Ehime Prefecture, Place of Enlightenment, Temples 40 – 65
Coming to Ehime Prefecture (temples 39, 40)
Weather changes fast at the Pacific Ocean. It was rainy all day, however, I did not
mind. The rain was warm and soft and made the vegetation vivid green.
Temple area of Kanjizaiji (temple 40), first temple in Ehime Prefecture
Eight Buddhas in a row for twelve zodiac years splashed by a woman with water for having good luck.
Dainichi Nyorai, the Cosmic Buddha (Dainichi, lit. “Great Sun”), serves as a patron for people born in the Zodiac Years of Sheep and the Monkey.
He is the center of Shingon Buddhism.
Binzuru (Pindola Bharadvaja), one of the four Arhats asked by Buddha to remain in the world to propagate Buddhism
Each one was connected with one of the four compass directions. He is depicted with
extremely long eyebrows. It is believed that he has curative powers. Sick people rub
the part of his body corresponding to their sick part to get cured. He often wears red
bibs and caps, as he also watches over the health of babies.
Three frogs playing touched by a woman for good luck
The last three syllables of prosper in Japanese sounds the same like frog –
kaeru. For example, oya-ko-mago sankaeru is the wish that parents and
grandchildren prosper or byoki-ga hiki-kaeru is the wish that sickness
recedes.
Walking along Route 56
Stormy weather
Scenes like that were not unusual
Sometimes, the trash was picturesque
An abandoned house full of paper, books, folders and boxes
I stayed overnight in the Nishi-yūgyo Center, a little fishing village in Uwajima City.
Not only were the owners extremely nice but also the food was delicious.
View out from my window to the Pacific Ocean
This area is famous for oyster culture and pearl harvesting.
Local pearls made into jewelry
The place I stayed in served delicious seafood