Jinjaodo Hall 深沙王堂

Official explanation

This hall was originally constructed by Rinnoji Temple’s founder, Shodo Shonin (735–817), in gratitude to the protective spirit that helped him cross the Daiya River. According to legend, Shodo and his followers could not cross the dangerous rapids to reach Nikkosan, so they began to pray fervently, whereupon a fierce-looking figure appeared dressed in red and white with a skull around its neck. “I am the great Jinjao. I helped Xuanzang in times of trouble when he was transmitting the word of the Buddha from India.” With that, he hung a giant red and a giant blue snake across the river forming a bridge, allowing Shodo and his company to cross. The Xuanzang, whom Jinjao referenced, was a seventh-century Chinese monk who, like Shodo, made a long journey in the service of the Buddha. The bridge was rebuilt in 1978.

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.