The Sanno Torii Gate stood at the top of the steep Otoko-zaka slope of Meguro Fudoson

Otoko-zaka slope in Meguro Fudo-son — Otoko-zaka slope in Meguro Fudoson

After passing through the Nio-mon gate, I soon came to a steep staircase. This is an Otoko-zaka slope leading to the main hall of Meguro Fudoson. Meguro Fudoson, or Ryusen-ji Temple, which has been a popular holiday spot since the Edo period, is located at the top of these steps. The main hall stands on the Meguro plateau overlooking the Meguro River and the Rakan-ji River (now a culvert).

This plateau has been suitable for human habitation since ancient times, and the remains of pit houses and pottery from the Jomon and Yayoi periods have been discovered. As many as 18 pit dwelling sites from the middle Jomon period have been discovered, so it seems that the area has been suitable for human habitation since about 5,000 years ago.

A place that has been inhabited since ancient times is probably a very pleasant place to live. Jikaku Daishi Ennin, the head of the Tendai sect, must have felt such luck on his way to Mount Hiei, following his teacher Kouchi. He decided to build a temple on this spot.

I stopped at a steep staircase and looked up to see the Sanno Torii gate at the top of the stairs. It was a torii gate based on the one at Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine in Shiga Prefecture. Hieizan Enryaku-ji Temple, the head temple of the Tendai sect of Buddhism, considers Hiyoshi-taisha to be a sacred deity. That's why Ryusen-ji, another temple of the Tendai sect, also has a Sanno Torii.

Comment via

日本語