Akakura Fudo

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Akakura Fudo 赤倉不動



Fudo Myoo ("the immutable one"), the Buddhist divinity of fire, is one of the most important beings venerated at Akakura Mountain Shrine. He is known by his flaming sword and rope, with which he slashes away material connections and binds up evil-doers. His sword is used at Akakura in the Sword of Fudo healing ritual several times each year.

Fudo is the principal deity of the Five angry Lords of Light, venerated at Akakura in the Godaimyoo (Five Lords) hall. Fudo serves as tutelary deity to many of the shrine's kamisama spirit mediums. He has intimate associations with the dragon divinity and with the waterfall of Fudo, one of the most important sites of mountain ascetic discipline (shugyo). Several votive paintings at Akakura depict Fudo.


Akakura Fudo Waterfall 赤倉・不動滝
Akakura Mountain Shrine

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The waterfall of Fudo, located within Akakura gorge, is located near the base of Akakura gorge. It is the most common destination of those undertaking shugyo (ascetic discipline) at Akakura Mountain Shrine. Here, worshippers pray intensely, reciting Hannya Shingyo and the Fudo-son-ken-Kudoku-no-mon prayer to the fire divinity Fudo Myoo.



At the waterfall, ascetics may experience revelatory visions of Fudo or of the mountain's principal divinity Akakura Daigongen in his various incarnations, including that of a dragon (a being intimately associated with water, rain and waterfalls.)


Akakura Daigongen, the principal divinity worshipped at Akakura Mountain Shrine, has multiple incarnations and forms.
He is at times seen as a young man, as a dragon (or pairs of dragons), as a beautiful woman, or even as a pair of trees or birds. His shotai (true form) is usually considered to be as a white-haired old man, as repesented in this shrine painting.　－


On May 1st, when the gorge is still covered with snow and ice, the assembled shrine congregation collectively climbs to this spot and hangs a great shimenawa (sacred rice straw rope) above the waterall, in the Mountain Opening Ceremony (Yamabiraki)

The waterfall is depicted in several votive paintings in the shrine, as in this image of the shrine foundress undertaking water discipline (mizu gyo) within its icy waters. As Carmen Blacker notes in The Catalpa Bow, the dedicated medium is believed to possess such great internal heat that she may experience the waterfall as a fire, intimately associated with Fudo Myoo's own flaming sword.




In this painting, the praying foundress, to the left of the waterfall, beholds a vision of vision of Akakura Daigongen (in his incarnation as a white haired old man) floating on a golden cloud.

Akakura Mountain Gorge, looms large in the iconography and ritual practice of the shrine. It is characterized by many dramatic volcanic and geological features, and is compared by many worshippers to a woman's genitalia, "the thing of a woman". Through it runs Akakura river, the source of the life-giving water of the gods. The gorge also spatially orients those undertaking mountain asceticism (shugyo).

source : Ellen Schattschneider : immortal wishes:

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- quote
Fudo Myoo Menuki
Fudo Myoo, the Buddhist divinity of fire, is one of the most important beings venerated at Akakura Mountain Shrine.



He is known by his flaming sword and rope, with which he slashes away material connections and binds up evil-doers.
- source : www.kriscutlery.com


. Menuki 目抜き　 . sword fitting .
Menuki are pairs of small metal ornaments, secured one to each side of the hilt of the sword by means of a braid that covers the hilt.


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- trying to locate the mountain, since there are many with this name in Japan.
- reference -


Mt. Akakuradake 赤倉岳 （あかくらだけ）
- google search



- Top of the Mountain


photo by tenten mushi


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- In Aomori 青森　

Akakurazawa 赤倉沢 at Mount Iwaki　岩木山

赤倉御殿 - 1433 meters

- source : www.yamareco.com


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There seem to be two mountains with this name in the Hakoda Mountain range, Aomori:
- Northern Group:
Mount Akakuradake (赤倉岳 Akakura-dake) 1521 m
- Southern Group:
Mount Akakuradake (赤倉岳 Akakura-dake) 1290 m

The Hakkōda Mountains (八甲田山系 Hakkōda-sankei)
- - - More in the WIKIPEDIA !


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. 津軽弘法大師霊場 - Tsugaru Kobo Daishi Reijo
Pilgrimage to 23 Kobo Daishi temples in Tsugaru .

第二十一番札所　赤倉山　金剛寺（あかくらさん　こんごうじ）
21 - 赤倉山 Akakurasan - Kongooji 金剛寺 Kongo-Ji

平川市八幡崎宮本１４１
Miyamoto-141 Yawatasaki, Hirakawa-shi, Aomori

The main statue is Monju Bosatsu 文殊菩薩.

Legend knows that an old man with white hair, riding a dragon, appeared in a dream and asked for a temple hall to be built here.

Kobo Daishi roamed this region in 820 陸奥国御巡錫 and also passed the
Akakura Reijo 赤倉霊場 Akakura Sacred Region.
He stood in front of a huge boulder and recited

「三世十方の諸仏、若しこの地に密教広まりなば、
此処に我が足跡を印し給え」

(All the sacred Buddhas, be my witness, let me promote the wisdom of Mikkyo Buddhism in this new land.
As a proof, show my footprint when I step on it.)

and as he stepped on the boulder, the footprint of his straw sandal became visible.

In 1960 the first 大師一代堂 Daishi Hall was erected in his honor, followed by the
大師堂 Daishi Do Hall in 1965.
In 1980 the main hall of temple 金剛寺 Kongo-Ji was built.



Every year at the 15th of June (now the third Sunday) for the beginning of the mountain climbing season a special fire ritual for the safety of the climbers are held
- yamabiraki 山開き
赤倉山霊場山開会　柴灯大護摩供執行

The uppermost temple in the compound, 金剛寺奥の院 Oku no In, there is a statue of Monju Bosatsu 文殊菩薩 as the personal protector of people born in the year of the rabbit.
ichidai mamori honzon 一代守り本尊 personal protector deity

- Chant of the temple
ながき夜の　夢さませとや　赤倉の暗きこころに光明さしくる
怠らず　願うこころの　赤倉や　赤き血潮に勇む老いの身

- Yearly Festivals
新２月２５日
卯年生れ文殊菩薩／五穀豊就大菩薩／開運厄除星祭　初祭典

旧９月２３日 - 山納 - End of the Climbing Season.

旧１０月２１日 - 大師講　四国八十八ヶ所お砂踏
O-sunafumi of the Shikoku 88 Henro temples

- seal of the temple, dedicated also to
Hotei　布袋, God of Good Luck.


- Homepage of the temple (with a map)
- source : kongoji.net


. Personal Protector / Ichidai Mamori Honzon .

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Mount Akakura, a region for Shugendo mountain ascetics,
lies at the "back side" of Mount Iwaki
赤倉は岩木山の裏の顔



赤倉大権現、または赤倉大神
神社の前には三十三観音や弘法大師像があった。

大石神社 Oishi Jinja and then
- 津軽赤倉山神社 Tsugaru Akakura Jinja
It has been built by 工藤むら Kudo Mura, who also made this statue of a Dragon-Fudo:




弘法大師や不動明王等も一緒に祭っている
Kobo Daishi and Fudo Myo-O are venerated here too.



Even further up the mountain is Akakura shrine



Beside it are more small sactuaries, dedicated to Jizo Bosatsu and others.

Along the road, another Kobo Daishi statue in white robes



next to a statue of "Yama no Kami", deity of the mountains.
弘法大師と山の神

And on top of the mountain, Akakura Shrine



with a three-storied pagoda.
Akakura Sacred Area 赤倉霊場
- source : www41.tok2.com/home/kanihei5


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Enku

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Enku and his Fudo Statues 円空仏


円空作不動明王坐像
Seated Fudo Myo-O, about 30 cm high


総高29.2cmの杉の一木造りで頭頂部に蓮華をいだき、左肩に弁髪をたらし右手に宝剣、左手に羅索を持ち岩に座っている。円空仏は北埼玉地区にはほとんどなく珍しい。

©　Kazo City, Saitama
http://www.city.kazo.lg.jp/shogai_k/40200-10.asp

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A rather small, smiling Fudo
明王像は、筋肉隆々で怒った顔のハズなのに、円空さんだとお不動さんも笑っちゃうんですね。


http://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/gokuneko/diary/?ctgy=7


円空研究（5）新装普及版 Enku Study Group, Volume 5


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「不動明王」日光市　清滝寺蔵
Fudo Myo-O from Nikko



More Enku Statues on this LINK
http://www.pref.toyama.jp/branches/3044/exh_0501.htm

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地蔵院円空作不動明王像
Saitama, Temple Jizo-In



総高 complete hight 48.7ｃｍ、像奥13.3ｃｍ、像幅22.5ｃｍ。
見沼区東大宮1-82-2　地蔵院　（大宮区高鼻町2－1－2 さいたま市立博物館寄託）
Saitama City Page

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Enku and Bishamonten
毘沙門天立像,不動明王坐像



岡崎市 Okasaki Town
https://www.city.okazaki.aichi.jp/museum/DB/KIKAKU/A/a025%20bunkazai.htm


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Enku Woddblock by Munakata Shiko



画寸　45㎝×30㎝.... 額寸　58.5㎝×46.5㎝
http://www.daihorin-kaku.com/bijutsu/akiyama.htm

Painting of Fudo by Munakata

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Fudo Myoo(Enku) ©1997 Michael Hofmann





http://www.fsinet.or.jp/~ttstudio/hof-10.html
http://www.fsinet.or.jp/~ttstudio/hof-11.html

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NHK Bi no Tsubo: Enku and Mokujiki , July 2006
File13　円空と木喰 : ＮＨＫ　美の壷
http://www.nhk.or.jp/tsubo/archives.html

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. Welcome to Master Carver Enku 円空 ! .
His own BLOG !


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Iwa Rocks

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Fudo Rocks, Fudo-Iwa 不動岩
fudooiwa fudo iwa fudoo myoo iwa
Many rocks look like Fudo Myo-O and are revered like this deity.
Here is the Fudo Rock of Shiraishi Island.



As the story goes, if you place your head in the small dell at head level and make a serious wish three times in your heart, this will will be granted by Fudo Myo-O.

You can see my friend putting her head in the head-shaped stone cave to make a wish. The whole formation of this huge rock is venered as Fudo himself.




More about the Henro Pilgrimage of Shiraishi is here:
The Shiraishi Pilgrimage to the 88 Temples of Shikoku

Gabi Greve: Magaibutsu, Buddhas carved in Stone Cliffs
Introducing some of the Fudo Myo-O Carvings.

Waterfalls and Fudo Myo-o 不動滝

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Fudo Iwa in Kumamoto / Oita

This formation was named in the Heian Period by a mountain ascetic who venerated Fudo Myo-O here. It has three Fudo Rocks, the front, middle and back Fudo. The highest Front Fudo, Mae Fudo 前不動 is 80 meters high and more than 100 meters in circumference.



不動岩の名称は、平安時代に山伏達がこの山にこもり、不動明王を本尊として修行したことに由来。
ごらんのように３つの巨大な岩（前不動、中不動、後不動）と連なり、最も大きい前不動では、高さ約８０ｍ、根回りが約１００ｍに達する巨石です。（現地案内板より）

Look at more photos here:
http://www.ajkj.jp/ajkj/kumamoto/yamaga/kanko/fudouiwa/fudouiwa.html

Fudo Rock at Yamaga-shi
There are three huge rocks on this hill in Yamaga city which are collectively called "Fudo Iwa" which means literally immovable rocks. These rocks are individually known as: Mae-Fudo, Naka-Fudo, and Ato-fudo.

Mae-Fudo is the biggest one, and from here you have a great view of mountain and sunset.

There is a story about these rocks that once upon a time, Fudo-Iwa and Hikodake (Mt. Hiko, located in Yamaga city) were step-brothers. Their mother always treated only Fudo-Iwa with affection because she gave birth to him, but treated the other Hikodake harshly.

One day, the mother told them to try the pulling rope game with their neck. She said, I will give the family treasure of 3 balls handed down for long time to the winner. When they started the game, because he was always eating soft and tasty beans the head of Fudo-Iwa came off easilly and fell into the Kubishi Pass where it remains turned into stone.

Now it is said that the rest of the body of Fudo-Iwa is the Fudo Iwa at present. Because Hikodake was always eating hard beans, he grew so big and tough. There is a Kyushu footpath around here to enjoy walking while looking at the seasonal flowers until you reach to the observatory.

© Kumamoto Prefectural Government
http://cyber.pref.kumamoto.jp/asp/kanko/kanko_intro.asp

. Fudo Myo-O 不動明王と鬼伝説　
Oni Demon Legends and Fudo .

ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo

There are many more of these rock formations in Japan. I will introduce them here.

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. daibanjaku 大盤石／大磐石 "huge rock" .

Sometimes a statue of Fudo sits on a huge rock,
at other places
a huge rock itself is venerated as Fudo Myo-O himself.

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- - - - - #iwa #rockfudo - - - - -
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Magaibutsu

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Stone Carvings and Sculptures
Magaibutsu 磨崖仏



I found this carving of Fudo Myo-O on Shiraishi Island in the harbour, at a very low level close to the beach.

白石島の磨崖仏（不動明王）
フェリー乗り場のすぐ近くにあります。

Buddhist figures chiseled out of stone, the Magaibutsu of Japan.
They follow in the tradition of the greate figures along the Silk Road, from the un-famous reliefs of Bamiyan in Afganistan to Dunhuang and others in China.

Magaibutsu can be found all over Japan, but maybe the most famous are in Kunisaki in Kyushu.
Read the LINKs given below for more.

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More about the Henro Pilgrimage of Shiraishi
and my STONE links is here:

The Shiraishi Pilgrimage to the 88 Temples of Shikoku


. Magaibutsu from the Kibi Region of Okayama
Bunei Sekibutsu 文英様石仏 Stone Buddhas of the Bunei style .
吉備の文英様石仏　

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- quote -
magaibutsu　磨崖仏 Also written 摩崖仏. Ch: moyafo.
Also known as magai sekibutsu 磨崖石仏 or 摩崖石仏. A Buddhist image carved into the surface of natural rock such as a cliff face, a large rock, or a stone cave. The rock-face was first polished, and then the image was created with engraved lines *senkoku 線刻 in low relief *ukibori 浮彫 or in high relief takanikubori 高肉彫. Clay was used to model details on the relief carving. Occasionally colors and gold leaf were applied. The surrounding rock was often hollowed out to form an alcove for the figure, so a deeply carved magaibutsu was sometimes known as *butsugan 仏龕, meaning Buddha alcove and a cave temple large enough for people to enter was often referred to as sekkutsu jiin 石窟寺院 or sekkutsuji 石窟寺.
Rock carving flourished in the Han, and Northern and Southern dynasties in China as well as in India, Afghanistan, and Korea.
In Japan magaibutsu never formed the mainstream of Buddhist sculpture, but there are many surviving examples dating from the 7c to 14c. It has been pointed out that popular belief in the living spirit of rocks in Japan was combined with Buddhism and was expressed in magaibutsu. Examples can be found across the country, but Kyuushuu 九州 has the greatest concentration of rock carvings, including the famous stone Buddhas in Usuki 臼杵, Ooita prefecture (11-12c). The images were carved on soft rock such as tuff, a rock formed by the consolidation of volcanic ash and tufa, a porous calcium carbonate rock found around mineral springs.
The late Heian period was regarded as the peak of the magaibutsu, in Japan and Kamakura works were smaller in size, carved on hard stone such as granite, and often unpainted, leaving the natural stone surface. After the 14c, free-standing stone Buddhas *sekibutsu 石仏 became more popular, and fewer magaibutsu were made.
- source : JAANUS -


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source :　facebok

. Ooiwasan Nissekiji 大岩山日石寺 .
達磨不動明王 Daruma Fudo

真言密宗大岩山日石寺 - Toyama

. 北陸三十六不動尊霊場
Hokuriku - 36 Fudo Temples .


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the following part is under construction

. Stones and Daruma san 石とだるまさん 　
Introduction


Magaibutsu 磨崖仏散歩 Stone Cliff Buddhas



I will take this chance to tell you a little about Buddha figures chiseled out of stone, the Magaibutsu of Japan. They follow in the tradition of the greate figures along the Silk Road, from the un-famous reliefs of Bamiyan in Afganistan to Dunhuang and others in China.
磨崖仏はアフガニスタンのバーミアンや中国の敦煌が有名です。
Have a look at the Bamiyan Buddha before it was destroyed.
. . . CLICK here for Photos !


Here are some Buddhas from the oasis Dunhuang in China.
. . . CLICK here for Photos !

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Magaibutsu can be found all over Japan, but maybe the most famous are in Kunisaki 国東半島 in Kyushu. On this HP you can find a lot of information about them, sorted according to areas in Japan, with explanations and access directions.　　　　　　　　　
http://www1.kcn.ne.jp/~yosikatu/index.html


. . . CLICK here for Photos from Kunisaki !


the Magaibutsu in Usuki 臼杵磨崖仏, Kunisaki
. . . CLICK here for Photos !


Gohyaku Rakan 五百羅漢　The 500 Arhats from Kunisaki
Twenty long years were spent by a mason from Hiji-machi Town in carving this. It was done at the order of the 15th chief priest during the latter half of the Edo period. 538 bodies stand close to one another on a slanting surface.
江戸後半にできた538体の羅漢さんです。
. . . CLICK here for Photos !


Stone Buddhas from Kunisaki in Oita prefecture
大分県
Oita has a wealth of Buddhist figures carved into mountainsides and sculpted from stone. The group of 75 figures in the mountainside in the area of Usuki City (the Usuki Magaibutsu) is a National Treasure. The immense Kumano figures (Kumano Magaibutsu at Kitsuki) are also famous, and the 3,770 stone images at the Rakan-ji temple (Nakatsu) attract much attention.

This area was famous for Magaibutsu since the late Heian period. Three medallions of the Kamakura period are visible on the cliff face; they are carved with Sanscrit characters representing Fudo, Comet, and Yakushi. Two additional medallions, now weathered, represent Eclipse and Bishamon. The combination of deities has astronomical and astrological and protective significance, in keeping with the esoteric Buddhist (Tendai) affiliation of the shrine. Buddha figures of various periods are carved near the base of the cliff. 　　　　　　
http://www.art-and-archaeology.com/japan/magaibutsu1.html



- quote
The Kunisaki Peninsular in Oita Prefecture, northern Kyushu, was a major center of Shugendo, the syncretic mountain religion mixing elements of esoteric Buddhism, Daoism, and other forms of mountain "religions". The version practised in Kunisaki was a variant based on Tendai and Hachiman.


Though details differ, most statues of Fudo Myo have him holding a sword in his right hand, a rope in his left, and flames behind.

More glimpses of unfamiliar Japan
- source and more photso : ojisanjake.blogspot.jp


古園磨崖仏（十三仏）Koen Magaibutsu
There is a group of 13 statues, with Dainichi Nyorai in the middle (one of them is Fudo Myo-O:



この大日如来を中心に左右６体づつ、合計１３体並んでおり、１３仏といわれている。向かって右端から、多聞天、隆三世明王 観世音菩薩、普賢菩薩、薬師如来、釈迦如来、中尊が大日如来、弥勒菩薩、阿弥陀如来、文殊菩薩、勢至菩薩、不動明王、増長天と曼陀羅式に彫られている。
ここが臼杵石仏の中心仏である。
- source : sekibutukankocenter.com -


古園石仏群 Koen Sekibutsu
金剛界大日如来坐像を中心に、その左右にそれぞれ如来像2躯、菩薩像2躯、明王像1躯、天部像1躯を配する。尊像構成の意図には諸説あり、金剛界曼荼羅を表したものとする説もある。
- source : wikipedia -


. Jusanbutsu 十三仏 13 Protector Buddhas .



豊後大野 磨崖仏 Bungo Ono Magaibutsu





Fuko-Ji Temple Magaibutsu Cliff-Carved Buddha

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CLICK for enlargement !
source :　facebook

天寧寺 Tennei-Ji
川中不動 Kawanaka Fudo
大分県国東半島 Oitak Kunisaki Hanto
大分県豊後高田市長岩屋



CLICK for enlargement !

- More photos
- source : www.yado.co.jp/kankou/ooita

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Stone Buddhas in Motohakone 　元箱根の石仏

Have a look at this beautiful Jizoo Bosatsu of stone.
. . . CLICK here for Photos !



The Big Yakushi Buddha at the Nihon-ji Temple in Nokogiriyama, Chiba Prefecture. He is 31 meters high. This temple is easily reached from Tokyo by ferryboat from Kurihama to Kanaya and then up the Nokogiri mountain by cablecar.
The whole area with its many stone statues is well worth a daytrip.
千葉県の日本時にも観音様の磨崖仏やこの薬師さまが印象的です。久里浜から金谷のフェリボートで簡単に行けますから、ぜひ見にいってください。
. . . CLICK here for Photos !


. asekaki Fudo 汗かき不動 sweating Fudo .
at Nokogiriyama


Read more details HERE

Magaibutsu, Buddhas carved in Stone Cliffs
Mark Schumacher


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春雨や　確かに見たる　石の精
harusame ya tashika ni mitaru ishi no sei

spring rain -
I really saw this
spirit of the stone
Tr. Gabi Greve

. Murakami Kijoo 村上鬼城 Murakami Kijo .


Read Hugh Bygott about this haiku:
TWENTIETH CENTURY JAPANESE PHILOSOPHICAL HAIKU


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青蔦のがんじがらめに磨崖仏
aotsuta no ganji garame ni magaibutsu

the vine creeper
has completely wrapped it -
cliff Buddha

Shoobu Ayame 菖蒲あや

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Oita Prefecture
Kumano Magaibutsu Fudo Myo-O
This one is about 8 meters high and the largest in Japan.
熊野磨崖仏
胎蔵寺から２５０ｍ登ると、鬱蒼と茂る森の中に、不動明王（８ｍ）と大如来（６．８ｍ）が姿を現します。磨崖仏としては我が国最大級のものといわれています。


© PHOTO :　www.pref.oita.jp





Click thumbnails for more photos !

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Fudo Cliff Statue

at Temple Fuko-Ji (Fukoo-Ji 普光寺), Urasa 浦佐, Niigata pref.
Also a Naked Festival of this temple.


. Tomikawa Magaibutsu 富川磨崖仏 Tomikawa Cliff Buddha .
mimidare Fudo 耳だれ不動 "Fudo with hanging earlobes".

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一山の枯れの中なる磨崖仏
hitoyama no kare no naka naru magaibutsu

in the middle
of this withered mountain forest -
cliff Buddha

Shoobuke Kazuo 正部家一夫
Tr. Gabi Greve


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Iwa no Mi (岩の身) "Body of Rock"
This teaching was made famous by the legendary Miyamoto Musashi.
It describes a warrior who remains calm and imperturbable in all circumstances. There is a famous story regarding this saying. It seems that this saying became very famous in Japan, and naturally people became interesting as to what Musashi actually meant by "Iwa no Mi".

So it happened that one day a lord came to call upon Musashi and inquire what his teaching actually meant?
Musashi immediately summoned one of his deshi, Terao Ryuma Suke, and ordered him to commit seppuka instantly. The deshi instantly dropped to his knees, opened his kimono exposing his midsection, drew out his wakizashi and without hesitation began to thrust the blade into his belly. Musashi rapidly reached down and grasped his student's arm stopping him at the last second from carrying out his command of suicide. Musashi then looked at his quest and replied "This is the body of a rock". The lord took several steps back, bowed several times, and scurried on his way.

Historically, this story is actually recorded in the "Terao Ka Ki" 寺尾家記 the chronicle of the house of Terao.

- Shared by Steve Weiss -
Joys of Japan, July 2012

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. Stones and Daruma san 石とだるまさん 　
Introduction


. Stone Daruma ... my PHOTO ALBUM



Stone Buddhas
石仏 ishibotoke, sekibutsu . . . and HAIKU


Wayside Gods in Stone
道祖神　Doosojin (Doososhin, Dosojin Dososhin)


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- #magaibutsu -
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White Fudo

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Fudo with white eyes , Mejiro Fudo 目白不動
White Fudo, Shiro-Fudo 白不動

shirofudo, shiro fudoo
Mejiro Fudo Tokyo Temple Kinjoo-In 金乗院 Kinjo-In
目白不動「金乗院」　豊島区高田2-12-39


source - tomiaki/goshiki/mejiro


. 関東三十六不動霊場 - Kanto
36 Fudo Temples in Kanto / Bando .
Nr. 14 関東三十六不動霊場十四番札所

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- quote





倶梨伽羅不動庚申 Kurikara sword


hengaku 扁額 temple name plate

- source : http://4travel.jp/travelogue


. hengaku 扁額 temple name plates .

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関東三十六不動霊場十四番札所
神霊山　慈眼寺　金乗寺
寛永年中、三代将軍家光公は、特に当山の本尊断臂不動明王に「目白」の号を贈り、江戸五街道守護の五色不動（青・黄・赤・白・黒）のひとつとし、以後は目白不動明王と称することになった。またそのあたり一帯を目白台と呼ぶ事となった。現存する「目白」の各地名は、いずれも目白不動明王に由来するものである。これ以後、本尊目白不動明王は江戸三不動の第一位、東部五色不動の随一として名高く、江戸の人々の篤い帰依を受けた。爾来現今に至るまで各地より参詣が絶えず、殊に護身、厄除け眼病治療の不動尊として信仰を集めている。

新長谷寺と号していた目白不動堂は金乗院の東1ｋｍ程の高台（文京区関口駒井町）にあり、元禄年中には五代将軍綱吉公とその母桂昌院が深く帰依して堂塔伽藍も壮麗を極めたが、惜しくも太平洋戦争の戦火で全焼した。奇しくも秘仏のまま難を免れた目白不動尊は、北に目白の台地を背負い、南に神田川上水が流れ、西に遥かに富嶽を望む絶好の福地を相応の地とし、滔々と霊泉の涌き出る密教相応の霊地である、ここ金乗院を卜して遷座奉安された。ここに新長谷寺は金乗院に合併し、その本尊・目白不動明王も移されたのである。
http://www.isbs.co.jp/hudou/hudou14.htm

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Mejiro the White Eye, Konjo-in temple

Mejiro Fudo is the greatest of the Five-Color-Edo Fudos. Successive Tycoons of the Edo shogunate worshiped devoutly. Many samurai and people believed in Mejiro Fudo.
The statue of the Mejiro Fudo is an important and special Buddist image. Its left arm is cut under its left elbow. Fire spurts out from the elbow.

The statue of Mejiro Fudo was moved from Sekiguchi Bunkyo-ku to Konjo-in temple because of fire by World War II on May, 1945.
http://shrike-tramway.hp.infoseek.co.jp/photograph_palace/photo_24_tenchi_english.htm

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Mejiro Fudo Gansho Temple Osaka

The temple is known for having been built by its worshippers. The principal image was directly and elaborately carved out of an 800-year-old camphor tree. The precincts are also known for beautiful ume (Japanese apricot) blossoms.



Copyright (c) Tondabayashi city
http://www.city.tondabayashi.osaka.jp/foreign/culture/index.html

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The Red Inkstone Akama

Origin of the name
There is a story of the god, Mejiro Fudo Myo-o, who is enshrined at the old Seian-ji Temple in Sanyo-cho, Asa-gun, Yamaguchi prefecture. In this story Myo-o visited a man named Nizaemon, who lived in Ohko Sanyo-chohara, in his dream.
Myo-oh appeared and told him that there was suzuri somewhere.

He made a suzuri out of that suzuri and gave it to the domain lord Mori and given a authority to sell it to other countries. Because this rock (shale) contains iron oxide and it makes the stone color redder than normal ones.
This is why it is called "Akamaishi-red stone" and therfore, inc slab is called "Akama Suzuri- red ink-slab." One of other versions of story says it is called "Akama Suzuri", because they were mainly sold at Akamagaseki in Shimonoseki.

More about Kusunoki Town Outside Link.

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White Fudo Statue at Takamizu San
浪切白不動明王

http://homepage3.nifty.com/takamizusan-sisimai/takamizusan-engi.html

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Temple Kongoo-Ji , Aome, Tokyo
真言宗豊山派　青梅山　金剛寺
東京都青梅市,　天ヶ瀬町１０３２

本尊　：　白不動明王
http://www.hananotera.or.jp/a_kongouji.htm

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This is a Picture Of A Contemporary White Fudo Myo'o



During my Karate days we use to sit in a Karate stance called the Fudo dachi (immovable stance) call the Fudo Dachi. The White image of Fudo Myo' O is adopted by many martial arts and Karate schools.
During my study of karate we learned of the Buddhist God Fudo myo'o. However never in my years as a Nichiren Shoshu Buddhist did I realize that this deity was written on the Gohonzon.

Please understand that White Martial arts schools transform this deity to their culture however the minute an African or African/American claim or associate with this deity we are called racist. People often say what difference does it make? By my personally looking at the traditional Black Fudo Myo'o and the White one I get a different spirit.

This White Fudo myo'o reminds me of the wrestler and now Governor of Minnesota Jesse "The Body" Ventura. There is nothing wrong with a White Fudo Myo'o but the minute you say that he is white, then we are called racist. http://www.proudblackbuddhist.org/There_are_Two_Black_Buddhas_on/Untitled_6.html


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made from 尾州桧材　Owari Hinoki pine wood
With a Garuda bird in the halo. 迦楼羅の火焔光背
Katsura Taniguchi, Kyoto 京仏商谷口
京都府京都市西京区桂下豆田町22-3　
- source : www.katsura-taniguchi.net


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Black-eyed Fudo
O-Fudo-Sama in Japan: Meguro Fudo Temple

Black Fudo 黒不動明王


White (shiroi) Haiku and the Color WHITE

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. 関東三十六不動霊場 - Kanto
36 Fudo Temples in Kanto / Bando .

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Mudra of Fudo

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Mudra, Mudrā of Fudo Myo-O
(hand gestures, postures, emblems)



不動明王印 Fudo Myo-O no In

More about the hand positions and gestures of Buddha statues.

Daruma Mudra




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- quote -


I came across another unusual Fudo Myo. This statue is at the base of the steps leading up to Ryuzoji, and as you can see he has absolutely nothing in either hand. His hands appear to be in a mudra, which are the hand positions that Buddhas and other Buddhist deities use, often to indicate the nature of the particular figure. Mudras are also used as a meditation technique. ...
- source : Jake Ojisan -


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There are 14 mudra signs attributed to Fudo Myo-O in various Sutras :

01 needle sign, one-legged sign, mystic mudra
02 treasure mountain mudra
03 head mudra
04 eye mudra
05 mouth mudra

06 mind symbol
07 back manual sign, shiso kaji in　印
08 shishi funjin sign (a lion at bay) 分身不動
09 fire-flame manual sign
10 kaen rinshi manual sign, cessation of fire

11 sankha manual sign
12 khadga sword manual sign, removes disaster
13 noose manual sign
14 three-legged diamond manual sign

- Reference : Sampa Biswas -


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- #fudomudra #mudrafudo -
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Kujaku Myo-O

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Peacock Wisdom King 孔雀明王 Kujaku Myo-O
梵語名:マハーマーユーリー
Skt. Mahamayuri

Mahamayuri vidyarajni : The peacock goddess of wisdom
In his female aspect also defined as : Kujaku Bosatsu

Wards off evil from poisoning or calamity; prayed to in times of drought, poisoning, and disaster; rides a peacock (in India, the peacock is famous for eating poisonous snakes); one face, four arms.
Mark Schumacher on Kujaku Myo-O


Peacock Myo'o (Mayura Vidyaraja)
This work depicts an unusual form of a Myo'o (Vidyaraja), descending from Heaven on a peacock accompanied by clouds. This figure, with its three faces and six arms, differs from the Japanese style Kujaku Myo'o (Mayura Vidyaraja), which usually has one face and four arms. In contrast to the central face, which suggests a merciful disposition, the side faces appear fierce.

孔雀明王 Kujaku Myo-O
. Kyoto National Museum .

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くじゃくみょうおう
仏教のうちでも神秘性を重んじる密教（みっきょう）という宗派で信仰されたホトケさまの絵には、ふだん見慣れない不思議な絵があります。鳥の上にすわっていたり、ライオンの冠をかぶっていたり、火炎を背負っていたり。手の数も二本ではなく、何本もあったりします。なかでも「明王（みょうおう）」という怒りの表情をとるホトケの一群は、密教特有のものでした。



孔雀明王像　＜安楽寿院＞

孔雀明王 Kujaku Myo-O
. Kyoto National Museum .

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More about Rain Rituals (amagoi, kiu あまごい 祈雨)　

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Kujaku (Mahaa Mayuuri)

Der "Pfauen-Myoo-oo".

Hat als einziger Myo-O einen milden, barmherzigen Gesichtsausdruck und eine Figur wie ein weiblicher Bosatsu. In alten Schriften auch "Makamayuri" genannt.

Sutra: Butsumo Daikujaku Myo-O Kyoo.

Neutralisiert Schlangengift (Pfau frißt Giftpflanzen, giftige Tiere und Giftschlangen); heilt auch Fieber und Schmerzen und die Unsicherheit des Herzens. Schützt vor Naturkatastrophen.

In Japan als Gottheit für Regenzauber (kiu) verehrt.

Dieser Myo-O ist der älteste von allen Myo-O-Gottheiten. Die älteste Statue in Japan (Nara-Zeit) findet sich in der Goldenen Halle im Tempel Saidaiji in Nara.

Ikonografie:
Ein freundliches Gesicht, vier Arme. Keine flammenartigen Haare sondern Hohe Krone. Hält geöffnete Lotusblüte, Granatapfel, Buddha-Frucht sowie fünfschweifige Pfauenfeder in den Händen.
Reitet auf einem Lotussockel auf einem Pfau mit einem Nimbus aus Pfauenfedern.

Quoted from my book
Buddhastatuen - Who is Who

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................... HAIKU 俳句



a white peacock
under cherry blossoms -
visiting the zoo

© Gabi Greve

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in a spring breeze
spreading his tail
peacock

(harukaze ni / hane hirogetaru / kujaku kana)

Masaoka Shiki

Read a discussion about translating this haiku:
Peacock, Kujaku Haiku

ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo

monsoon clouds array
on the car front glass ~
a peacock's loud cry

Narayanan Raghunathan, India


New crop waves
Walks like a peacock
Village damsel

(Punjabi, Satyanand Jaya)
http://www.lifepositive.com/Mind/arts/new-age-fiction/satori.asp

ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo

PEACOCK Haiku Club, Kenya

ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo

Around here (Chesapeake Bay, USA), the peacocks spreading their tales would be an early summer kigo, as that is the mating season. Take this from me, who was once a zookeeper and has shoveled quite a lot of peacock manure!

azure summer
peacocks rattle their tail feathers
peahens ignore them

Peacocks not only spread their tales, but they shiver, which causes the tail feathers to rattle. The rattle of the feathers is a distinctive sound and is part of the mating ritual -- the peacocks are trying to attract attention. Most of the time the hens don't seem very interested. Nonetheless, the cocks must be successful because a few weeks later there will be scores of nests with eggs, and then the chicks hatch. Each hen will lay 3 - 12 eggs most of which will live.
Then the hens will parade with their chicks in a line.

I stop abruptly,
too much traffic!
a peahen with seven chicks.

There must have been a hundred or more of the peafowl. What an amazing sight to see them roosting in the oak trees, strolling the paths, and everywhere! Peafowl do not fly, but they jump and glide and in this manner can get quite high up in the trees. The largest of the cocks must have been around thirty pounds, and I occasionally saw him up a tree. They almost never hurry, even when they are getting a running start to jump and glide. I have seen them stroll up to a fence then suddenly leap five feet up.

blue, green and silver,
trees full of living jewels--
a flock of wild peacocks

The peafowl flock is the descendants of a pair that were bought as living lawn ornaments back in the 50s. The zoo was a farm then. The peafowl found it to their liking and have multiple and naturalized. People might think it strange that these 'tropical' birds survive our winters, but the peacock is really nothing more than the Asian turkey. Biologically they are very closely related to the North American wild turkey, eating the same foods and suffering from the same disorders.

Unaware that they
are living lawn ornaments,
peacocks stroll the grounds.

Among Native Nations in this area, the tail feathers of the wild turkey were (and still are) used to make feather cloaks. The feather cloak is the badge of office for a Lenape chief, and having seen a chief in his cloak, I can assure you, such a cloak is an extraordinarily beautiful thing! The duties of a Native chief are those of leadership, protection, and compassion for his people, so I see a parallel with the myoo.

December morning,
wild peacocks roosting
among the oak trees.

M. Kei
Editor of the Chesapeake Bay Saijiki, USA

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Peacock　and apple blossoms
Bairei Kono (1844-1895)


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..................More Peacock KIGO

peacock butterfly, kujakuchoo　孔雀蝶
Kigo for all spring

peacock flies, fruit flies, kujakubae, shoojoobae 孔雀蝿,ショウジョウバエ
Kigo for all summer


Marigold, (Peacock plant) kujakusoo　孔雀草
harushagiku 波斯菊（はるしゃぎく）"Persian chrysanthemum"
janomesoo 蛇の目草（じゃのめそう）"snake eye plant"
koo oo soo 紅黄草（こうおうそう）
manjugiku 万寿菊（まんじゅぎく）"long live chrysanthemum"
marigoorudo マリーゴールド Marigold, Tagetes

kigo for late summer


. Marigold garlands in India .


. - The Six Birds of Paradise - 浄土の鳥 - .


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