Chūgen-ji Temple (Meyami Jizo) — Attraction in Kyoto

Exquisito y pequeño templo budista que nos encontramos de paso entre Kyoto Station y el centro de la ciudad. La traducción del letrero es la siguiente: El templo de Chugenji, que pertenece a la secta Jodo del budismo, se llama comúnmente Meyami Jizo. Este templo se originó en 1022, cuando el monje-escultor budista Jocho adoraba a una deidad guardiana en el noreste del puente de Shijobashi.

Hay una leyenda detrás del nombre del Templo Chugenji y Meyami Jizo. En 1228, el río Kamo se desbordaba debido a las incesantes fuertes lluvias. Se dice que Nakahara Tamekane de Seta, que era el funcionario a cargo del control del río, vio que esta deidad guardiana rescataba a la gente que ahogaba. Para expresar su gratitud, por lo tanto, consagró una estatua sentada de Jizo cerca del río y la llamó Ameyami Jizo o Rain Stopping Jizo. El nombre del templo Chugenji (#27# se basa en el apellido de Tamakane, Nakahara, en caracteres chinos (4 I) añadido con elementos de carácter que significan humanos y agua.

Más tarde, la palabra "Ameyami" se convirtió en "Meyami", a partir de una anécdota de que la deidad guardiana salvó el dolor de una pareja religiosa al transferir su enfermedad ocular al ojo derecho de la deidad guardiana. Es por eso que la gente comenzó a llamar a este templo Meyami Jizo y a creer en sus efectos en la curación de enfermedades oculares.

El templo deifica una imagen de Yamagoe Amida (Descenso de Amitabha sobre la Montaña), que se dice que se hizo en el período Muromachi, al lado de la deidad guardiana en la sala principal. El Salón Kannondo del templo posee una gran estatua de madera de Mil Kannon armados (un importante bien cultural), que se dice que fue hecha a finales del período Heian (794-1192) por el monje-escultor budista Kasuga.

Chugenji Temple, which belongs to the Jodo sect of Buddhism, is commonly called Meyami Jizo. This temple originated in 1022, when the Buddhist monk-sculptor Jocho worshipped a guardian deity in the northeast of the Shijobashi Bridge. There is a legend behind the naming of Chugenji Temple and Meyami Jizo. In 1228, the Kamo River was overflowing because of incessant heavy rains. It is said that Nakahara Tamekane of Seta, who was the official in charge of controlling the river, saw that this guardian deity rescue drowning people. To express his gratitude, he therefore enshrined a seated statue of Jizo close to the river and named it Ameyami Jizo or Rain Stopping Jizo. The temple's name Chugenji (#27# is based on Tamakane's family name Nakahara in Chinese characters (4 I) added with character elements meaning humans and water. Later, the word "Ameyami" turned to "Meyami," from an anecdote that the guardian deity saved the pain of a religious oid couple by transferring their eye disease to the guardian deity's right eye. That is why people began to call this temple Meyami Jizo and believe in its effects in healing eye diseases. The temple deifies an image of Yamagoe Amida (Descent of Amitabha over the Mountain), which is said to have been made in the Muromachi period, by the side of the guardian deity in the main hall. The Kannondo Hall of the temple owns a great wooden statue of Thousand armed Kannon (an important cultural property), which is said to have been made late in the Heian period (794-1192) by the Buddhist...

Make this one of your stops of you're walking around Gion. It's easy to miss but there is a small Jizo shrine at the entrance. Jizo is a Buddhist guardian saint, believed to have saved people from flooding. It's one of the many quaint shrines you'll come across...

So glad to stop by this wonderful, little place. Such a peaceful place. Received beautiful goshuin! The lady was so nice and helpful to me. Thank you so much. Located in a great part of Kyoto with plenty to...