行者神變大菩薩 Stone

Gazing upon this unassuming stone, who would guess its connection to a legendary figure? This, my friends, is the Gyōja Shōnin Stone, a memorial to En no Ozuno, a man of many names. He was known as En no Gyōja, En no Ozuno, and even granted the honorary title “Shōnin” by Emperor Kōkaku. Right here, in Kyoto, we stand in the presence of a monument to a man who blurred the lines between man and myth. En no Ozuno, born in 634, was a remarkable ascetic mystic. He practiced Shugendō, a unique blend of Buddhism, Shinto, and mountain worship. He is considered the founder of this fascinating belief system. Imagine him, deep in the mountains, surviving on a meager diet of pine needles and wild plants. Through intense meditation and arduous practices, En no Ozuno achieved legendary status. He was said to possess supernatural powers, including the ability to fly and command spirits. Stories whispered through the ages tell of him walking on water and summoning healing herbs with a mere word. But his path was not without its trials. In 699, En no Ozuno was accused of sorcery and exiled to Izu Ōshima Island. Yet, even in exile, his spirit remained unbroken. He eventually returned to the mainland, pardoned and honored by the Imperial Court. He died in 701, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire awe and wonder. The Gyōja Shōnin Stone stands as a testament to En no Ozuno’s enduring influence, a reminder of the man who sought enlightenment amidst the towering peaks and silent forests of Japan. Though simple in appearance, it speaks volumes about the power of belief and the enduring allure of the mystical.