Kabusan-ji

Journey with me back to 697. A mystical figure, En no Gyōja, stands atop Mount Katsuragi. He spots a golden light emanating from the north. Drawn by this celestial beacon, he journeys towards it, eventually reaching a cascading waterfall known as the “Nine-headed Dragon Fall”. This waterfall marks the very spot where Kabusan-ji Temple now stands. Kabusan-ji, meaning “Mount Kabu Temple”, is nestled between Kyoto and Osaka in Takatsuki City. En no Gyōja’s encounter at the waterfall with the heavenly being, Konpira, led to the temple’s creation. Konpira instructed En no Gyōja to build a temple on this sacred ground. He then carved four images of Vaishravana from a holy tree. One image remained at Kabusan-ji, marking the first enshrinement of Vaishravana in Japan. The others miraculously flew to different locations: Mount Kurama in Kyoto, Mount Shigi in Nara, and the north peak of Mount Kabu. Kabusan-ji houses one of these significant Vaishravana statues. Another resides in the Honzan-ji Temple on Mount Kabu’s north peak. Vaishravana, also known as Bishamon-ten or Tamon-ten, is a prominent deity in Japan. Evolving from a warrior god to a patron of business, Vaishravana’s image as a Chinese warrior in a helmet, holding a pagoda and cudgel, reflects this transformation. Kabusan-ji’s Vaishravana has attracted notable followers throughout history, including samurai and shoguns. Kabusan-ji is not just a place of worship. It holds a deeper connection to Japan’s imperial history. Within the temple grounds, two stone pagodas stand. One, a thirteen-tiered structure, is dedicated to Emperor Kōnin and holds a portion of his remains. The other, a five-tiered pagoda, houses strands of hair from Prince Kaijō, the emperor’s son and a monk. In 774, Prince Kaijō, under his father’s order, restored Kabusan-ji. He then became its head priest, affiliating it with the Tendai Buddhist sect. The temple’s strategic mountain location likely made it a valuable source of information for the imperial court, adding another layer to its significance. Today, Kabusan-ji offers visitors a chance to experience both natural beauty and historical richness. The vibrant autumn foliage surrounding the temple creates a breathtaking spectacle. It’s a reminder of the golden light that first drew En no Gyōja to this sacred mountainside, giving birth to Kabusan-ji’s enduring legacy.