Shitenno-Ji Osaka

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Festivals at Temple Shitenno-Ji - 四天王寺

***** Location: Osaka
***** Season: See below
***** Category: Observance

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Explanation

Shitennō-ji 四天王寺 is a Buddhist temple in Osaka, Japan.
1-11-18 Shitennoji,Tennoji-ku, OsakaCity



Prince Shōtoku is said to have constructed this temple in 593. It is the first Buddhist and oldest officially administered temple in Japan, although the temple buildings have been rebuilt over the centuries. Most of the present structures are from when the temple was last completely rebuilt in 1963.

The Shitennō are the four heavenly kings. The temple Prince Shōtoku built to honor them had four institutions, each to help the Japanese attain a higher level of civilization. This Shika-in (四箇院, Four Institutions) was centered around the seven-building garan (伽藍) (the complex inside the walls), and included a Kyōden-in (Institution of Religion and Education), a Hiden-in (Welfare Institution), a Ryōbyō-in (Hospital), and a Seiyaku-in (Pharmacy) to provide essential care to the people of Japan.

The temple has been called Arahaka-ji, Nanba-ji, or Mitsu-ji.
Shitennō-ji is home to a major flea market on the 21st of each month.
©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !


. Shotoku Taishi 聖徳太子 and Daruma .

quote by Time Magazine
Of 202 Buddhist sanctuaries in Osaka's Tennōji district, there is one that stands out - Shitennōji, the first Japanese temple commissioned by a royal (Prince Shōtoku Taishi) and one of the oldest Buddhist complexes in Japan. Construction began in + 593, just decades after the religion reached the country's shores. One of the carpenters for Shitennoji, Shigemitsu Kongo, traveled to Japan from the Korean kingdom of Paekche (Paekje 百済) for the project.

Over a millennium-and-a-half, Shitennoji has been toppled by typhoons and burned to the ground by lightning and civil war -- and Shigemitsu's descendants have supervised its seven reconstructions. Today, working out of offices that overlook the temple, Kongo Gumi Co. is run by 54-year-old president Masakazu Kongo, the 40th Kongo to lead the company in Japan. His business, started more than 1,410 years ago, is believed to be the oldest family-run enterprise in the world.

MORE is here
- Mark Schumacher -


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kigo for mid-winter

Tennooji doosojin matsuri 天王寺道祖神祭
Dosojin Festival at temple Tenno-Ji
hagi matsuri 剥祭（はぎまつり）"left-out festival"
dorojijiri matsuri 泥くじり祭（どろくじりまつり）

On November 16 at the temple Tenno-Ji in Osaka.
Also at the temple Shinkooin 真光院（しんこういん）Shinko-In.
During the Edo period, stone Buddha statues were offered raw herring and the face smeared with white rice flour. Mikan wrapped in sasa grass leaves and straw were also offered.
In the evening the straw and grass was burned until the face of the deity was all black and people danced around the stone.

Three days before this event, children hang a rope over the way and ask for money if people want to pass. If they do not pay, they are "left out".
This festival was said to have an evil influence on the education of children and was later abolished.

Most temples in other parts of Japan celebrate this festival on January 14 or February 8.


. Dosojin 道祖神 the Wayside Gods .

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kigo for all winter



. Tennoo-Ji kabu 天王寺蕪（てんのうじかぶ）
turnips from temple Tenno-Ji .
Brassica campestris

They are also called Ukikabu 浮き蕪.
They are the roots of another vegetable, the Nozawana 野沢菜.

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kigo for the New Year
sometimes placed for "late winter"

Doya Doya どやどや Doyadoya Festival
January 14, from 2 to 4 pm



A ritual at the end of the Shushoo-e 修正会 - a memorial service starting January 1st and dedicated to world peace and rich harvests - the event is said to date back to as early as 827.

Two groups of young men in white and red loincloth and headbands wrangle in front of the temple to get the sacred amulet of the cow deity and some banknotes from the temple.
They are showered with water by the onlookers to cheer them further.

One of the three great festivals of Japan.

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Tennooji shoojin ku 天王寺生身供 (てんのうじしょうじんく)
Birthday Ritual
shari dashi 舎利出し（しゃりだし）"showing of the sacred bones"

Ceremony from January 5 to 14. (Nowadays till January 12)
At the Hall for Shotoku Taishi the birthday of the Prince if celebrated.

On this day food of 100 flavors are offered. An auspicious script says

毎日御精進供を献ず
"Every day we will offer ritual food"


source with more photos :　osaka-asoblog.jp

The sacred bones of the prince are shown in the morning.
There are six pieces of bones and six strings of his hair,
kept in the great pagoda


六道利救の塔

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Tennooji Kondoo choona hajime
天王寺金堂手斧始 (てんのうじこんどうちょうなはじめ
first use of the carpenter's ax

On January 11
The main officials and shrine carpenters, clad in traditional robes, performed the first ritual cut in a tree placed at the shrine.

MORE
. choona hajime 手斧始 (ちょうなはじめ)
first use of the carpenter's ax .

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Other important festivals, not kigo

April 22
聖霊会 大阪市天王寺

June
30日～7月2日 愛染祭り

July
12日 生国魂神社夏祭り Ikukunitama Jinja Summer Festival

August
11～12日 生国魂神社 薪能 Ikukunitama Jinja Takagi Noh

. Ikukunitama Jinja 生國魂神社 / 生国魂神社 .
nickname : Ikutama-san　いくたまさん

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amulet with 元三大師 Ganzan Daishi
Ganzan Daishi is celebrated on November 3.
The amulet prevents evil influence and helps to learn and pass examinations.
He is also called
tsuno daishi 角大師 Great Teacher with Horns

. 元三大師 Ganzan Daishi .

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sange 散華 "scattered blossoms"
blossom-shaped amulets for good luck, with paintings by
Sugimoto Kenkichi 杉本健吉
source : Temple Homepage

. sange 散華 "scattering blossoms" amulets .

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Worldwide use

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Things found on the way

. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .

The Seven Wonders of Shitenno-Ji　
四天王寺　七不思議

龍の井、亀の水、二股竹、石橋、虎の門の猫、樋がない

umegaeda no choozubachi 梅ケ枝の手水鉢 hand wash basin
(no photos to be found)

. Nanafushigi, nana fushigi 七不思議 "The Seven Wonders" in Japan .

Gokuraku no Higashi Mon Gate 極楽の東門
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gama 蝦蟇
桓武天皇の延暦3年5月、蝦蟇が2万匹ばかり難波の南から四天王寺の境内に入りどこかに行った。

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Hidari Jingoro 左甚五郎
neko no mon 猫の門 "Cat Gate"
. carving of a sleeping cat 木彫りの猫 .

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kaeru gassen 蛙合戦
桓武天皇の延暦3年5月に、蝦蟆が2万匹ほど集まり、四天王寺に行った後ことごとく去ったという。これを蛙合戦という。

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Kunara taishi setsuwa クナラ太子説話
クナラ太子は目を抉られて王国を追放された。後に無実が判明した時，人々が経を聞いて流す涙を集めて太子の眼を浸し，眼窩に入れると太子の視力は回復した。

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moria no basson 守屋の末孫 The Descendants of Mononobe Moriya
ある人によれば、物部守屋の末孫の家が四天王寺東門外に今もあるという。末孫は、四天王寺聖霊会の時、素袍袴を着て烏帽子を被り、六時堂の階の下に出ると聞く。

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reimu 霊夢
奥州忍の里に住むタカソトハノタケトシが，息子を光明寺に入れる。息子は光明寺一の学匠となり，比叡山に移ることになった。その頃叡山の高僧は，山王権現から「東から来る童子を弟子とすれば山門の誉れとなる」との霊夢を授かっていた。果たして息子は一大学匠となり，後に盲目の父母と再会を果たす。息子は慈覚大師であり，観音菩薩の化身である。

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reisen 霊泉，逆浪，鳥，蛇
この地にある亀井の霊泉は、1300余年経っても涸れることがない。かつてこの地に四天王寺が創立されていた時、逆浪があふれ鳥蛇が集まって堂宇を破壊した。そこで25年後、今の地に移転して、再び伽藍を建立したという。

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shiryoku no kaifuku 視力の回復
ある貧女が我が子を捨てる。子は高僧に拾われて僧となり，父母を探すため四天王寺で連日説法を行った。ついに僧は盲目となっていた母と再会し，母のため三宝諸天に祈祷を捧げる。すると母の目が元のように開いた。

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warauchiishi 藁打石
この丘の上には、兼好法師の藁打石という石があった。享和元年の四天王寺回禄の際、近村より礎石となる石を集めたところ、この石も持って行かれた。ところが、怪事が起こったので、石は元の場所に戻されたという。

“pon pon ishi” (literally “tap tap stone.”) ぽんぽん石
the Cat Gate 猫の門
the Dragon’s Well 龍の井戸
the Onigawara (roof ridge tiles that typically depict Japanese ogre) of the five-story pagoda 五重塔の鬼瓦
Kitaganedo 北鐘堂
the Stone Coffin Cover 長持形石棺蓋
- reference source : metronine.osaka/en/article -

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- - - - - Reference

- source : nichibun yokai database -

source :　youkai.tou3.com - seven wonders photos

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- Sange 散華 from Japan - Photos -


銀花散る散華一葉ひらひらと
ginka chiru sange ichiyo hirahira to

silver flowers scatter -
one blossom leaf amulet
glittering, glittering

source : jun_uem

sange should get a page of their own !


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Tenno-Ji temple in Akita

July
7日 天王寺の蜘蛛の舞い
秋田県天王町

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HAIKU



about the four deities
SHITENNŌ = Four Heavenly Kings

The Shitennō are Buddhist protectors of the four directions. They ward off evil, guard the nation, and protect the world from malicious spirits, hence the Japanese term Gose Shitennō 護世四天王, literally “four world-protecting deva kings.”
Each represents a direction, season, color, virtue, and element.

MORE
- Mark Schumacher -



彼岸会の四天王寺に蛇使ひ
higan-e no Shitennoo-ji ni hebi tsukai

at the equinox ceremony
of temple Shitenno-Ji
a snake charmer

Ootsubo Keishoo 大坪景章 Otsubo Keisho


鳩吹くや亀が集まる四天王寺
遠藤寛太郎


はま弓や当時紅裏四天王
Kikaku 其角

四天王の家々ゆゝし菖蒲葺く
中川四明

夏雲や鬚大いなる四天王
角田よし子

牛祭火に護られて四天王
五十嵐播水

source :　HAIKUreikuDB

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亀井不動　Kamei Fudo in the compound of Shitenno-Ji






source :　Masayoshi - facebook


. Fudō Myō-ō, Fudoo Myoo-Oo 不動明王 Fudo Myo-O
Acala Vidyârâja – Vidyaraja – Fudo Myoo .


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Related words

***** . Deities of the Four Directions .
The 12 Heavenly Generals 十二神将 :

Bishamonten 毘沙門天
Vaishravana ~ Heavenly King of the North

Jikokuten　持国天
Dhritarashtra ~ Heavenly King of the East

Zochoten　（Zoochooten）増長天
Virudhaka ~ Heavenly King of the South

Komokuten (Koomokuten)　広目天
Virupaksha ~ Heavenly King of the West


. Amulets and Talismans from Japan .　

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