Sacred site of Mount HakusanNatadera is located on Mount Hakusan, and due to its majestic prominence, has long been revered as a sacred mountain where a Goddess resides. Natadera was founded approximately 1300 years ago, in the year 717 when the Buddhist priest Taicho carved a statue of a thousand-armed Avalokiteshvara and enshrined it in the cave of Hakusan. In the middle of the Heian period, Emperor Kazan visited the temple, and was so pleased with the temple, left a comment, ”This sacred location possesses all the 33 views of the Westland’s Kannon sacred mountains.” It is said that Natadera was named afterward quoting the emperor’s comment, taking the character 那 ”Na” from Nachisan, the 1st sacred mountain of the 33, and the character 谷 ”Tani” from Tanigumi San, the 33rd sacred mountain. |
Walking in the cavesThe temple had been revered, but the war of the north and the south dynasties caused its dilapidation. Later, Toshitsune Maeda, the 3rd feudal lord to the Kaga clan restored the temple. Ever since, Natadera stands majestically in the steep mountains. |
Feeling the laws of natureThe oddly shaped cliff Kiganyusenkyo is a tourist spot at Natadera. A Buddhist statue is enshrined by the rocky mountain surface, looking like a picture of the beautiful landscape. We visited in summer, when the mountain was full of greenery. |
ACCESS
- Natadera
- Yu122 Natamachi Komatsu, Ishikawa
- URL http://www.natadera.com/