Jizo of hellfire Yata Temple

I see. This seems to be the temple where the Jizo Bodhisattva is enshrined as the principal deity. The Yata Temple, whose principal deity is the Jizo Bodhisattva who is said to have conveyed the appearance of hell, is located here.

It stands a short distance up Teramachi Sanjo, a street lined with shops, and is known to locals as Yata Jizo. Although it is located in a busy downtown area, once you step into its precincts, the unique atmosphere of the temple envelops us all.

As you can see in the photo above, many lanterns surround the main hall, and their light casts a silent lamp in our hearts.

Despite being in the middle of a busy shopping street, the atmosphere instantly changes from one of ‘motion’ to one of ‘stillness’ as you enter the precincts of Yata Temple, leading us into a magical space.

This is Binzuruzonja-san
It is also known as “Bentsuru”.

He is the first of the sixteen arhats and is said to have the power to cure all illnesses. If you stroke the bad part of your body and pray to him, you will receive a miraculous miracle. So, I patted its feet and prayed.

Wishing I had a long and healthy walk.

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Now, this is the main hall of Yata Temple.

A standing statue of Yata Jizo, which stands 2m high, is enshrined in the main hall here.

It may be difficult to see in the photo, but what a surprise, this Jizo is enshrined behind a working fire. There is a spectacular Jizo Bodhisattva standing there in the fires of hellish suffering.

The monk who had these magnificent Jizo figures carved was the founder of the temple, a priest named Mankei Shonin. The Yata Jizo Engi-Emaki (Yata Jizo Engi Picture Scroll) in the temple’s collection contains the following story. Ono Takamura, who travelled between this world and hell and assisted Enma the Great. It was Mankei Shonin who was invited to hell by that Takamura. When a Shonin is invited to hell, he first prays for the suffering Enma the Great and removes his suffering. And in return for escaping suffering, Enma the Great allows Shonin to visit hell.

And Mankei Shonin saw there.

The appearance of Jizo Bodhisattva saving sinners while bathed in the fires of hell.

It is said that the Shonin was greatly impressed by looking at this.

When he returned to this world, he had a Jizo carved in the shape of a Bodhisattva. This is the Yata Jizo. This Jizo is commonly known as the Daikyoku Jizo, and is still worshipped by people as the Jizo who saves the departed in hell.

Incidentally, the temple bell at Yata Temple is called the ‘sending bell’, as opposed to the ‘welcoming bell’ at Rikudo-Jinno-ji Temple. The bell is believed to be rung to send the spirits of the dead to the underworld without hesitation, and is visited by many worshippers throughout the year on Shorai-okuri.

The reference material

Kyoto Makai Chizu-cho: Maps and Photographs of Kyoto Backstory Romantic Journey, Yata Temple (Bessatu Takarajima 2356, 2015)

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Author

じゅうべい(Jubei)
Hello everyone. I am Jubei, an earthling whose energy does not stop today. What I like is playing (manga, movies, music (J-Rock, etc.) and visiting cafes). Thank you for your understanding.