Virtual Akashi 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #7 Yakushi-in Temple

 

     According to legend, when Gyoki (668-749) visited the area, he thrust his Buddhist staff into the ground, and holy water gushed forth, from which a statue of Bhaisajyaguru, or Yakushi Nyorai in Japanese, emerged.  Yakushi-in Temple was founded to enshrine the statue.

     Or, in 730, Gyoki founded Seiryo-zan Akai-dera Temple.  In the 880's, it thrived to have over 20 sub-temples.  One of the sub-temples could have been Yakushi-in.  Akai-dera Temple fell into ruin during the Southern and Northern Courts Period (1336-1392), involved in battle.

     The present main hall was built in 1657 and was repaired in 1990.

     The temple's precincts have Akai Well.  Aka comes from argha in Sanskrit.  Argha means the water offered to Buddhas and priests.

     The temple is now known as Peony Temple, and its origins date back to the early Meiji Period (1868-1912), when the head priest at the time planted peonies to use their roots for medicines.  A 2,000 square meter peony garden has been maintained within the temple grounds.  During the flowering season, around 2,000 peonies of around 50 species bloom.

     The temple’ Buddhist tanka poem is:

The water drawn from Aka Spring is very pure.

We offer the water to Buddha

With the same purity in mind.

Address: Nishioka-1636 Uozumicho, Akashi, Hyogo 674-0084

Phone: 078-942-0330