Hofuku Temple — Local services in Soja

Visited Iyama Hofukuji Temple 2 days ago, famously associated with the Sesshū Toyo’s early development in Buddhism, who eventually became the greatest painter in Japanese history.

The popular tale is that as a child, Sesshū was a gifted young painter who spent more time drawing than meditating and as a form of punishment, was tied to a post by the priest causing him to cry.

His tears then depicted a mouse which impressed the priest as he thought it was a real mouse because it looked so lifelike, who then allowed Sesshū to continue painting.

As such, there are two statues found in the temple depicting him tied up with a rat by his side.

Apart from this, the temple is also a popular autumn foliage viewing spot in Okayama prefecture.

The temple was actually pretty easy to get to from Soja Station which was only a 30 mins walk.

Although it wasn’t as impressive as the other maple viewing sights we’ve been to, Iyama Hofukuji Temple has it’s own charm which still makes for a good place to visit if you’re in the...

The temple itself is pretty run of the mill as temples go but at the moment the maple trees in the grounds are glorious. Well worth a visit. In fact the whole Kibiji cycling trail from Soja makes for a great,...

井山宝福寺に紅葉を観に行きました。午前中にいきましたが、観光客はまばらでした。

宝福寺は、臨済宗東福寺派の寺院で、本山京都東福寺と結びつきが強く、地方の中でも有力な禅宗寺院です。 古くは天台宗の寺院でしたが、鎌倉時代中頃に県内ではいち早く臨済宗に改宗しました。 盛時には、塔頭・学院五十五、山外の末寺三百余を数えたと伝えられています。また、画聖雪舟が修行した寺として有名です。

室町時代、備中国赤浜（現在の総社市赤浜）に生まれた雪舟は、少年時代ここで修行を行った。 幼少より絵が上手であった雪舟のエピソードとして鼠の絵の話が残されています。

絵を描くことが好きであった雪舟少年は、修行もそこそこに絵ばかり描いていました。 修行に身を入れさせようと禅師は雪舟を柱に縛り付けて反省を促した。 夕刻、様子を見に来た禅師は逃げようとする一匹の鼠を見つけ捕まえようとしたが動かなかった。よく見るとそれは、雪舟が流した涙を足の親指で描いたものであったという。 それ以来、禅師は雪舟の絵を咎めなく...