古都鎌倉の寺社巡り（その2－建長寺と半僧坊） Visiting temples and shrines in the ancient capital of Kamakura (Part2 Kenchoji and Hansobod )(October 31, 2022-No.41）
古都鎌倉の寺社巡り（その2－建長寺と半僧坊） Visiting temples and shrines in the ancient capital of Kamakura (Part 2 Kenchoji and Hansobo)(October 31, 2022-No.41）
１．Kenchoji
Kenchoji（建長寺） is a Zen Buddhist temple founded by Hojo Tokiyori（北条時頼 1227‐1263）, the fifth regent of the Kamakura Shogunate, and a memorial service（落慶供養） was held in 1253. The founder (the first chief priest) was Rankei Doryu (Daikaku Zenji)（蘭渓道隆 大覚禅師 1213‐1278）, a visiting monk from the Southern Song dynasty. In Japan at that time, after the Jokyu Disturbance （承久の乱 1221）, the power base of the Hojo clan was stable. It was a time when the power of the Imperial Court in Kyoto to control the whole country had weakened, and politically Kamakura had become the de facto capital of Japan. Hojo Tokiyori was a devout Buddhist and deeply devoted to the Zen sect.
The founder, Rankei Doryu, was a Zen monk from the late Song dynasty in China, who came to Japan in 1246 at the age of 33. He first arrived in Hakata, Chikuzen Province（筑前国博多）, and after temporarily living in Kyoto, entered Kamakura in 1248. He lived in Joraku-ji Temple (常楽寺 now in Ofuna, Kamakura City) until Kencho-ji Temple was built. At that time, Japan already had Zen temples such as Kennin-ji Temple (建仁寺 Kyoto) and Jufuku-ji Temple (寿福寺 Kamakura), which were built more than half a century ago, but at that time these temples were both Zen and other sects. As a pure Zen dojo（禅道場 Zen training hall）, Kencho-ji Temple is said to be the second oldest after Shofuku-ji Temple（聖福寺 kyusyu）. The layout of the temple is Chinese style, and Chinese is said to have been used on a daily basis within the temple. Rankei Doryu's Zen style was a strict one inherited from the pure Zen of the Song dynasty in China.
the approach to the main gate(Sanmon 山門）. A huge pebble（さざれ石） is placed.
the main gate(Sanmon 山門）. ーSince many temples were built on mountains, the gate built in front of the temple was called Sanmon.
behind Sanmon gate
This bonsho（梵鐘） is a hanging bell used as a Buddhist ritual implement in temples in East Asia. This is designated as a national treasure.
Bustuden（仏殿）. Butsuden is a building in a Buddhist temple where Buddha statues are enshrined and worship services are held.
Hatto（法堂）. Hatto is a building in a Buddhist temple where monks give lectures on Buddhism. 'Hodo' is mainly used in Zen temples, and is called Kodo（講堂） in other sects.
A replica of the statue of Shaka asceticism（釈迦苦行像） exhibited at the 2005 Aichi Expo held in the Lahore Central Museum in Lahore, Pakistan（パキスタンのラホール中央博物館） was donated by Pakistan after the Aichi Expo and was enshrined. The seated statue of Senju Kannon（千手観音坐像）, the principal image of worship, is enshrined in the back.
Karamon Gate（唐門）. the Chinese-style gate
behind Karamon Gate
２．Hansobo
Hansobo（半僧坊） is the guardian deity of Kenchoji Temple, which is located halfway up the mountain in the innermost part of the precincts. Hansobo Gongen, enshrined here, is said to be beneficial in warding off fire and bringing good fortune.
In 1890 (Meiji 23), Hansobo Gongen（半僧坊権現） was entrusted by the chief priest at that time from Mt. Akiba Hokoji Temple（方広寺）in Shizuoka Prefecture.
According to legend, Hanzobo Gongen was a white-haired old man who suddenly appeared before Emperor Godaigo's Prince Mumon Gensen Zenji（無文元選禅師） (founder of Hoko-ji Temple mentioned above) and forced him to become his disciple. And when Mumon Zenji died, the old man also disappeared.
It was during the Meiji era that the Hansobo faith spread throughout Japan. When Hoko-ji Temple caught fire, the grave of Mumon Zenji and 'Hansobo', the guardian deity of Hoko-ji Temple, were spared from the fire, and the reputation that this was due to the mighty virtue of Hansobo spread. .
On the stone steps leading up to Hansobo, there are 12 large and small tengu（天狗） statues.
Tengu is a legendary creature that appears in Japanese folklore and is said to be a god or a monster. They are generally dressed as Yamabushi（山伏）, have a red face, a high nose, wings, and are said to fly in the air. It is commonly regarded as a monster that leads people to the path of witchcraft.
Yamabushi refers to practitioners of Shugendo（修験道） who train in the mountains. Shugendo is an ancient Japanese mountain worship that aims to attain enlightenment through rigorous training in the mountains. It is also a religion unique to Japan that was incorporated into Buddhism.
12 large and small tengu（天狗） statues.
From the observatory in front of Hansobo, you can see Kamakura city and Sagami Bay, and you can see Mt. Fuji from the Fujimidai on the left. On this day, Mt.Fuji could be seen faintly.
