Ryūkō-ji (Uwajima)

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Main hall
Plan of the temple (see text)

The Ryūkō-ji ( Japanese 龍 光寺 ), with the Go Inarizan (稲 荷 山) and Gokokuin (護 国 院), in the northeastern Mima (三 間) district of Uwajima ( Ehime Prefecture ), is a temple of the Omuro branch (御 室 派) ) of Shingon Buddhism . In the traditional count it is the 41st temple on the Shikoku pilgrimage route .

history

The temple, which the local residents also call the “Honorable Inari Shrine of Mima” (三 間 の お 稲 荷 さ ん), shows a close connection between Buddhism and Shintoism to this day. When priest Kūkai visited this area in 807, he met a white-haired old man who had shouldered a bundle of rice. He said he lived in this area and hoped for Buddhism for the good of the people, and disappeared. Kūkai realized that this old man was an apparition of the holy Gokoku daimyōjin (五穀 大 明 神). He then made a figure of Inari Myōjin and set it up in a building. He also made a statue of the eleven-faced Kannon and the figures of St. Fudō ((動 明) and the Bishamon-th (毘 沙門 天) as a companion. He called the temple "Inarisan Ryūkōji" (稲 荷 山 龍 光寺).

After the Meiji Restoration in 1868, there was a reorganization under the instruction to suppress Buddhism and promote Shintoism (廃 仏 毀 釈 令, Haibutsu kishaku rei): the old main hall became the Inari shrine, the Buddhist saints were placed in a new main hall.

investment

At the far end of the temple grounds, a long staircase leads to the main hall (本 堂, Hondō; 1) and to the right of it towards the hall, which is dedicated to the temple founder, to the Daishidō (大師 堂; 2). In the main hall, an approximately 10 cm large black stone is venerated as the dragon's eye. Another staircase between these buildings leads to the Inari shrine (稲 荷 神社, Inari jinja; 3), in front of which there is a red torii .

photos

  • Torii in front of the temple

  • Overview

  • Stairs to the temple

  • Daishidō

literature

  • Ehime-ken kotogakko chireki komin bukai rekishi bukai (Ed.): Ryūkō-ji . In: Ehime-ken no rekishi sampo. Yamakawa Shuppan, 2008. ISBN 978-4-634-24638-6 . Page 222, 223.
  • Oguri, Doei: Kukai. Shikoku hachijuhachi kosho no arukikata. Chukei no Bunko, 2011, ISBN 978-4-8061-4067-2 .

Web links

Commons : Ryūkō-ji  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Coordinates: 33 ° 17 ′ 42.7 "  N , 132 ° 35 ′ 54.6"  E

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