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Words-and-Pictures:
Joshoji
(as seen on September 12th, 2001,
on the Old Tokaido stage of the Aki
Meguri)
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| Note:
Joshiji is in the city
of Chigasaki, which lies between Fujisawa and Hiratsuka in Kanagawa Prefecture.
These are Stations #6 and 7 respectively (from Tokyo) on the
Old Tokaido Highway. You can read about my visit to Joshiji in my Logbook. You may also choose to start reading about
my Tokaido
journey at the beginning, or start at the top of my Aki
Meguri pages. |
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I was attracted at
first by the gate... |
| ...and the imposing figure outside.
I later learned that this was Shinran, founder of Jodoshinshu, a
reformed version of devotion to the Amida Buddha. |
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The hondo (main hall) is under
reconstruction. It will be re-opened in October of 2002.
The location itself is over 800 years old. |
| While the real hondo is
closed, a worship hall is being used in this modern building. |
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Here is the interior of the hall
where I prayed; it looks a lot like a modern evangelical church. |
| And here is the honzon (main
image), Amida Nyorai. |
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This young man is a 28-year-old
priest who patiently paused in his yard clean-up to answer my
questions. |
| Although the hondo is closed,
the rest of the grounds, such as this toro and shoro
(lantern and bell tower) are quite beautiful. |
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HISTORY
