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【城端・井波】（富山県南砺市　旧国名：越中）
【城端・井波】（富山県南砺市　旧国名：越中）
【城端・井波】（富山県南砺市　旧国名：越中）
【城端・井波】（富山県南砺市　旧国名：越中）
【城端・井波】（富山県南砺市　旧国名：越中）
【城端・井波】（富山県南砺市　旧国名：越中）
【城端・井波】（富山県南砺市　旧国名：越中）
【城端・井波】（富山県南砺市　旧国名：越中）
【城端・井波】（富山県南砺市　旧国名：越中）
【城端・井波】（富山県南砺市　旧国名：越中）
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【城端・井波】（富山県南砺市　旧国名：越中）
【城端・井波】（富山県南砺市　旧国名：越中）
【城端・井波】（富山県南砺市　旧国名：越中）
【城端・井波】（富山県南砺市　旧国名：越中）
【城端・井波】（富山県南砺市　旧国名：越中）
【城端・井波】（富山県南砺市　旧国名：越中）
【城端・井波】（富山県南砺市　旧国名：越中）
【城端・井波】（富山県南砺市　旧国名：越中）
【城端・井波】（富山県南砺市　旧国名：越中）
【城端・井波】（富山県南砺市　旧国名：越中）
hanakin_kozakuraJapan
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[Johana/Inami] (Nanto City, Toyama Prefecture, former province name: Etchu)

In the medieval Hokuriku region, the power of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism boasted enormous influence in both political and military affairs. Due to the fervent faith in Amida, which looked up to Shinran (1173-1263), the sect had followers all over the country, but in the late Muromachi period, Renyo (1415-1499), the founder of the revival, traveled down to Hokuriku and skillfully captured the hearts of the people to expand the influence of temples. Furthermore, he intervened in the unrest in the various Hokuriku provinces, including Kaga Province (present-day southern Ishikawa Prefecture), and the Ikko Ikki became the de facto lords in the province, demonstrating the strong organizational power bound together by faith. The rebellion was eventually put down by Oda Nobunaga and lost its former power, but the faith that was deeply rooted in the hearts of the people continued, and even in the early modern period, it was deeply revered as a central presence in the region's industry and culture. Ecchu Province (present-day Toyama Prefecture), especially Tonami County in the southwest, has deep ties to Rennyo, and with many temples of high status and large scale, it is an area that still witnesses the prosperity of Jodo Shinshu today. Zentoku-ji Temple (photos 2-4) is a prime example of this. Also known as "Johana Betsuin" after the name of the land where it is located, this temple was founded by order of Rennyo and moved around between Ecchu and Kaga provinces, caught in the flames of war, until it was established in its current location during the Sengoku period. Johana is a strategic point connecting the western part of Etchu Province with Hida Province (present-day northern Gifu Prefecture), and is easily defended due to its surrounding terrain surrounded by mountains and forests. Since the relocation of Zentoku-ji Temple, the town was developed as a temple town. Its character remains unchanged even today, and as you walk up the gentle slope from the north to the center, you will see the magnificent Zentoku-ji Temple gate firmly holding the main street, and you can only admire the power of its multiple interlocking brackets. Most of the current buildings, including this gate, were built in the mid- to late-Edo period, and the overwhelming scale of the buildings, combined with the architectural and craft designs that are spread throughout the details, make this a series of extremely valuable historical structures. The construction and maintenance of these temples was made possible by the patronage of the Maeda clan of the Kaga domain, known as the Kaga domain with a million koku of rice, as well as the efforts of the Shinshu sect followers who are widespread in the region. While maintaining its unwavering faith, the temple is exploring how it can adapt to the changing times, and recently renovated a building that was used as a training hall to create Moritosha (photo 5), which functions as a cafe, shop, and hotel. Based on the folk art movement of Yanagi Muneyoshi (1889-1961), who was inspired by the Pure Land faith inherited by Zentoku-ji Temple and wrote his famous work "The Dharma of Beauty" inside the temple, the temple is developing new endeavors to embody the charm of local culture. Meanwhile, in Inami, about 9km northeast of Johana, there is Zuisen-ji Temple (photos 6-7), another major base of the Shinshu sect. It was built at the end of the 14th century by Shakunyo (1350-1393), the fifth abbot of Honganji, the head temple of the Shinshu sect of Buddhism. It is said that at the time, followers from a wide area, not only in the Hokuriku region but also in Hida and Shinano (present-day Nagano Prefecture), invested their wealth in the temple to support it. Like other Shinshu temples, it was burned down and relocated during the Sengoku period when it was the base of the Ikko Ikki rebellion, but was restored when the wars ended. When it was rebuilt in the Edo period, local carpenters acquired the skills of carpenters sent by Honganji, the head temple of the temple, and this led to the birth of the "Inami carvings" that are famous today. Inami carpenters honed their woodworking skills in a way that was close to the faith centered around Zuisenji, and they displayed their creativity not only in temple buildings but also in Buddhist statues, sculptures, and the design of private homes. As a result, many works by Inami craftsmen remain in western Toyama Prefecture, and it is no exaggeration to say that they enhance the dignity of the region itself. If you visit the town of Inami today, you will find a row of craftsmen's workshops and galleries along Yokamachi Street (photos 8-10) leading to Zuisen-ji Temple, with each store's ingenious signs and unique construction creating a unique atmosphere. Wooden carvings with dragon and cat motifs can be seen peeking out from the street, giving the illusion of being lost in a world of stories. And finally, the luxurious wooden carvings on the buildings of Zuisen-ji Temple that await you are unparalleled in their three-dimensionality and dynamism, and their terrifying expressions make you feel the sharpness of the people who put their hearts into every swing of the chisel. Recommended for solo travelers: ★★★★ (There are people, but not many. You can enjoy sightseeing in peace!) Visited: 2nd Sunday in April around 4pm Access: 5 minutes by car from Fukumitsu IC (to Zentoku-ji Temple) #Zentoku-ji Temple #Zuisen-ji Temple #Johana #Inami #Toyama Trip #Toyama Tourism #Nanto City #Hokuriku Trip #Hokuriku Tourism #toyama_next #Toyama Tourism Navi #Toyama's Seriousness #Domestic Travel Lover #Connect with Domestic Travel Lovers #Temple Tour #Temple Lover #Temples and Shrines #Temple and Shrine Tour #Jodo Shinshu
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Posted: Nov 6, 2024
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