Ryuzenji Temple 107 Kyushu Pilgrimage

 

Ryuzenji Temple is located in an urban area of Itoshima, the area to the southwest of Fukuoka City that was very powerful politically in prehistoric Japan.

It is a fairly recent temple being founded in the late 1950's, though I can find no information other than that.

The honzon is a Shogun Jizo which seems to be a medieval Japanese version of the bodhisatvva.

It has a strong connection to Mount Atago near Kyoto and is often depicted riding a boar. Perhaps the most well-known one is the one carved by Kobo Daishi himself, the honzon of temple 5 on the Shikoku Pilgrimage, Jizoji Temple.

The new stone Nio guarding the driveway are of the now common style. Im guessing cut from the same data by computer as the other identical copies.

There are several statues around the grounds including a set of six Jizo and the almost obligatory standing Kobo Daishi.

There were a couple of Fudo statues, always nice to see.

As well there is a small rocky area with a water source for ascetic purification under cold water.

Such sites are normally found in the mountains with real waterfalls and are especially connected to yamabushi and Shugendo..

A statue of Fudo and also Kurikara, his sword wrapped with a dragon, are commonly found at such places.

This was my first stop on day 75 of my 77 day walk around Kyushu on the Shingon Kyushu 108 temple pilgrimage. The previous temple was Shinkoin, temple 106.