Home > CHIBA 千葉県 > Ichikawa 市川市 > Mamasan Guhoji Temple 真間山 弘法寺

ic602-20210324_7920.jpg
Guhoji is a Nichiren Buddhist temple founded by Priest Gyoki in 737. It's on a small hill noted for cherry blossoms and autumn foliage.Priest Kobo Daishi (Kukai) later reconstructed and expanded the temple in 822. Tokugawa Ieyasu, before he became shogun, granted the temple ownership of its temple grounds in 1591. In 1695, Mito Komon named the temple's tea ceremony room "Henrantei" (遍覧亭). In 1888, the entire temple was destroyed by fire. The present structures were reconstructed in 1890.
ic603-20210324_7988.jpg
"Mamasan" is the temple's mountain name. Not the same as a mama-san operating a Japanese bar. Photo shows Mama no Tsughihashi Bridge leading to the steps going up to Guhoji Temple on a wooded hill. 真間の継橋
ic604-20210324_7979.jpg
Niomon Gate at the top of the steps, Guhoji's front gate. The two columns house a pair of Nio kings considered to be the protectors of the temple. 仁王門
ic605-20210324_7948.jpg
After Niomon Gate, this is the first building you see, Soshido Hall dedicated to Nichiren, founder of the Nichiren Buddhist sect. Reconstructed in 2010 on the 700th anniversary of Nichiren's death. 祖師堂 There are other temple buildings spread out on the hill.
ic607-20210324_7922.jpg
In spring, Guhoji's 400-year-old weeping cherry blossom tree is famous. 伏姫桜
ic608-20210324_7936.jpg
The weeping cherry tree looks different from different angles.
ic609-20210324_7925.jpg
Guhoji's 400-year-old weeping cherry blossom tree is named "Fushihime Sakura." 伏姫桜
ic610-20210324_7932.jpg
In Ichikawa, Chiba, Guhoji's 400-year-old weeping cherry blossom tree is named "Fushihime Sakura." 伏姫桜
ic611-20210324_7927a.jpg
We can see that a few branches had been cut, which means the tree was larger.
ic612-20210324_7954a.jpg
ic613-20210324_7976.jpg
ic614-20210324_7975.jpg
Another weeping cherry tree next to Fushihime Sakura.
ic615-20210324_7964.jpg
ic616-20210324_7958.jpg
ic617-20210324_7969.jpg
ic618-20210324_7981.jpg
View of Ichikawa Station area from Guhoji. The two skyscrapers are The Towers East on the left and The Towers West on the right. The higher Towers West building has a lookout deck on the 45th floor.
ic619-20210324_7946.jpg
Niomon Gate rear view as you exit.
ic619c-CIMG9981-R.jpg
Going down the steps from Guhoji Temple. In the distance, The Towers West skyscraper is visible. The road ahead goes all the way to JR Ichikawa Station.
ic619d-20210324_8087.jpg
View from The Towers West lookout deck on the 45th floor. The patch of green is the hill where Guhoji is located.
ic619e-20210324_8059.jpg
"Temple" marks the location of Guhoji Temple on the wooded hill.
ic620-20210324_7984.jpg
Mama no Tsughihashi Bridge near the steps going up to Guhoji Temple. The bridge is mentioned in some poems in the Man'yoshu. 真間の継橋
ic621-20210324_7986.jpg
About Mama no Tsughihashi Bridge. 真間の継橋
ic621d-20210324_7915.jpg
Near Guhoji is Tekona Reijindo, another temple. We didn't go to see this temple though. (Too tired walking.) Tekona Reijindo is dedicated to a local girl named Tekona who lived 2,000 years ago. 手児奈霊神堂Her job was to fetch water from a well. She was such a beautiful girl that every man who saw her fell in love with her and wanted to marry her. They even fought over her. Even the moon fell in love with her. She got so distraught by all the attention and fighting that she drowned herself in the well. Poor girl, she was loved to death.
ic621e-20210324_7916.jpg
In 1501, Tekona's spirit told a priest to build a grave for her. This evolved into this temple where women pray for maternal happiness including safe childbirth and child rearing. 手児奈霊神堂
ic621f-20210324_7919.jpg
Poem about Tekona.
ic622-20210324_7991.jpg
After Guhoji Temple, we walked back to Edogawa River along Mama River which had a few cherry blossoms.
ic623-20210324_7992.jpg
Mama River cherry blossoms in Ichikawa, Chiba.
ic624-20210324_7993.jpg
Western-style buildings along Mama River. The Christian church on the right is the Japan Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ichikawa and a National Tangible Cultural Property. 日本福音ルーテル市川教会【国登録有形文化財】
ic625-20210324_7994.jpg
Mama River empties into Edogawa River. We later walked along Edogawa River toward Konodai Station on the Keisei Line.
     
29 files on 1 page(s)