One of the four Kannon in Nagoya.
The principal image is the Bodhisattva Sho Kannon.
It is close to the birthplace of Toshiie Maeda and has a deep connection with it. It connects famous spots near Inuchiyo Road, Toshiie's childhood name.
It is famous for housing over 1,000 statues of Enku Buddha, which can only be viewed on the second Saturday of the month from 13:00 to 17:00.
Enter the main gate with the Nio statue (which cannot be viewed directly to protect it from ultraviolet rays) that Enku was given wood from the construction of Nagoya Castle, and then take off your shoes and enter the room through the small gate on the left.
After paying the 500 yen admission fee and receiving an instruction manual in the hall, you can see the Enku Buddha in the back. Photos and videos cannot be taken.
The room is a small Buddhist altar room and the lights are dimmed for protection. Please lend me a flashlight when you enter. It's quite bright so don't point it at anyone.
In front of the Buddhist altar room, a typical large Enku Buddha is arranged like a three-dimensional mandala.
There are countless small items lined up on the shelves on both sides, but what's worth noting is the pieces of wood that came out of the carving process that were used as cushioning materials for the zushi. The rough chisel carving is a characteristic of Enku Buddha, and the trajectory of that carving can be clearly seen from these pieces of wood.
The pedestal and part of the halo of Enku Buddha are displayed in the booth at the back, which serves as a passageway, and you can see the carvings in parts that would normally be hidden.
From the story of the person who explained it to me, I could see how Enku carved the Nio statues.
Apparently, you can also try your hand at the ``Mokudan no Kai'' carving of the Enku Buddha here. Please use as a souvenir as a lucky charm.
You can get a stamp on the left side of the main hall, but if you leave it in before your tour, the staff will write it carefully for you.
It takes more than 10 minutes on foot from the nearest station, so many people visit by car, but there is a large parking lot and you can see the works of the members of the ``Kobata no Kai.''
I was able to stop by on the first morning of the great cold wave in 2020. It starts at 7 o'clock, so I pray while the gates are open. As the weather looks good and we can see some sunshine, we first pray to the famous Kannon statue in the main hall to express gratitude and good luck in our work. I'm grateful that Arako, who often appears in novels and dramas, came here.
The statue of King Enku carved with Enku is a must-see.
It is a Tendai sect temple, one of the 4 Kannon in Owari, that I have been visiting regularly since I came here. Inside the precincts, there is a small double pagoda, statues of Jizo Bodhisattva, Fudo Myo-o-o, and the Twenty-eight Buddhas, which are worth seeing. I will visit again.
