Than Hsiang's Pu Men Pin Online Gong Xiu Dharma Sharing (04/10/2024)

Former Principal of International Buddhist College, Brother Leong Kok Hing sharing " Japan “Kōyasan” "

Kōyasan is Mount Kōya.

Mount Kōya is a large temple settlement in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan to the south of Osaka.

You will find an incredible 117 Buddhist temples tucked away in the deep cedar forest in Kōyasan. 52 of which offer temple accommodations, called "shukubo," where travelers can stay overnight.

In 2023，Kōyasan attracted about 1.39 million tourists from abroad and Japan. In the peak spring and autumn seasons，the town gets between 20,000 and 30,000 visitors every day.

Kōyasan belongs to the Shingon sect of Japan.

The founder of Shingon Buddhism was Master Kūkai.

Master Kūkai (774-835) went to China to study in the 8th century.

After completing his studies, Master Kūkai returned to Japan in 806.

Master Kūkai stablished 88 temples on Japan's Shikoku Island and practiced and worshipped at these 88 sacred sites.

The route of these 88 sacred sites became widely popular among the public and was called "Shikoku Pilgrimage", which is also the pilgrimage route for Shingon followers. Pilgrims from all over the country worship these 88 sacred sites according to the pilgrimage route of "Shikoku Pilgrimage", and the last stop is "Kōyasan".

In 816, Master Kūkai founded the Esoteric Buddhism center "Kōyasan" in Wakayama Prefecture, named " Kongōbu-ji", and built Tang-style buildings such as the Pagoda "Konpon Daito" and the Golden Hall " Kondo ".

In 823, Master Kūkai was given a Buddhist title by the Emperor and was granted a temple in Kyoto, Japan called " Tō-ji"

Tō-ji was built in 796.

To get to Kōyasan, you need to take a flight to Osaka, Japan, and then take the Nankai Electric Railway train in Namba. It will take about an hour to reach the foot of Kōyasan, which is the“Gokurakubashi Station”.

After arriving at the“Gokurakubashi Station", you must transfer to the cable car.

The cable car takes about 20 minutes to reach the top of Mount Kōya, which is "Kōyasan Station".

Once arrived，there is a ten-minute bus to the town center (290 yen). Please keep in mind that it is not permitted to walk on the street from the cable car to the town center.

On the bus, along the way, you can see the“Nyonindo”.

Nyonindo is a small temple but with a deep meaning. Its name means "women's house". and it is the last of eight temples where women prayed in ancient times because until 1871 (Meiji era)， no women were allowed to enter Koyasan. They were only admitted to Nyonindo， the women's temple.
Unfortunately，the other seven temples were destroyed.

The bus goes on and you will also see the Tokugawa Mausoleum.
This mausoleum for the Tokugawa family was built in 1643 by the third Tokugawa shogun，who devoted twenty years to its construction. The outside is built of unfinished wood and the inside is decorated in gold and silver leaf，reminiscent of the Toshogu Shrine in Nikko.

Tokugawa shogunate or Edo shogunate was the military government of Japan during the Edo period from 1603 to 1868. The Tokugawa shogunate declined during the Bakumatsu period from 1853 and was overthrown by supporters of the Imperial Court in the Meiji Restoration in 1868. The Empire of Japan was established under the Meiji government. There were many Mausoleums built for the Tokugawa clan，but what makes this one on Mount Koya special is its location. Built in 1643 by Tokugawa lemitsu for his father and grandfather in order to be closer to Kobo Daishi's mausoleum， which people believe would bring a stronger peace to the dead.

After the bus arrived, the first place we visited was "Okuno-in". The Ichinohashi Bridge (first bridge) marks the traditional entrance to Okuno-in，and visitors should bow to pay respect to Kobo Daishi before crossing it.

There is a 2km long pilgrimage trail to Okuno-in called the“Choishi Michi”

At the end of the pilgrimage trail is a bridge called “Gobyō-bashi”. It marks the entrance to the most sacred places at Mt. Kōya.

Then, go up the stairs and you will reach the“torodo”, which is filled with more than ten thousand lanterns.

After visiting the “torodo”, you will see the imperial temple where Master Kūkai entered into meditation.
It is generally believed that Master Kūkai did not enter Nirvana, but was in a state of meditation for a long time in the Mount Kōya.

After a whole morning of touring, if you feel hungry, you can enjoy Kōyasan's "Shojin Ryori" (vegetarian), including Kōya tofu and sesame tofu.

After lunch, you can visit The Daimon Gate. The Daimon Gate stands as the entrance to Mt. Kōya. Although it was lost once in a fire，the current structure was rebuilt in 1705 and has been standing ever since. You will definitely stand in awe of the impressive 25 meter height of this giant gate!

Danjo Garan is another sacred site situated at the west side of the town.
It is the religious precinct where Buddhist monks gather for their practices. One of the most important places in Kōyasan，Danjo Garan religious precincts are comprised of many religious and historical monuments. There are a total of 19 buildings in the complex.

The Danjo Garan was said to be the first complex built by Master Kūkai，and has long been revered as a special place for Shingon Buddhism since. Even today there are monks practicing here, so you just might see them when you visit!

The most important building in the The Danjo Garan is Konpon Daito, or Great Pagoda. Master Kūkai built this towering pagoda as a symbol of Shingon Buddhism. On a breezy day，one can hear the chimes of the bells which are strung from the spire.

Then we came to the " Kondo". The " Kondo" is the main shrine hall.
When Master Kūkai opened Mount Kōya， this was the building that, following the main temple， was first constructed. Since the middle Heian period， it has
served a key role as the central hall on Mount Kōya. The current building is the seventh reconstruction and was completed in 1932.

Then we came to the “Miedo”. Miedo holds a ninth century portrait of Master Kūkai， not accessible to the public. In fact， the only part of the building that can be visited is open only once a year， on the night before the anniversary of Master Kūkai entering eternal meditation.

Daito Bell：
Master Kūkai determined to cast a bell here， and it was finally completed in the era of his successor， Shinzen Daitoku. The current copper bell was built in 1547 and has a diameter of 2.12 meters， making it the fourth largest bell in Japan.

Saito (West Tower): Rebuilt in 1834.

Fudō-do Hall: The original hall was built in 1197 on the orders of an imperial princess. The building once enshrined statues of Fudō Myō-ō and eight attendants. Today， Fudō remains in place but the attendants' statues have been moved to the Reihokan Museum (about a five minute walk from the Fudō-do).

Junteido

Kujaku-do

Rokkaku Kyuzo (hexagonal depository of the scriptures)

Sanno-in: Sanno-in was built as a hall of worship. Features a gabled，hipped roof with transverse beams 21.3 meters long and perpendicular beams 7.8 meters long.
The name “Sanno-in” refers to the local Shinto deity being revered as a “god of the mountain.” The current building was reconstructed in Bunroku 3 (1594). Important rites and dialogues are held yearly at Sanno-in. On the 16th of every month， a service is held honoring the deity here.

Miyashiro

Sanmaido

Daiedo

Aizendo

The Pine Tree: The pine tree to the west of the Kondo is called Toten no Matsu. A monk named Nyoho ascended to Maitreya's Pure Land in 1149 at the site of this tree.

Kangakuin： Hojo Tokimune created this site within Kongo Sanmai-in as a training hall for the monks on Mount Kōya. In year two of the Bumpo era (1318)， Emperor Go-Uda decreed that it be moved to the site it now occupies. Enshrined here is an image of Vairocana. The site is still used as a training ground for the annual Kangakue， with entrance not permitted to the public.

Then we came to“Kongo Sanmai-in”. This pagoda was built in 1223 by Hojo Masako (1157-1225)， for the consolation of the souls of her son Minamoto no Sanetomo (1192-1219， the third shogun of the Kamakura Shogunate and a poet) who was assassinated in the precincts of Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine in Kamakura. Hojo Masako was the wife of Minamoto no Yoritomo (1147-1199， the first shogun of the Kamakura Shogunate)， and was popularly called Ama (meaning a 'nun') Shogun. The Tahoto building is designated as a national treasure， and Kyozo (the scripture house)， the Kōyasan's one and only azekura-style architecture built in the same year， is also designated as an important cultural property. Moreover，the rhododendron in the precincts， the Kōya Town's Flower，is also designated as a natural monument.

Daishi Kyokai: Daishi Kyokai is the administrative center of Shingon Buddhism. The complex consists of two buildings: Henjoden, a traditional shrine hall and a modern building for administration, lectures and training.

Then we came to“Kongobuji Temple”. This is the main headquarters for the Shingon sect.

Kyozo ( Buddhist architecture Storehouse ): A structure with a raised floor is a "kyozo"， a repository for sutras. "Kyozo"， in Japanese Buddhist architecture，is supposed to be built separately from the main building so that it can save important documents， chronicles of the temple， sutras and ritual objects in the case of the outbreak of fire. This "Kyozo" is said to be constructed in 1679 by the donation of a merchant in Osaka.

Shoro (Bell Tower): A two-storied trapezoidal building is presumably rebuilt in 1864. Although the bell cannot be seen from outside， an old bell is suspended in the upper story.

The Japanese garden named Banryutei is the largest rock garden in Japan.

A long corridor then leads to a more recently added wing of the temple complex, where visitors are invited to enjoy some tea and a cookie in a large tatami hall.

There is a museum called "Reihokan Museum".

For more information, please browse https://www.youtube.com/live/rv1IloA6_Ik

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