On 24th September, hubby and I visited Toyokawa Inari Temple. It is a Buddhist temple of Soto Zen sect and is located in Toyokawa city of Aichi prefecture. The formal name of the temple is Enpukuzan Toyokawa-kaku Myogonji. The temple is sprawled over an area of 127300 square meters and was founded in 1441 by a Buddhist priest named Tokai Gieki. His distant predecessor Kangan Giin studied Tantric Buddhism in China in the 13th century. According to him Juichimen Kannon is an avatar of a female deity named Toyokawa Dakinishinten. On a rough sea-trip home from China, Kangan Giin had a vision of Dakinishinten riding atop a white fox while carrying a sheaf of rice and a wish-fulfilling jewel. After he settled down in Japan, he himself carved a beautiful image of the deity, which is now housed in the main hall of the temple. People pray to the deity for good business, for having many children and other worldly benefits. The temple was patronized in the Sengoku period as well as Edo period by great warriors like Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu.
At a cursory glance it seems like the temple has elements of both Buddhism and Shinto religions. Although many structures in the temple premises like Torii Gates, statues of Kitsune fox, and the deity itself with an image of goddess (Inari Okami) riding a messenger white fox are generally associated with Shinto religion, it is purely a Buddhist temple with no overt association with Shinto. The similarity was most likely created during the period of religious syncretism in the initial period of Meiji Restoration, and the line between Buddhism and Shinto was blurred that time.
It is very interesting to note that Goddess Dakini is known as a wrathful form of Goddess Kaali in Tantric Hinduism in India. It is very likely that Goddess Dakini was incorporated into Japanese Buddhism and evolved into Dakinishinten. In modern folk belief, the image of fox is thought to be a substitute for the Indian jackal usually associated with Kaali.
We entered Toyokawa Inari Temple through a majestic gate named Somon. After the founding of the temple, Somon Gate was first renovated after 214 years in 1656. The present gate was reconstructed in 1884 in Irimoya-zukuri (hip and gable roof) style. It is a four pillared gate with a gable. The gate has double doors made from a single plate of zelkova wood that is believed to be from a tree that is more than 1000 years old. The doors are 4.5 meters high, 1.8 meters in width, and 15 centimeters thick. The gate has copper roofing and has hand-carved metal fittings at various places. Somon is an ornate wonderful gate.
On entering the temple premises, we saw a stone Torii Gate to our left. Two statues of Kitsune foxes on either side of the gate looked amazing. The foxes are made of copper and stand on stone pedestals. The Torii gate and the foxes are considered to be the typical identifying elements of Shinto religion. This clearly shows that the line between Buddhism and Shinto was blurred during the Meiji Restoration period.
After appreciating the statues of Kitsune foxes, hubby clicked a photo of me standing with one of the Kitsune foxes.
From the Torii Gate area, we saw several elements and structures of Buddhism to our right side. So next we went to see those Buddhist structures in details.
First we saw a belfry (Shoro-do), which is a Buddhist structure. In commemoration of the completion of reconstruction of the temple main hall, the belfry was donated by Hamamatsu city in 1945. It is made of zelkova wood. The bell (Bonsho) hanging from the belfry was cast during the end of World War II as a memorial for the war dead and for praying for world peace and the welfare of humankind.
Next, we saw another interesting gate named Sanmon, which is a Buddhist structure. It was built in 1536 with donations from Imagawa Yoshimoto, and was constructed in Kawarabuki-zukuri (semi cylindrical tiled roof) style. It was repaired in 1792 and again a major repair was carried out in 1954. It is the oldest extant building inside the temple premises.
The statues of Nio located on either sides of Sanmon Gate were donated by devotees in 1966. Nio are two wrathful and muscular guardians of Buddha and the temple premises. The Nio statue with open mouth is called Agyo and is a symbol of overt violence. The statue with closed mouth is called Ungyo and symbolizes latent strength. Conceived as a pair, the two statues of Nio complement each other. Below is the statue of closed mouthed Ungyo.
Statue of open mouthed Agyo.
Next, I washed by hands and mouth at Semizu-sha to purify my mind and body to enter the prayer area of the temple.
After seeing some of the Buddhist elements inside the temple premises, we started walking along a paved approach and saw a second stone Torii Gate which is a representative of Shinto religion. Hubby clicked a photo of me standing in front of the Torii Gate.
The second stone Torii Gate.
After walking past the second Torii Gate, we turned around and saw the beautiful paved approach with the two stone Torii Gates, several temple buildings, and the beautiful blue sky. It was a wonderful sight.
We walked along the paved approach for about 50 meters, and reached in front of Honden Main Hall. It is a reconstructed Buddhist structure. Reconstruction of the building began in 1908 and was completed in 1945. It is made of zelkova wood, and has double roofs of Irimoya-zukuri (hip and gable roof) and Tsumairi-zukuri (main entrance of the building on the gabled side) styles. In addition, there are three entrances to the worship hall. The building is 30.6 meters high, 19.35 meters wide, and has a depth of 38.59 meters. It has a total of 72 round pillars of two dimensions (24 and 90 centimeters in diameters). I love knowing about the details and architecture of buildings. The beautiful statue of Toyokawa Dakinishinten carved by the priest Kangan Giin is enshrined inside the main hall.
Hubby is standing in front of Honden Main Hall.
I am standing in front of the Main Hall.
We saw two statues of Kitsune foxes on either side of the paved approach near the entrance of Honden Main Hall. The foxes are made of copper and stand on stone pedestals. They are considered to be the guardians of Buddha and the temple. Hubby clicked a photo of me standing with one of the statues of the foxes.
Hubby is standing with the other statue of Kitsune fox.
We also saw two huge copper lanterns on either side of the paved approach near the entrance of Honden Main Hall. The lantern to the left was a bit rusted.
The copper lantern to our right side was not much rusted and that made me wonder whether the two lanterns were made at different times.
Just in front of the Main Hall of the temple we saw a large cauldron of incense, smoke from which is believed to bestow good health. We lit a bunch of incense sticks to the already fuming stock and with our hands wafted the incense fumes over our bodies.
While climbing the steps to Honden Main Hall, we saw a huge and amazing red paper lantern hanging from the ceiling of the hall.
On the veranda of the Main Hall, we saw two gorgeous copper lanterns on either side of the hall. Below is one of the lanterns.
The other copper lantern kept on the veranda of the Main Hall.
Finally we reached the altar area of the Main Hall. I offered some coins into an offertory box located in front of the altar and prayed for good health and peace for everyone.
We left Honden Main Hall and saw a beautiful garden nearby with a stone pagoda. It was very pleasant and peaceful scenery.
Hubby posed in front of the garden wearing a mask. I guess that is going to be the new normal henceforth.
There were many more buildings and interesting structures inside the temple premises but we decided to visit those some other day. We had a nice time visiting the temple.
