[Yamagata Prefecture] Numerous Yamagata Sokushinbutsu born from the belief in reincarnation on Mt. Yudono

Sokushinbutsu . Even if life ends, they remain forever and watch over people.

At the end of their training, the monks voluntarily eat only nuts and wild vegetables, reducing the amount of fat in their bodies to the limit. When he was nearing the end of his life, he went into a stone chamber, fasted, and met his end.

It is the most rigorous training that takes between 1,000 and 5,000 days. Three years and three months later, it was dug up and enshrined as a Sokushinbutsu.

It is believed that there were many sokushinbutsu enshrined all over Japan, but due to various factors such as immature preservation techniques and grave theft, the number of sokushinbutsu has decreased dramatically, and as of 2022, only 18 have been confirmed (their existence is unknown). It is thought that there are many more, including those that have been identified but are unconfirmed).

What is the difference between a Sokushinbutsu and a mummy?

Let me briefly touch on the relationship between Sokushinbutsu and mummies. It is understood that sokushinbutsu is a person who voluntarily creates a body that will not decay and then takes his or her own life, and a mummy is one whose internal organs are removed, embalmed, and dried by someone else after death. is. Mummies also exist in Japan, and the four generations of the Oshu Fujiwara clan are known to be buried in Chusonji Konjikido (Hiraizumi Town, Iwate Prefecture).

Reference: Sokushinbutsu and Mummy Dainichibou Temple: http://www.dainichibou.or.jp/sokushinbutu/

“Mummy” is a Japanese word that is not commonly used around the world. The leading theory is that the pronunciation of mirra, which was used as a preservative in Portugal during the Edo period, was transformed. In English, a mummy is called mummy. Mummy is spelled exactly the same as mother (mammy) and is still used in the UK (mommy in the US). I don't seem to understand why they are the same.

Temples where Sokushinbutsu is enshrined in Yamagata Prefecture

In Yamagata Prefecture, there are officially 8 statues (9 including 1 unconfirmed statue) mainly in temples related to Mt. Yudono. In Yamagata Prefecture, there are three Dewa mountains : Mt. Haguro, which prays for happiness in this life; Mt. Gassan, which prays for peace and rebirth after death; and Mt. Yudono, which prays for rebirth He created many sokushinbutsu.

In Yamagata Prefecture, Sokushinbutsu is enshrined and open to the public at six temples: Shurenji, Dainichibo, Honmyoji, Nangakuji, Kaikoji, and Zokoin, as well as Meijuin, which is privately owned.

Yudonosan Shurenji Temple, where Tetsumon Kaijin's Sokushinbutsu is enshrined

Churenji is a Shingon sect temple founded by Kobo Daishi in 825. At that time, women were prohibited from visiting Mt. Yudono, so it was built as a temple for women to visit.

There are many high priests who trained at Shurenji and became Sokushinbutsu, and six of them are enshrined at Shurenji, Honmyoji, Nangakuji, Kaikoji (two statues), and Kannonji (Murakami City, Niigata Prefecture). Shurenji Temple enshrines the sokushinbutsu of Tetsumonkai Shonin, which was established in 1830.

Shuren-ji Temple is also the 31st temple of the Shonai Thirty-Three Kannon Temples, and the Kannon-do Hall (Kodenya) has a secret Buddhist incense Buddha (Shikimi), where the name is written on a birch leaf and the powder is ground into incense. The standing statue of Kannon Bodhisattva, a 3-inch [approximately 9 cm] statue made of a mixture of lacquer and lacquer, is enshrined here. In 2009, in the Japanese travel guide "Michelin Green Guide Japan" published by Michelin, Shurenji Temple and Sokushin Butsu Tetsumon Kaijin were given two stars (★★) as "worth a visit," and the ceiling paintings and Waniguchi (Japan's largest, diameter: 5 shaku 5 sun [approx. 165 cm], weight: 100 pieces [approx. 375 kg]) was awarded a 1 star (★)

INFORMATON

• Facility name: Yudonosan Shurenji Temple
• Location: 92-1 Oamiza Nakadai, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture
• Phone number: 0235-54-6536
• Visiting hours:
• May-October/9:00-17:00
• November - April / 10:00 - 16:00
• Open all year round
• Admission fee: 500 yen for adults, 300 yen for children
• Railway: Approximately 45 minutes by bus bound for Yudonoyama from Tsuruoka Station on the JR Uetsu Main Line, then approximately 20 minutes' walk from Oami bus stop.
• Car: Approximately 30 minutes on National Route 112 from Yamagata Expressway Gassan IC
• URL: Shurenji Temple

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Yudonoyama Sohonji Temple where the Sokushinbutsu of Shinnyokai Kaijin is enshrined, Takisui-dera Dainichibo Temple

Dainichibo is a Shingon sect temple founded by Kobo Daishi in 807, and the head temple of the four temples on Mt. Yudono . Like Shurenji Temple, it was built as a temple where women could visit since Mt. Yudono was a mountain where women were not allowed.

The sokushinbutsu enshrined here is Shinnyokaishonin, who was enshrined in 1783. It is said that Shinnyo Kaijin practiced for 70 years before becoming Sokushinbutsu. The principal image is the Taikon Ryobu Dainichi Nyorai statue (Yudonoyama Daigongen), which is said to have been created by Kobo Daishi himself. In addition, the gilt bronze statue of Shakyamuni Buddha has been designated as an important cultural property of the country.

Dainichibo is the 9th temple of the 33 Kannon in Shonai, and the Kannon-do hall houses 100 Kannon statues and 100 variations of the Kannon that were gifted by the Sakai family, the lords of the Shonai domain, about 400 years ago.

INFORMATON

• Facility name: Yudonosan Sohonji Temple Takisui-dera Dainichibo Temple
• Location: 11 Oamiza Nyudo, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture
• Phone number: 0235-54-6301
• Visiting hours: 8:00-17:00 (Reception until 16:30)
• Admission fee: Adults 500 yen, Junior high school students 400 yen, Elementary school students 300 yen
• access:
• Railway: Approximately 45 minutes by bus bound for Yudonoyama from Tsuruoka Station on the JR Uetsu Main Line, then approximately 25 minutes' walk from Oami bus stop.
• Car: Approximately 40 minutes on National Route 112 from Yamagata Expressway Gassan IC
• URL: Dainichibo

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Fudoyama Honmyoji Temple, where the Sokushinbutsu of Honmei Kaijin is enshrined

Honmyoji is a Shingon sect temple founded in 1592 by Shingetsu Shonin.

Honmyoukai Shonin, who is enshrined as a sokushinbutsu, trained at Shurenji and then entered Honmyoji. He began training to become Sokushinbutsu in 1673, and entered Honmyoji Temple in 1683 at the age of 96.

INFORMATON

• Facility name: Fudoyama Honmyoji Temple
• Location: 388 Uchino, Higashiiwamoto, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture
• Phone number: 0235-53-2269
• Visit: Reservation required
• Open all year round
• Admission fee: Free
• Railway: Approximately 30 minutes by bus bound for Yudonoyama from Tsuruoka Station on the JR Uetsu Main Line, then approximately 15 minutes' walk from Higashibashi bus stop.
• Car: Approximately 5 minutes from Yamagata Expressway Shonai Asahi IC
• URL: Honmyoji Temple

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Nangaku-ji Temple, a training mountain where the sokushinbutsu of Tetsuryukai people is enshrined

Nangakuji Temple is a branch temple of Shurenji Temple and was opened as a training center for Mt. Yudono and a place of prayer. Due to repeated fires, the date of its founding is unknown.

In 1956 (Showa 31), the entire mountain of Nangakuji was reduced to ashes due to a fire that spread from a neighboring house. However, only the principal image and the sokushinbutsu of Tetsurukai Shonin survived the fire, and in 1973, the temple was moved to its current location and the main hall was rebuilt.

Nangakuji Temple is home to the Chonan Nenkei Hall, which enshrines the Meiji era psychic called Toshie Chonan. Toshie Chonan was arrested and put on trial for fraudulent charges of performing medical treatment by selling false supernatural powers, but there is an anecdote that she actually demonstrated supernatural powers during the trial and was acquitted. .

Nangakuji Temple is the 29th temple of the Shonai Thirty-Three Kannon Temples.

INFORMATON

• Facility name: Shugyoyama Nangakuji Temple
• Location: 3-6 Sunada-cho, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture
• Phone number: 0235-23-5054
• Visiting hours: 8:30-16:30
• Closed: January 2nd, May 13th, August 14th
• Admission fee: 400 yen for adults, 300 yen for children
• access:
• Railway: Approximately 20 minutes by bus from Tsuruoka Station on the JR Uetsu Main Line, then approximately 4 minutes' walk from Nangakuji-mae bus stop.
• Car: About 5 minutes from Yamagata Expressway Tsuruoka IC

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Kaikoji Temple on Mt. Sunataka, where the sokushinbutsu of the Tadashi Marines and Enmei Marines are enshrined

Kaikoji is a Shingon sect temple that is said to have been founded by Kobo Daishi 1,200 years ago, and was originally a branch temple of Shurenji.

There are two statues enshrined in Sokubutsu-do Hall: those of Chukai Shonin (entered in 1755) and Enmyokai Shonin (entered in 1822). Kaikoji Temple is the only temple in Japan where two Sokushinbutsu statues are enshrined.

INFORMATON

• Facility name: Sunadakayama Kaikoji Temple
• Location: 2-7-12 Hiyoshicho, Sakata City
• Phone number: 0234-22-4264 (Kaikoji Temple)
• Opening hours: 9:00-17:00 (9:00-16:00 from November to March)
• Admission fee: 500 yen for adults, 300 yen for high school students, 200 yen for elementary and junior high school students
• Closed: Tuesdays, January 1st to January 3rd
• access:
• Railway: Approximately 5 minutes by bus from Sakata Station on the JR Uetsu Main Line, then approximately 5 minutes' walk from Kotobukicho bus stop.
• Car: Approximately 17 minutes from Nihonkai-Tohoku Expressway Sakata IC
• URL: Kaikoji Temple

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Kuroko-in Temple, where the Sokushinbutsu of Komyo Kaijin is enshrined

Zoko-in is a Soto sect temple located in Shirataka-cho, Okitama region, inland of Yamagata Prefecture, a little far from Dewa Sanzan, and was founded in 1588. The Sokushinbutsu of Komyokai Shonin is enshrined here.

Komyo Kaijin, who was a pilgrim on Mt. Yudono, trained as a sokushinbutsu and became a monk at Kuroko-in Temple in 1854. The tomb was excavated in 1978 (Showa 53) because there was a will saying, ``Please dig it up after 100 years,'' and the Shirataka Town Board of Education conducted an academic investigation with the cooperation of the government and Niigata University School of Medicine, and it was established as a Buddha statue. It was enshrined.

INFORMATON

• Facility name: Kurakain
• Location: 544-1 Kurokamo, Shirataka-cho, Yamagata Prefecture
• Phone number: 0238-86-0086 (Shirataka Town Tourism Association)
• *For details, please contact Shirataka Town Tourism Association.
• access:
• Railway/About 10 minutes by taxi from Arato Station on the Yamagata Railway Flower Nagai Line
• Car: Approximately 60 minutes from Yamagata Expressway Yamagata Zao IC via National Route 286 and Route 13
• URL: Shirataka Town Tourism Association

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Meijyu-in Temple on Mt. Kiei, where the sokushinbutsu of Meikami people is enshrined

Myojuin is a private hall in Yonezawa City, and Meikai Shonin is the only privately owned sokushinbutsu in Japan. The hall is open on the 5th of every month and you can visit.

INFORMATON

• Facility name: Kameizan Meijuin
• Address: 3675 Yanazawa, Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture
• Phone number: 0238-21-6111 (Yonezawa City Board of Education)
• *For details, please contact the Yonezawa City Board of Education.
• access:
• Railway: Approximately 15 minutes by taxi from Yonezawa Station on the Yamagata Shinkansen or JR Yonezaka Line
• Car: Approximately 20 minutes from Tohoku Chuo Expressway Yonezawa Hachimanbara IC
• URL: Yonezawa City

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Joshinan on Mt. Shoō, where the sokushinbutsu of a nun is said to be enshrined

Joshin-an in Yonezawa City is a temple where the father and son of Masanobu Sato, a vassal of Minamoto no Yoshitsune, are enshrined. A sokushinbutsu (sometimes described as a mummy), said to be Baishinni, the mother of the Sato brothers, was excavated within the shrine grounds, and a million-year pagoda has been erected above it. Because it has not been confirmed, it is not included in the existing Sokushinbutsu. private .

INFORMATON

• Facility name: Shōōzan Joshinan
• Location: 2-2-29 Ekimae, Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture
• Phone number: 0238-23-2353 (Joshinan)
• *Please contact Joshinan for details.
• Access: Railway/Approximately 5 minutes walk from Yonezawa Station on the Yamagata Shinkansen or JR Yonezaka Line Car/Approximately 8 minutes from Yonezawa Hachimanbara IC on the Tohoku Chuo Expressway

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