Hōgon-ji is a temple of the Ji Buddhist sect in Matsuyama. It’s known as the birthplace of Ippen, who founded the Ji (time) sect as an offshoot of the Jōdo or Pure Land sect in 1276. Disciples of Ippen sought enlightenment by chanting the name of Amida and dancing ecstatically. Ippen is depicted in numerous statues as a humble ascetic, skinny as a stick from all his traveling.
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Hogon-ji Temple in Dogo, Matsuyama
Birthplace of Ippen, the wandering saint
By Anonymous
Community writer
Hogon-ji stands at the top of the slope called Neon Zaka, Matsuayama's old red light district
The gateway to Hogon-ji is imposing
The double roof provides welcome respite from an April shower
The temple stands in pretty, heavily wooded grounds
Besides the natural greenery, the temple keepers have prettified the precincts with many flowers
The doors to the main hall are beautifully carved
A characterful dragon guards one of the subsidiary buildings
Behind the temple is a large graveyard. Here spring plums litter the ground between the graves
The character for 'spirit' that makes up the Japanese word for 'graveyard'
You can potter around the graveyard and enjoy the statuary on the graves
The main hall through a veil of wet foliage
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Preethu
9 years ago
Nice Place.
1 comment in total
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