Virtual New Innami County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #22 Anraku-ji Temple

 

     Muryoju-in Temple was founded on the top of Mount Chudoshi in 811 by Priest Shinsho (797-873), who studied under Kukai (744-835).  It was later renamed Chudo-ji Temple.

     When the Akamatsu Clan built Chudojisan Fortress in 1380, the temple was removed to its present location, at the foot of the mountain.  The temple was revived by the Kushihashi Family, transferred to Pure Land Buddhism.  The temple was renamed Anraku-ji then.

     The temple's present precincts have Juo-do Hall.  Juo literally translates to "Ten Kings." These are the ten celestial judges who reside in the realm between this world and the next. Their role is to evaluate the deceased by assessing their deeds during their earthly life.

     The first seven judges preside over the "Seven-Day" cycles. Because traditional reckoning didn't start with zero, the first trial by King Qinguang actually occurs on the 6th day after death. This is followed by King Chujiang on the 13th day, King Songdi on the 20th, King Wuguan on the 27th, King Yanmo (the famous Enma) on the 34th, King Biancheng on the 41st, and King Taishan on the 48th.

     The remaining three kings operate on a more relaxed schedule. King Pingdeng—whose name literally means "equality"—judges the dead after 99 days. Given his name, perhaps he values a healthy work-life balance! The last two are even less occupied: King Dushi oversees the trial on the first anniversary of death, and King Wudaozhuanlun concludes the process after two years.

     Only after this two-year marathon is your final destination determined among the Six Paths (Rokudo):

1. Deva: The realm of celestial beings.
2. Manushya: The human realm.
3. Asura: The realm of warlike demigods.
4. Tiryagyoni: The animal realm.
5. Preta: The realm of hungry ghosts.
6. Naraka: Hell.

     As you can see, there’s no "Heaven" in this system—just varying degrees of rebirth! (Please note that interpretations of the Six Paths may vary across different Buddhist traditions.)

Address: Saikujo-631 Shikatacho, Kakogawa, Hyogo 675-0303

Phone: 079-452-0328

Chudoshisan Fortress SiteA

Address: Shiroyama Shikatacho, Kakogawa, Hyogo 675-0312