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| Mt. Misen, known to have founded by Kobo Daishi, is the treasure house of historic old temples in which deities dwell even now. You can see many shrines and temples in somewhat mysterious mood. |
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| This is the actual place where Kobo Daishi accomplished 100 days “Gumonji” training in the hall built in Mt. Misen. In an attempt to discover a spiritual place round Miyajima on the occasion he visited Miyajima on his return home from Tang, Daishi himself named it after Mt. Shumisen in China similar in shape. The main deity is Akasagarbha (Kokuzo-bosatsu) accompanied by Acala and Vaisravana. They say brave generals such as Taira-no-Kiyomori, Ashikaga Yoshihisa, Fukushima Masanori, etc., had deep faith in it. |
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| Situated right in front of Misenhondo Hall, it houses the holy fire kept kindling for about 1200 years up to the present since Kobo Daishi started it in 806 to perform his ascetic training. It is believed that all kinds of diseases are cured by drinking sacred water boiled in a large kettle heated by this holy fire, besides being the passport to happiness. You can drink tea on the spot. There seems to be no end to the visitors climbing Mt. Misen seeking for the grace. |
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It's an old temple to enshrine the orge's god as a guardian deity of Mt. Misen, said to have virtues of fortune, wisdom and exorcism, and believed to save all creatures using the divine power good for household welfare and business prosperity with help of small and large tengu goblins. Ito Hirobumi is said to have deep faith in this and frequented the hall and dared a voluntary donation of 7,000 yen of the time to improve the trail up the mountain out of his admiration to the view from the summit.
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Being highly influential as the major holy temple of Itsukushimajinja Shrine, acted as a training hall before the Meiji Period to gather priests of entire island in the “New Year Service” during the first 7 days of the new year to pray for the prosperity of the nation. Enshrined main deity is Vairocana (Dainichi Nyorai) representing both Kongo world and Taizo world.
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After making some climb upward from Sankido hall, you will find Monjudo hall where Manjusri or the god of wisdom is enshrined. In the neighboring Kannondo hall, Guanyin or the goddess of safe childbirth is enshrined.
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Okunoin Temple or the innermost sanctuary is located way down from Nioumon-ato, to the west of Miyamajinja Shrine. The site is also attributed to the place of Kobo Daishi's training and many pious persons gather here even now although no longer what used to be.
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Three red branch shrine halls are lined up here and three goddess i.e., “Ichikishima-himenomikoto,” “Tagori-himenomikoto,”and“Tagitsu-himenomikoto,” are enshrined in the same manner as Itsukushimajinja Shrine. As legend goes, Great God of Itsukushima descended to earth on this spot in the age of gods.
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You will find Mizu-kake jizo after making some climb from Kujira-iwa (Whale Rock). It is said those who prayed for their children by pouring water on a pair of a small and a big Jizo will find themselves that their prayers have come true in the future.
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