Tō-ji

Tō-ji 東寺 in Kyōto holds a number of the most impressive medieval Buddhist statues I have encountered thus far in Japan. Especially the “3D mandala” of statues with Dainichi-nyorai 大日如来 (Skt: वैरोचन Vairocana) at its centre in the Lecture hall (講堂 Kōdo) is impressive.  As it is not allowed to take pictures on the inside of the buildings, this blog entry only features pictures taken from the outside.

The entrance of Tō-ji

 Kannon-bosatsu 観音菩薩 as seen through an opening from outside of the dining hall.

 The Tō-ji’s five story pagoda.

 In or near temples affiliated to the Shingon-shū 真言宗 it is very common to find depictions of Kōbō-daishi 弘法大師 (空海Kūkai), its legendary founder. This particular statuette is enshrined a bronze stupa-like shrine.

 A statue of Jizō-bosatsu 地蔵菩薩 adorned with a red bib and hat.

 A shrine for San-men Daikoku-ten 三面大黒天 (Three-faced Mahākāla). Unfortunately, the shrine was closed at the time of my visit, but usually San-men Daikoku-ten is depicted with his central head resembling that of the regular Daikoku-ten, the left one resembling Benzai-ten 弁財天 and the right one resembling Bishmon-ten 毘沙門天. Visitors are encouraged to recite his mantra: “On ma ka kya ra ya so wa ka”.

 

 The Daishi-dō 大師堂 (the Great Master Hall, the master being Kūkai) dedicated to Fudō-myōō 不動明王. On the left there is an altar to pray for Eastern Japan’s recovery from the 2011 earthquake. 

 

A small statue of a Buddha or bodhisattva (most likely Jizō-bosatsu 地蔵菩薩) on the temple grounds. Apart from his red bib and headwear, the statue was given offerings including a nectar drink, spicy nuts, shrimp-flavoured crisps etc. At his feet, you can see a small singing bowl. If this is in fact Jizō-bosatsu, there is a possibility that these offerings were presented to him by a devotee who has lost a child.