Raccoon dog’s temple, Morinji in Tatebayashi No.2

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Japan, photography, Tatebayashi, temple, travel

Morinji temple at Tatebayashi town in Gunma prefecture is Sotoshu-sect Buddhist temple which built in 1426. They have another legend of “Bunbuku Chagama” that is an old monk Shukaku bought a miracle tea kettle which didn’t shrink the boiled water in it however they used at the 1000 people’s tea ceremony in 1570. One day Shukaku took a nap, and he unveiled himself as a badger/raccoon dog. Since he knew he didn’t stay here anymore, he flied away. It was February 28th in 1587 that had been spent 161 years since he had come to this temple. Now you can watch this miracle tea kettle in the temple.

At Morinji (from a poster)

The approach of Morinji. There are 21 raccoon dogs’ statues.

Morinji’s approach (from a photo at Morinji)

Hondo (main hall)

Morinji main hall’s roof that was built by thatch

Fortune slip at Morinji. Its figure is a raccoon dog.

Shukaku-do (Shukaku’s hall). In front of the hall, there are two raccoon dogs for guarding and addition that you can watch many raccoon dogs’ dolls.

Some stone statues of Buddha

Morinji’s main hall

Morinji’s miracle teakettle “Bunbuku Chagama”

Morinji’s window

Morinji’s wall

Zenbei Takase donated this Sho-Kannon Aryavalokitesvara (manifestation of Avalokitesvara) for his dead daughter in 1690.

Bunbuku Chagama and Gunma-chan (Gunma prefecture’s character, horse)

In this temple, a comedy movie “Ekimae Chagama” (Teakettle at the station) was shot. The man of the center (Frankie Sakai) had a teakettle.

Frankie Sakai’s autography and an illustration of a raccoon dog by Sakai.

Illustration of raccoon dog by Shinshō Kokontei (Japanese comic storyteller)

Illustration of Bunbuku Chagama raccoon dog by Kosan Yanagiya (Japanese comic storyteller).

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