Imagine yourself standing before a weathered stone, its surface worn smooth by the centuries. This is the \u67f3\u8c37\u795e\u9053\u7891 Stone, a silent sentinel guarding the memories of ages past. It stands within the grounds of Yanagidani Kannon Temple, known locally as Yokokuji Temple, a place steeped in Buddhist history.
Legend tells us that the founder of Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Enchin, established this temple in 806. He sought to enshrine a statue of Juichimen Senju Sengan Kannon Bosatsu, the Thousand-Armed Goddess of Mercy, after receiving a vision in a dream. The \u67f3\u8c37\u795e\u9053\u7891 Stone holds a special place within the temple’s history.
Kukai, a revered Buddhist monk, is said to have trained at the temple, and it was here that he saw a blind monkey cleanse its eyes in the local spring water. Having witnessed this, Kukai declared the water holy, believing it to possess healing powers for the eyes. This legend explains why Yokokuji Temple is known as a place of ‘okozui’, or ‘Tokko water’.
The \u67f3\u8c37\u795e\u9053\u7891 Stone itself bears silent witness to these events, a physical manifestation of the historical and spiritual significance of Yanagidani Kannon Temple. Today, the stone stands as a reminder of the long and fascinating history of Buddhist practice in Japan, a legacy etched into its surface for all to see.