Kanshin-ji, Buddhist temple in Kawachinagano, Japan
Kanshin-ji is a Buddhist temple in Kawachinagano, Japan, known for its wooden Nyoirin Kannon figure from the 9th century. The main hall houses this carved statue, which ranks among the national cultural treasures of the country.
En no Gyoja founded this place in 701 and originally called it Unshin-ji. Kukai visited the grounds in 808 and returned in 815 to rebuild the structures and give the current name.
The Kusunoki family memorial stands within these grounds, drawing visitors who wish to pay respects to the warrior Masashige Kusunoki. A statue near the entrance gate marks his connection to the site.
The wooden Kannon statue can be viewed only on two days in April when the shrine opens to the public. Outside this period, the figure remains hidden and visitors can explore other areas of the grounds.
Seven burial mounds on the temple grounds form the shape of the Big Dipper in the sky, an arrangement created during Kukai's visit in 808. This astronomical design connects the site to cosmic patterns found in esoteric Buddhist practice.
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