Virtual Settsu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #21 Ryuan-ji Temple

 

     En Ozuno (634-701) performed religious austerities at the basin of Mino Waterfall, and achieved enlightenment either in 650 or 658.  He built a hall to enshrine the 1st and oldest Sarasvati statue in Japan.  He called it Mino-ji Temple.

     When Emperor Go-Shirakawa (1127–1192) compiled the Ryojin Hisho, or Songs to Make the Dust Dance on the Beams, around 1180, one of the collected imayo songs sang,"Where do saints live?  They live in Mino and Katsuo."

       For your information, imayo literally means a new lyrical form.  These songs were very popular in the 12th century.  Imayo consists of four lines in 8–5 or 7–5 syllables.  Usually, they were sung to the accompaniment of instrumental music, and female dancers danced to them.  The most famous singer was Otomae (1085–1169).

     Emperor Go-Daigo (1288-1339) renamed Mino-ji Temple Ryuan-ji Temple.

     Ryuan-ji Temple has Kannon-do Hall, which enshrines Cintamanicakra, who usually has 6 arms and holds chintamani (a wish-fulfilling jewel) in one of the six.  The hall was rebuilt in 2002, but it is unknown how many times it has been rebuilt or when the original one was built.

Ryuan-ji Temple

Address: 2-23 Minookoen, Minoh, Osaka 562-0002

Phone: 072-721-3168

Minoh Falls

Address: Minookoen, Minoh, Osaka 562-0002

Phone: 072-723-1885