“Oyakussan” it is called. Here at Yakushido Hall the Yakushi statue has been known to people since ancient times. This Yakushido Hall sits in a corner of Myokoji Temple today. It was once located at Shomyoin.
Let’s step inside Myokoji Temple. We will find the Yakushi Hall to the rear left of the main hall. Notice the Yakushi statue. It fills the entire hall. The statue sits cross-legged. Its palms face forward. The right hand is raised. The left hand once received a medicine jar. This is a typical Yakushi Nyorai figure. The medicine jar is now lost.
However the two attendants are still here. Look to either side. You will see Gakko Bosatsu and Nikko Bosatsu. They indicate that this is Yakushi Nyorai. This Yakushi statue is the largest seated statue in Hiroshima. It is made of inlaid wood. Each part of the statue is joined with iron lacquer.
The surface used shippaku. Gold leaf was laid over lacquer. Faint gold leaf remains around the chest. It recalls the statue’s former opulence.
Temple legend speaks of Shomyoin Yakushiji. It was once a large temple here. Fukushima Masanori confiscated the temple’s land. The temple declined.
But the Yakushi statue remained. It has long been known as “Oyakussan”. Every year on May 8th it is open to the public. Many pilgrims gather here.
During conservation work in 1994 an inscription was found. It was on the back of the head. It said the statue was made in 1530. The statue is an important cultural asset. It is something to behold here at Yakushido Hall. It is always open to the public. Take a moment to appreciate the history and artistry. Consider the devotion of those who have visited for centuries. Yakushido Hall stands as a testament to faith.