About Iouzan Yakuoin Yuzanji Temple
It is not a so-called touristy temple.It is not a temple that is often mentioned in guidebooks.However, since its construction in 701 by Gyoki (a founder of Buddhism active from the Asuka to Nara periods), Aburayama Temple in Fukuroi City, Shizuoka Prefecture, has been revered by successive emperors, the Tokugawa family, and other feudal lords, and is beloved by local people.The name “Aburayama” comes from the fact that oil used to gush out from this place, and it is also called “sacred mountain for the eyes.
The temple was so named because Emperor Kohken (the sixth female emperor in history), who once suffered from an eye disease, visited the temple and washed her eyes with the sacred water from the “Ruri no Taki” waterfall that flowed through the temple grounds, and her eye disease was cured.Since then, many people have visited the temple to pray for the cure of eye diseases, and there are still many structures on the temple grounds that were donated in gratitude for the recovery of their eyes.Although not fancy, they are all valuable, including the Yakushi Main Hall and the three-story pagoda (Important Cultural Property), which were built by Minamoto no Yoritomo in gratitude for his recovery from an eye disease, and the Yakushi Nyorai kitchen in the main hall, which was donated by the famous historical figure Imagawa Yoshimoto.The main gate was originally located under the entrance to the palace of Kakegawa Castle, which was called the “Great Castle of the Tokai Region.” When the castle was closed during the Meiji period (1868-1912), the gate was donated by the feudal lord and relocated to the present location.
Because of its remoteness from other tourist attractions, there were not many worshippers when we visited.Other than us, there were only a couple of people on the temple grounds in the morning, who appeared to be locals.But perhaps it was because of this that there was a pleasant atmosphere in the temple grounds.
Not only for eyes, but also for legs and back.
I took a walk around the temple grounds with Nakata.The forest is said to have remained unchanged for 10,000 years in its natural state, with waterfalls and streams of clear water, and the only sounds in my ears are the rustling of the trees and the chirping of birds.Walking in the cool, clean morning air, you feel as if your body is naturally awakening.The vast temple grounds, covered with cedars and maple trees, are mysterious, and in the fall, visitors can surely enjoy the beautiful autumn colors of the leaves.
In fact, Aburazan-ji Temple is said to be “protected by the god of healthy feet” in addition to the blessings for eyes.The entire mountain is within the temple’s precincts, and it takes a lot of stamina to get from the lowest gate to the main Yakushi hall on the top of the mountain, but Nakata was able to keep up his light footing. It was also the first time for Hidetoshi Nakata to visit here.Why did he want to visit this shrine? I asked him when he left the gate after praying.He replied, “Somehow, I got the impression from reading the materials that it looked good.
Perhaps it was because he had been to shrines and temples all over the country.Perhaps it was because he had been to shrines and temples all over the country, but he had a good intuition.I recommend visiting this place in the morning.It is definitely worth the trip.
