Is it true that a single tree became numerous Buddha statues overnight? This is part of the legend of Sugi Yakushi. We are standing before Sugi Yakushi. Its formal name is Kokuzosan Iyuo-ji Temple. It is known locally as Kawayachi no Sugi Yakushi.
Let’s uncover its story. This place was once a wide field. A large cedar tree stood here. One night the tree vanished. Local villagers searched and found something amazing. The large tree had transformed into countless Buddha statues. A pine branch was placed at the stump.
Astonished people carried the statues. They consulted learned monks. The monks identified the main statue as Yakushi Nyorai. The other statues were Kannon, Seishi, and the twelve gods. People built a temple to house these sacred images.
The temple building flooded many times. Yet the statues remained in place miraculously. This strengthened the faith of the people. In the past a grand festival was held here. Locals flocked from the Ota River. They came to the Yakushi Hall. The path was so crowded that people brushed shoulders. Merchants set up stalls. Sweet tea made from local plants was sold. People waited in long lines to buy it.
Sugi Yakushi is also known as the 20th sacred place of the Hiroshima New Shikoku 88 Pilgrimage. A festival occurs every year on May 8. It is called the Kawayachi Sugi Yakushi Festival. This tradition continues.
So remember the story of Sugi Yakushi. A single tree transformed. It became a place of faith. It became a place of healing. It became a symbol of enduring belief.