The Okunoin on Mount Wakasugi

The Okunoin on Mount Wakasugi is in a cave just below the summit. It is here that Kukai, later known as Kobo daishi, practised austerities on his return from China.

Considering its remote location, a surprising number of people make the climb, though I suspect most have parked their cars at the Kannon-do just below.

there were many statues around the area including a Fudo Myo (it was Kukai who introduced this deity into Japan) and a Kurikara, the dragon sword of Fudo.

The Okunoin is on the south side of the peak and so all the snow had melted, but just above there was still snow...

Kitayama Shrine, Mount Wakasugi

Located right on top of Mount Wakasugi at about 660 meters above sea level, the maps and many people call it Kitayama Shrine, but it is really the Upper Taiso-gu shrine. The lower Taiso-gu I stopped in at on my way up the mountain.

Not surprisingly it seems to have the same set of kami enshrined as at the lower shrine, the main one being Izanagi, along with Amaterasu, and Hachiman.

All around the shrine are Buddhist statues and shrines as the Okunoin where Kukai supposedly practised austerities is in a cave just below the shrine. It was usually Buddhists or Yamabushi who established shrines on mountaintops like this.

There is a large, white statue of the mythical Jingu, mother of Ojin, and a curious statue of Daikoku with an extreme smile....

Wakasugi Kannon-do

Climbing higher on Mount Wakasugi after Kongochoin, I was surprised to find a newish temple though there was none marked on the map.

It is no longer a temple, being the site of the former Wakasugi Kannon-do. Now it is just an ossuary, a repository for bones.

The Kannon-do must have been quite old as it housed a 12th Century statues that is now in the Kyushu History Museum.

There was a small Fudo-do and lots of statues including yet more Fudo Myo's.

From here the trail heads up to the top of the mountain to the Okunoin where Kukai practised austerities.

Kyushu 108 Pilgrimage Temple 89 Kongochoin

Kongochoin is temple number 89 on the Shingon Kyushu Pilgrimage. It is not far from Temple 9, Myooin, just a little bit higher up Mount Wakasugi. Like Myooin it has a lot of Fudo Myo statues that I posted recently.

According to the legend Kobo Daishi visited the mountain in 806 on his return from China.

Apparently it was quite a large temple complex that at its peak had 108 monks residing here.

In 1347 the whole conplex was destroyed during a battle. The current. much smaller buildings date from 1942

The honzon (main enshrined deity) is a seated Dainichi Nyorai, Great Sun Buddha.

There is also a Kannon Hall and an Awashima Shrine.

Fudo Myo at Kongochoin

A little higher up Mount Wakasugi from Myo-oin is Kongochoin, temple 89 on the Kyushu Pilgrimage.

Like Myo-oin there are a lot of Fudo Myo statues here, many quite primitive and therfore in a way more expressive.

There was also a small man-made waterfall for ascetic use and this also had numerous Fudos around it.

I seem to be on a Fudo Myo binge right now but to a certain extent that is just because of the way I am slowly working through my backlog of photos....

The Views From Mount Wakasugi

Mount Wakasugi rises to 681 meters in height to the east of Fukuoka. Climbing from the north side views over Sasaguri become visible at various breaks in the trees.

A little higher and the town of Hisayama comes into view.

Higher still and the bay and Shikanoshima can be seen.

Close to the top and the urban sprawl of southern Fukuoka City lies spread out.

From the top you can see all the way to the Fukuoka Tower and Fukuoka Dome with the mountains north of Itoshima behind.