A stolen statue. Can you believe it? Right here at Shōkaku-ji in Fukuoka. This isn’t just any temple. It’s steeped in history. Founded during the Nara period by Seiga a priest from India Shōkaku-ji started as a humble hermitage. Seiga discovered white camellias. He carved them into two Kannon statues. One rests here in the main hall.
Did you know that the very name Aburayama and the temple itself are linked to Japan’s first kerosene extraction? They pressed oil from camellia seeds. Clever right? It was originally called Senpuku-ji. In 1193 Bencho a Jōdo-shū priest arrived. He taught his disciples. Along with Tenpuku-ji Shōkaku-ji became a thriving centre. Up to 360 priests lived here. Sadly a war fire destroyed it during the Tenshō era. It was rebuilt in the Genroku era. They built a kannon-dō hall a reception hall and more.
In 1694 it was renamed Shōkaku-ji. The wooden Avalokiteshvara statue is incredibly revered. The government designated it a Cultural Property in 1906. But in 2009 thieves stole it. They broke in. They cut the padlock. Imagine the audacity. The statue was thankfully recovered in December. Shoe marks showed several criminals were involved.
A Hibari Kannon-dō hall was added in 1994. It honors Hibari Misora a famous Japanese singer. Every February 1st they hold an Aburayama porridge ceremony. They examine the red bean porridge. This predicts the weather and crops for the year.
Shōkaku-ji is more than just stone and wood. It’s a living testament to centuries of faith resilience and even a little bit of drama. It’s a story of loss and recovery. A reminder of the enduring power of faith and art. This is Shōkaku-ji. A place of peace. A place of history. A place to reflect.