“What secrets does this ancient stone hold?” I wonder as I gaze upon the \u6d44\u571f\u5b97 \u897f\u798f\u5bfa Stele. This stele stands as a silent witness to centuries of history. It connects us to the past.
The \u6d44\u571f\u5b97 \u897f\u798f\u5bfa Stele is not just a stone. It is a testament to faith and remembrance. It marks a place of deep spiritual significance within the \u897f\u798f\u5bfa Temple.
\u897f\u798f\u5bfa Temple has a close connection to Empress Danrin. She was known for her beauty and wisdom. Legend says monks in training even fell in love with her. Before her death, Empress Danrin requested to be buried in the wind. The temple possesses a depiction of her decaying body called “Nine Phases of Empress Danrin”. It teaches about the impermanence of all things. This artwork is not open to the public.
Kobo Daishi built Tsujido at Rokudo no Tsuji during the Heian period. It was located at the entrance to Toribeno. He enshrined a Jizo statue there that he created himself. Today, it is still worshipped as a child-rearing Jizo.
Empress Danrin prayed to the Jizo-son of \u897f\u798f\u5bfa Temple when her son fell ill. Her son Prince Masayoshi was healed. Since then, the Jizo-son has been revered as a child-rearing Jizo.
The temple has a painting called “Nine Thought Drawings”. It shows a corpse transforming in nine stages. This macabre artwork depicts the body decaying. The stages include birds eating the remains and bones scattering.
The \u6d44\u571f\u5b97 \u897f\u798f\u5bfa Temple also features a flower ceiling. Japanese-style painter Yuzumi Morimoto and his students dedicated it in 1983. It served as a memorial for the 1150th anniversary of Empress Danrin’s death. Nine panels were created by Morimoto Yuusen. The flower ceiling cannot be viewed from inside the main hall currently. You can view Western flowers like irises painted on it from outside the hall.
Standing before the \u6d44\u571f\u5b97 \u897f\u798f\u5bfa Stele, we connect with these stories. We reflect on life, death, and enduring faith. This stone remains a powerful symbol. It links us to the past and inspires contemplation.