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| Location: |
Kawai,Muraoka-ku,Kami-cho,Mikata-gun,Hyogo-ken,Japan 667-1366 |
| Phone: |
0796-95-1270 |
| Denomination: |
Koyasan Singon Buddhism |
| Chief
Dicty/Honzon: |
Yakushi-nyorai(Medicine Buddha) Bhaisajya-guru in
Sanskrit |
| Legend: |
The Chorakuji Temple was founded by Gyoki(668-749 A.D.) in the 7th century.He
carved the Honzon Yakushi in wood and named here the Temple "Yakushiji".
Later Kobo-Daishi Kukai, the founder of Japanese Buddhism, came here to
consecrate the temple in early of the 9th century. In 1541, the temple's
building and shrines were ruined and lost by floods and mud slides. In
1543, restored and changed its name to the present "Chorakuji".
In 1671 and 1912 many shrines, halls, and buildings were burned down and
lost by fires. In 1919 , most of the temple's building structures such
as shrines, halls, and living quarters in precinct(Keidai) were restored
and rebuilt under the direction of two distinguished priests, Rev. Bokusho
Kanayama and Rev. Chito Kawai, and the indefatigable efforts of local temple
members. In 1986, Mr. & Mrs. Kiyoshi Tada, pious Buddhists and owner
of the Sogo Taxi Co.LTD., pledged the donation to the Temple by Installing
three golden Buddhas, a tower, tower, and shrines in memory of their passed
family. Their son, Mr. Seiichi Tada took over his parents's will and mission
of dedicating the deities, shrines, and temple buildings, and concluded
his mission and project in 1993 after spending three Years and seven months,
consuming 22,500,000,000 yen (twenty-five billion U.S.dollars) In spring
of 1994, the historical dedication ceremony of the Three Golden Buddhas(Amitabha,
Sakyamuni, and Bhaisajya-guru)was Performed here at the Temple. |
| Remarks: |
The newly dedicated buildings or shrines are: Daimon(Gate),
Kairo (Corridor), Daibutsu-den(Grand Shrine), Goju-no-toh(a
Five Storied Tower), Benten-do Shrine, a belfry, and
Yakushi Shrine. |
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①DAIMON (Big Gate)
A newly dodicated gate of the Temple designed in the traditional
style of "Iri-moya-thukuri" was constrcted with
the finest technology of modern day architectures. The newly
designed 'Daimon' consists of copper bricks roof and folded
wooden structures called 'tokyo' of Japanese cypress(hinoki).
The traditional gate, Daimon, leads us to an entrance of the
main shrine through a corridor where the three golden Buddhas
are enshrined.
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②KAIRO (Corridor)
A gate way to a main shrine or grand shrine is called 'Kairo'
in Japanese.The newly built corridor is made of Taiwan cypress
tree and keyaki(zelkova). Each huge pillar protect visitors
from stormy weather and proceed to Daibutsu-den directly. |
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③GRAND SHRINE DAIBUTU
DEN (Main Shrine)
It is the main building of the Temple and called "Daibutsu-den"
in Japanese. This is the place where the three major Buddhas
are enshrined. They are the tallest wooden Buddhas in the
world measuring approximately fifty-one feet in height. The
Grand Shrine measures 21,660 square feet and 132 feet tall.
It is a replica of the grand shrine of Todaiji Temple in Nara
expressing the elegant beauty of ancient Buddhist art in the
8th century of Japan. Inside the building, there are a thousand
Buddhas and Bodhisattvas ensheined and displayed against the
walls. The Three Golden Buddhas, which are the main features
of this temple, are placed at a main altar of the Shrine with
the lotus petal scats. They are known as Amitabha (Amida)
at left, Sakayamuni (Shaka) at center, and Bhaisajya-guru
(Yakushi)at right.
A. AMIDA BUDDHA
at left measures fifty-one and four inches tall and is termed
'Amida-nyorai' in the Buddhist art referring to Amitabha Tathagta
in the Sanskrit term. The Amida Buddha has shown us symbolically
the way of salvation with the light of great love and compassion
through the mudra of meditation (Jo-in).
B.
SAKYAMUNI BUDDHA
scated in the center, which is the tallest one of Three Buddhas,
moasures fifty-three feet and two inches in height, has shown
us the way of onlightenment-libration from transgression in
rebirth-through the mudra of no-fear (Semui). THe Buddha is
referred to as the founder of Buddhism in India and is often
referred to as 'Enlightened One'
C. YAKUSHI
BUDDHA
seating at right measures fifty-one feet and four inches tall
and is called populalarly 'Medicine Buddha' for dispersing
the illness or sickness of people.This deity is named "Bhaisajya-guru"
in Sanskrit term which means literally the master of medicine.The
Buddha holds a medicine pot in his left hand and shows the
mudra of delivering an absence of fear (Semui). He surely
does dispense healing medicines to cure illnesses.
These gorgeous and huge golden Buddhas are made of wood packed
with gold and roferred to as "Tajima-Daibutu"(the
Big Buddhas of Tajima County) by local people. This historicical
work and project was mainly done in Beijin,China by Chinese
sculptors and artists consuming more than three years. According
to the records of the project, one million three hundred twenty
thousand (1,320,000) gold picces were used for painting and
coating the statues. Approximately fifty-five thousand (55,000)
people worked for it in mainland of China. The total cost
of the project for the Chorakuji Temple is estimated to as
twenty-five billion U.S.dollars. The Shrines and Golden Buddhas
were installed in 1993 and dedicated here in spring of 1994
in honor of the donor Mr.& Mrs.Kiyoshi Tada and the Sogo
Rcaltor Co.LTD.
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④GOJU-NO-TOH ( A FIVE STORIED TOWER)
A two hundred thiry-one feet tall pagoda is located at the
south of the Grand Shrine (Daibutsu den). It is the sccond
highest five story tower in Japan. There are fifty-one deities
and Buddhas enshrined in the Tower including Amida, Sakyamuni,
and Yakushi Buddhas at the highest floor (5th story) of the
pagoda. These artistic statucs are made of gold, wood, marble,
and limcstone, and displayed at each floor of the Tower. Don't
miss the panoramic view of the beautiful Tajima mountains,
Yata Creek, a belfry, and overgreen trees surrounding the
Temple. From each floor of the Tower the visitors can see
a splended exotic scenery of Japanese nature and can be fascinated
with the nature and religion of an unknown country in Far
East. |
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⑤BENTEN-DO (Shrine of
the Guardian Sarasvati)
A heaventy deity and guardian for business growth is called
"Benten" in Japanese and refers to the Hindu deity
Sarasvati. The Shrine of Benten is located inside the pond
of temple yerd. The female face deity extremely loves water
and likcs to play the music with an oricntal guitar. She is
especially worshipped here by farmers and restaurant owners
in purpose of the fertilty. |
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⑥YAKUSHI SHRINE
Yakushi-do, enshrining the traditional Honzon Medicine Buddha
(Yakushi) carved by Gyogi in the 8th century, is located in
north side of the Temple. The Buddha'Yakushi' has been preserved
here without domages through the ages, and is considered to
be the secret Buddha(hibusu), whici is not shown to the public
except once every seven years. The Deity Yakushi loves to
dispense healing medicines and disperse the illnesses of people. |
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