成田山新勝寺・不動明王・初詣（Narita-san Shinsho-ji・Fudo Myōō・Hatsu-mode）(Tuesday, January 3, 2023-No.48）

成田山新勝寺・不動明王・初詣（Narita-san Shinsho-ji・Fudo Myōō・Hatsu-mode）(Tuesday, January 3, 2023-No.48）

The main hall is crowded with Hastu-mode worshippers.

The Great Pagoda of Peace（平和の大塔）, built in 1984 (Showa 59), is a tower that symbolizes the teachings of Shingon Esoteric Buddhism. The total height is 58m, and the first floor has the entrance to the large tower, the history exhibition of Naritasan Mountain, and various reception desks of the Sutra Dojo. In the Myōōō -den Hall on the second floor, Fudo Myōōō, principal object of worship at this Hall, the Four Great Myōōō, the Showa Great Mandala（Buddhist visual schema of the enlightened mind）, and the Shingon Master Chart are dedicated.

Within the precincts of Naritasan there is a vast park that covers about 3.5 times (165,000 m²) of Tokyo Dome. The park incorporates the Buddhist idea of respecting the life of all living beings, and is a place to nurture precious life that represents non-killing.

Narita-san Shinsho-ji（成田山新勝寺）
Naritasan Shinsho-ji Temple is a Buddhist temple of the Shingon sect Chizan school （真言宗智山派）located in Narita, Narita City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan and is one of the main temples of the school. Its honorific mountain prefix（山号）is Narita Mountain. The main statue is Fudo Myōō（不動明王）, and this temple is a major center of Fudo Myōō worship. For this reason, it has been widely known by common names such as Narita Fudo and Ofudo-sama. It is said that the mountain was opened in the middle of the Heian period in the 3rd year of Tenkei (or Tengyo 天慶 940).

This temple is one of the best in the Kanto region in terms of the number of worshippers.
The number of Hatsu-mode（the first visit to the shrine or the temple in the year）visitors is the second largest in Japan (first in Chiba Prefecture) after Meiji Jingu Shrine（明治神宮）, and the first largest number of visitors to temples in Japan. It is also known that many people come here to pray for blessings both now and in the past. Due to its proximity to Narita International Airport, it is also popular with foreign tourists.

Hatsu-mode（初詣）とEho Mairi（恵方詣り）

Hatsu-mode is an event in which people visit shrines and temples for the first time since the beginning of the year. People give thanks for the year and pray for safety and peace in the New Year.

In the Kanto region, the opening of the Tokaido Line in 1872 (Meiji 5) made it easier to access Kawasaki Daishi（川崎大師）, which had been a worship for a long time. Until then, New Year's pilgrimage by Tokyo (Edo) citizens was limited to the city, but famous shrines and temples in the suburbs came to be regarded as the target of New Year's Eho Mairi（恵方詣り）. In addition, New Year's pilgrimages to the suburbs were also held as vacations. It is said that the word "Hatsu-mode"（初詣）appeared to refer to the New Year's pilgrimage to Kawasaki Daishi, which had nothing to do with the previous Eho visit or the festival day (Hatsu-daishi on the 21st) （21日の初大師）, and the article in "Yorozu-chyoho" of 1885 (Meiji 18) is introduced as the first appearance. With the development of the railway network, access to suburban and distant shrines and temples such as Narita-san Shinsho-ji Temple has become easier, and Railway companies such as Keisei Electric Railway, Keihin Kyuko Electric Railway, Narita Railway(Current: JR Narita Line)that were opened for the purpose of transporting worshippers also appeared. Competing railway companies (including the Japanese National Railways) engaged in advertising battles and service competitions to attract New Year's visitors. Initially, the convenience of "Eho" to famous shrines and temples by railway was pushed out, but the word "Hatsu-mode" came to be used often for Eho, which changed from year to year, and after the Taisho era, "Hatsu-mode" came to be used mainly.

Generally speaking, the first visit is the third day of the New Year, but there is also the idea that the first visit is made in January. In addition, there is no regulation on the number of times. There is also a theory that visiting a large number of shrines and temples will bring various benefits, in which case there is no particular question of shrines and temples.

Eho Mairi is one of the ancient New Year's events. On January 1 (New Year's Day), visit the shrine and temple in Eho of that year and pray for happiness for the year. Eho is the direction in which Toshitoku-jin（歳徳神） reigns, and changes every year according to the 10 zodiac seasons. It is a practice that is not often seen today. The god of the year is the god of the yin-yang path（陰陽道）and the good fortune of the year.

Fudo Myōō（不動明王）
Myōō is a Buddha who protects the Dharma and saves people from misfortune and confusion. Among them, it is Fudo Myōō（不動明王）who is called "Ofudo-sama" and gathers faith widely. The figure of Ofudo-sama stands out bravely to save the unsalvageable who are covered in disturbing emotions and to cut off the evil hearts that hinder the Buddhist path. His expression is very severe, but he has long been worshipped as a Buddha who has mercy on people.

On both sides of the statue of Fudo Myōō, there are wakiji (脇侍) of Kongara Doji(矜羯羅童子) and Seitaka Doji (制咜迦童子), and they are often enshrined as the Three Deities.

Buddha with an unwavering heart and protection of people
As the name suggests, Mr. Fudo has a firm heart that is "immovable" and "unshakable," and lives in the Banjakuza（盤石座；a stone seat that never moves）, which represents this.

In ancient India, the birthplace of Buddhism, it is called "Acharanata（「アチャラナータ」）", which also means "immovable guardian". Ofudo-sama is a Buddha who protects and accompanies those who are well religious and devoted.

The fact that Ofudo-sama carries a flame on his back shows that he lives in the spirit of fire which burns all disturbing beings into flames throughout the body.

Ofudo-sama's vow is to cut off the ignorance that is the cause of human troubles and to bring true happiness, and it is said that if our sincerity is understood, any wish will surely be fulfilled.

With an angry expression, Ofudo-sama tries to save everyone.
(1) In his right hand he holds a sword that cuts off all hesitations in his heart.
(2) In his left hand, he holds a rope called Kenzaku（羂索） that leads things in the right direction.
(3) The large rock on which Fudo sits represents the firm will of God.
(4) Ofudo-sama carries a flame that burns all obstacles.