A sacred place for students taking exams! Kameoka Monju, the Bodhisattva of Wisdom in Tohoku [Yamagata Prefecture]

Kameoka Monju-do , located in Takahata-machi, Higashiokitama-gun, Yamagata Prefecture, is said to bring good fortune in various matters requiring "wisdom," such as passing exams, achieving one's wishes, and business prosperity

This time, we'll be writing about Kameoka Monjudo, a place that sees a flood of students every year during exam season!

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What is Kameoka Monjudo?

"Kameoka Monjudo" refers to a hall dedicated to Monju Bodhisattva, belonging to Daishoji Temple, a Shingon sect Chizan school temple located in Kameoka, Takahata-machi, Higashiokitama-gun, Yamagata Prefecture . Although the principal image of Daishoji Temple, which is the affiliated temple, is Dainichi Nyorai, the temple is often commonly referred to as "Kameoka Monju" because the Monjudo is so famous .

It is said that the temple's origins date back to 807 , when Tokuitsu , a monk of the Hossō sect, moved the statue of Manjushri Bodhisattva, which had been brought from Mount Wutai in China and enshrined on Mount Kamiji in Ise Province, to this location by imperial command. At that time, it was called Monju-ji Temple.

During the Sengoku period,Date Masamunemoved from this area to Iwadeyama, he enshrined the old bell of Shifuku-ji Temple, which he moved with him. Later, when the area became part of the Uesugi territory, apoetry andsong dedication ceremony hosted by Naoe Kanetsugu was held here, demonstrating the reverence the temple received from the rulers of the time.

Incidentally, the 100 poems dedicated at this time are known as the Kameoka Hyakushu ( 100 Poems of Kameoka), and it is said that most of the handwritten poems on strips of paper still exist at the temple. Among them are works by well-known warlords, such as seven Chinese poems by Naoe Kanetsugu and five Japanese poems by Maeda Keiji

During the Edo period, it was a famous temple known as "a renowned temple of the realm," having been granted the rank of Chunagon (Middle Counselor) and a vermilion seal certificate designating it as the territory of the Monju-do Hall by Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, the fifth shogun of the Edo shogunate.

Manjusri is the Bodhisattva of Wisdom

The Bodhisattva Manjushri, enshrined in the Manju Hall , is one of the Bodhisattvas worshipped in Mahayana Buddhism, and is generally considered the Bodhisattva who presides over wisdom , as evidenced by the old saying, "Three heads are better than one."

For this reason, it is said that the shrine has blessings for various matters that require wisdom, such as passing exams, and during New Year's visits and exam season, the shrine is bustling with many students who come to pray at Kameoka Monju

One of the three great Manjusri of Japan

Along with Abe Monjuin in Sakurai City, Nara Prefecture, and Kirito Monju at Chionji Temple in Miyazu City, Kyoto Prefecture, it is counted as one of the three most important Monju temples in Japan , along with Kameoka in Dewa, Abe in Yamato, and Kirito in Tango

However, there are usually several candidates for the Japanese University of.... The Three Monjus of Japan is no exception

• Nakayama Monju of Yamashiro (Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture)
• Mount Godai Chikurinji Temple in Tosa (Kochi City, Kochi Prefecture)
• Monjusenji Temple in Kunisaki, Buzen (Kunisaki City, Oita Prefecture)
• Kakeyu Monjudo in Shinano (Kakeyu Onsen, Ueda City, Nagano Prefecture)

Also seems to be a candidate

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Water of Wisdom "Tone Water"

If you go around to the back from the right side of the main hall of Monju-do, you will find the spring of "Rikonsui," the water of wisdom, which is said to bestow the wisdom of Monju Bodhisattva

This spring water has been selected as one of the 100 best springs in Yamagata and is a famous rural water source

Don't forget to have a sip when you visit!

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"Pencil of Wisdom" for praying for success in exams

The temple office to the left of the Monju-do Hall sells a variety of souvenirs that are likely to bring good luck in passing exams

In addition to amulets and talismans , they also seem to have items like the "Pencil of Wisdom" shown in the photo below , and "Rice for Passing Exams" that has been blessed for good luck in exams

This time I bought a Kameoka Monju stamp and the most practical item for me, the "Pencil of Wisdom." I don't have any exams coming up, but wisdom never hurts!

By the way, the shop along the approach to the shrine has an even more varied lineup, including "Wisdom Candy," "Passing Sweet Chestnuts," "Passing Headband," "Passing Daruma," "Wisdom Konjac," "Wisdom Grilled Dumplings," and more... It might be fun to look for something that appeals to you

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summary

Generally, when people pray for success in exams, they often visit shrines dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, a politician and scholar of the Heian period, known as Tenjin-sama, the god of learning.Butif you also pray to Monju Bodhisattva, who presides over wisdom, then perhaps passing the exam is practically guaranteed?

being part of Japan's largest university in the Tohoku region,this is a spot you should definitely visit at least once.

Kameoka Monju <Information>

• Name: Kameoka Monju (Daishoji Temple)
• Address: Kameoka, Takahata-machi, Higashiokitama-gun, Yamagata Prefecture, 992-0321
• Phone number: 0238-52-0444
• Official URL:https://kameokamonju.jp/

Google Maps

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