kinpusenji temple

[brownie-pics]

'23.5.3 吉野山（下千本、金峯山寺、吉野神宮）にて

GW、足伸ばしてお出掛けしたのはここだけ（しかも県内ｗ）

特別公開している金剛蔵王大権現（でっかくて青いやつ×３体）を拝観すべく吉野山へ。桜のシーズンはとっくに終わっているので山は新緑に包まれていて、谷から新葉の間を抜けてすうっと吹き上げてくるそよ風がとても心地良い･･。

駐車場から金峯山寺までの道をゆっくり歩いて拝観。蔵王堂の他にも境内色々と周って、参道に戻ったら葛入り素麺食べて、カフェでコーヒーフロート。焼き物店でお土産買った後は吉野神宮へ。沢山拝んだ1日でした。

[ode-on-a-grecian-butt]

The Frog Jumping ceremony, a tradition at the Kinpusenji Temple in Yoshino, Japan.   Every year on July 7th, the backcountry mountain town of Yoshino hosts a ritual whose origin is based around an old legend involving an unfaithful man transformed into a frog. Known as “Kaerutobi” (kaeru = frog, tobi = flight/journey) The Legend According to this tale, a long time ago there once was a man who insulted the Shugendo practitioners of Yoshino. After this insult, he was suddenly picked up and carried away deep into the mountains by an eagle and left on the side of a cliff from which he could not escape.As fate would have it, a wandering priest with great diving power came across the man and noticing his predicament, mercifully decided to try and aid him. The priest, using his power granted to him through the Buddhas, transformed the man into a frog, a creature that, while not ideal for the situation, can navigate the treacherous crags of the mountains.Apparently realizing the 2nd chance he had been given, the man-turned-frog hopped his way down from the deep mountains to Yoshinoyama, eventually making it all the to Kinpusen-ji Temple. There, he prostrated his froggy self before the priests in front of Zao-do Hall, seeking forgiveness and assistance. For his efforts, the man received compassion and was miraculously transformed back into a human through the power of Shugendo.

[mariaceciliacamozzi]

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The dawn at Kinpusenji Temple in Nara Prefecture, a World Heritage Site, looked like an ink painting.

[nobu11051991]

KINPUSENJI temple in YOSHINO , Nara Japan

KINPUSENJI temple in YOSHINO , Nara Japan

‘KINPUSENJI temple in YOSHINO , Nara Japan’I visited KINPUSENJI temple in YOSHINO, NARA prefecture on my way to the cherry blossom mountain in YOSHINO. It’s founded late 7th century by ENNOGYOJA who is the founder of the SHUGENDO, the fusion of Shinto and Buddhism. ENNOGYOJA He is a real person has the mysterious power which can control the demons.He is depicted in the official history book ,…

[itsmarjudgelove]

Kinpusenji Temple in the Yoshino district of Nara Prefecture, Japan.

[livingwithkami]

Setsubun 節分

Today is Setsubun in Shinto! This tradition originally is to celebrate the beginning of Spring in Japan. The name means "seasonal division" in relation to this. I used to not understand it, since in Canada, February was bitter cold and snow. However, here in Japan, today was actually very warm, springlike weather!

It is also in relation to Lunar New Year festivals in Japan, so you could say Setsubun is also the mark of the beginning of the Lunar New Year.

Many of the traditions and celebrations held now during Setsubun actually came from Chinese influence of "Tsuina" during the Heian period, as well as the influence of unlucky and lucky directions. This is where the tradition of eating ehomaki comes from, and driving out of oni, who are said to come from the "oni gate" directions. However, Mamemaki, the throwing of beans, actually only began to first be practiced much later in the Muromachi period (the first record states it began in 1425 AD).

Setsubun in modern times can take many forms, such as large events, throwing of beans and candy, and excorcism festivals. However, a typical Setsubun usually consists of a ceremony to the kami to pray for a good year, an exorcism ritual, usually involving symbolically shooting a divine arrow (which originated from Tsurugaoka Hachimangu) and then mamemaki, or throwing of beans into the audience to symbolically bring them luck, and to drive away the oni. (usually there are people dressed up as oni to represent them being driven away by the beans.)

However, not all shrines do Setsubun, especially the ones that wish to retain the earliest Shinto practices - the reason Ise Kotaijinguu doesn't have a typical Setsubun ceremony - or they don't do a typical Setsubun due to strong relations to oni and oni kami, and for shrines in areas where there is many family names with the kanji　鬼 (oni) in it out of respect.

Oni are typically known as evil spirits or demons in English literature. From their very intense and powerful, and scary mythos and folklore that have been translated. However, like many spirits in Japan - there is a heavy nuance and context - not all is 100% good, and not all is 100% bad.

Oni are very intense spirits, and some have been known to do very bad things. But there are also stories and myths, of good Oni, who helped people, and particularly awe-invoking oni, who are worshipped at shrines. One such legend is the oni of Oni Jinja in Aomori worships the spirit of an oni who helped teach people how to farm, and brought them new advanced tools. As well as the oni kami Ura-sama, of Kibitsu Jinja, who also has his own small shrines in the region.

These shrines, as well as the areas with many families with the oni kanji in their name, and other temples such as Kinpusenji with a story in relation to a teaching from En no Gyoja - see oni in a more positive light, or a way for us to have courage to face challenges our way - tend to do a variation on the typical "Oni wa soto [ Oni get out], Fuku wa uchi![Blessings come in]" with a common one being "Luck come in, Oni also come in" as a way for us to face the year with courage no matter what challenges come our way, or to bring the blessings of the regional oni kami.

Of course, in my tradition, Konko Shinto, we also hold a positive view to oni, and tend to not hold Setsubun, or hold a non-typical Setsubun for a number of reasons, similar to the above examples-

1. We dont see directions as lucky or unlucky - all directions in the universe are sacred and a part of Kamisama.

2. A kamisama who is very important in our tradition, Konjin-sama, is an oni kami who we also recognize their nigimitama (benelovent, gentle) side

3. A sense to respect and be gentle towards all spirits, as Kamisama does not wish to see suffering

This being said, some Konko Shinto shrines, especially in Japan, do a gentle adaption of Setsubun where the traditional roasted beans are given out with tea. There may also be oni play-fighting with the kids, but aren't driven out. Every shrine is unique. Either way, Setsubun should be a time of joy at any place in Japan, and even overseas! 👹

At our shrine today we hadnt time this year to prepare a ceremony, but thinking for next year! However, today after free talk, Masafumi sensei and I had perfect timing to go to the local Toyokawa Inari branch shrine's Hatsuuma (sacred grand ceremony of Inari Okami) and Setsubun! The Setsubun was perfect for us as it was just getting beans and snacks and no oni driven away ^^ it was really fun! 👹

[hisazuki]

Pics from my trip to Japan - day 7: April 4th, 2018 part 2 - Yoshinoyama

Yoshino village with Niomon in the background (entrance gate to Kinpusenji temple, where we were at around 10.30 in the morning - this pic was taken around 3PM I think)

View from the Hanayagura observatory

Mikumari shrine and its cherry tree

Wooden owl in Mikumari shrine

We took a different path down to the village, going through a pine forest

A beautiful pink cherry tree (most are white or pale pink)

The steep valley

Various colors, all sakura and azaleas

Cherry blossom tempests take a whole new meaning here in Yoshino

Wild mountain flowers (I’m not sure what those are ^^; - iris maybe?)

[nikekidliem]

Yamabushi is mountainous #hermits of syncretic #religion called Shugendo which was created from #integration of Buddhism, Shinto and Taoism in 7th century. They were #marching for annual flower #ceremony in front of the the massive #wooden hall Zaodo. #japan #🇯🇵 #nhậtbản #🗾 #kansai #naraprefecture #yoshino #kinpusenji #temple #🙏🏼 #zaodohall #shugendo #yamabushi #historic #heianperiod #traditional #japanculture #travelgram #backpacktrip #seetheworld🌏 (at Kinpusen-Ji Temple)

[itsmarjudgelove]

Kinpusenji Temple

Mt. Yoshino, Nara

It is the head temple of a branch of the Shugendō religion called Kinpusen-Shugendō. According to tradition, it was founded by En no Gyōja, who propagated a form of mountain asceticism drawing from Shinto and Buddhist beliefs. Along with Ōminesan-ji Temple, it is considered the most important temple in Shugendō.

[hisazuki]

Pics from my trip to Japan - day 7: April 4th, 2018 part 1 - Yoshinoyama

Mount Yoshino lower area - Shimosenbon

Grilled ayu shop in Yoshino village

Kinpusenji temple

View from Yoshimizu shrine: “hitome senbon” - one look, a thousand trees

Yoshimizu shrine dragon fountain

Surrounded by sakura

Mount Yoshino middle area - Nakasenbon

Mandatory sakura close-up

Path going back to the station through the valley

Climbing up - view of the village from the Nakasenbon area