Virtual Settsu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #4 Toritenjo-ji Temple

 

     Suddhodana and Maya gave birth to Siddhartha Gautama.  Maya is said to have died 7 days after the birth of Gautama.  So far so good.  Some believe Gautama curved the about 6 centimeters tall image of Eleven-Faced Ekadasamukha.  A few even believe Hermit Hodo traveled from India through Tang China and the Korean kingdom of Baekje, and eventually arrived in Japan with the image.  He founded Toritenjo-ji Temple in 646 to enshrine the image.  Toriten means Trayastrimsa, or Heaven of the Thirty-three, to which Maya had transmigrated.

     Emperor Wu (464–549) of Liang, personal name Xiao Yan, is believed to have curved the Maya image, which Kukai (774-835) is said to have brought back to Japan to enshrine it in Toritenjo-ji Temple.  So far so good.

     If the temple was named Toritenjo-ji after the achievement of Maya, something is wrong.  Anyway, the mountain where the temple stands was named Mount Maya after Maya.  So far so good?

Address: 2-12 Mayasancho, Nada Ward, Kobe, Hyogo 657-0105

Phone: 078-861-2684