Unzen’s Buddhist Heritage: The Koyasan of Western Japan 雲仙に残る仏教の遺産：西日本の高野山

Official explanation

The history of Unzen’s relationship with Buddhism began in the year 701, when the Buddhist monk Gyoki started a temple here, and named the mountain Unzen, using the characters for hot spring, usually read as “onsen.” As a sacred mountain, it was off-limits to women, but the area flourished as a place of worship and a center for ascetic training by followers of Esoteric Buddhism. It became known as the “Koyasan” of western Japan, in reference to the famous monastic center in Wakayama. Manmyoji Temple, the one Gyoki began in Unzen so many years ago, is just off the town square. Inside the simple exterior is an impressive five-meter-tall wooden statue of a sitting Buddha built in 1914. It was repaired in 1960 and covered with five layers of pure gold leaf. If five layers seem an extravagance, it’s a necessity in Unzen, as like so many things in this town of “hells,” gold leaf is susceptible to rust from the sulfuric atmosphere.

A peaceful miniature pilgrimage

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Beyond the temple bell tower is a hidden forest walk that is easily overlooked, but highly recommended. Beginning on the the grounds of the temple is a winding path lined with splendid stone statues of Buddhist deities. These weathered images represent the eighty-eight temples on the famous traditional pilgrimage route around the island of Shikoku, meant to free worshippers from eighty-eight evil desires. Instead of the weeks of trekking required to complete the real route, however, this one can be done in minutes. But take a moment to contemplate the many different expressions, from peaceful, meditative calm to fierce, and almost frightening facial features. A larger statue of the temple’s founder Gyoki stands inconspicuously off the trail, as if silently watching over the temple he established so long ago.

出典: 地域観光資源の多言語解説文データベース（観光庁） — www.mlit.go.jp/tagengo-db. この英語解説文は観光庁の地域観光資源の多言語解説整備支援事業で作成しました。
Source: Japan Tourism Agency, Multilingual Explanation Database. This English text was produced by the Japan Tourism Agency's multilingual explanation project and is shown unedited. Opening hours and services may have changed since it was written.