Virtual Shinobu Chichibu 34 Kannon Pilgrimage #28 Kumon-ji Temple

 

     Kumon-ji Temple's history is totally unknown.  In the site of the temple, there stands a big farmer's house with a big gate.  Those buildings could have been those of the temple.

     Kumon is a rare name for a temple's name.  Kumon literally means Dog's Gate and the name might be based on a Chinese classic text about Yan Ying (?-500 BC).

     When Yan Ying visited the state of Chu, its leader King Ling (541 BC-529 BC) wanted to humiliate Yan Ying. Knowing that Yan Ying was as short as 135 centimeters, the king made a smaller entrance adjacent to the city gate.  When Yan Ying arrived, he was asked to enter the capital through the smaller side entrance.  Yan Ying said, "When we send a messenger to the state of Chu, we send out the messenger through Chu Gate, and when we send a messenger to the state of Dog, we send out the messenger through Dog Gate.  Can I really use Dog Gate? (Are you dogs?)"

     So what?  Did the founder want to mean the gate to enlightenment is too narrow?

     Another text talks about Zhaozhou Congshen (778–897) was a Chan Buddhist master known for his paradoxical statements.  One of those statements is:

A monk asked Zhaozhou, "Has the dog Buddha-nature or not?" Zhaozhou said, "Wu."

     "Wu" means "no" on the surface, but Zhaozhou knew, in Buddhism, any sentient beings have Buddha-nature, the potential to become a Buddha.  He didn't simply say No, but denied denial itself.

     So what?  What did the founder deny?  Existence of a Buddhist temple itself?

And did the temple come to nil?

Address: 311-4 Niibori, Kumagaya, Saitama 360-0847