Chionji, Buddhist temple in Miyazu, Japan.
Chionji is a Rinzai-shu Myoshinji-sect temple at 466 Aza Monju, Miyazu, Kyoto Prefecture, on the grounds of the Amanohashidate special scenic area. Its main hall, the Monjudō, is a Kamakura-period building holding the hidden Monju Bosatsu image with attendants Zenzai Dōji and Udennō. The two-storey Sanmon gate, Ōgonkaku, built in 1767, is the largest surviving double gate in the Tango region.
The temple was founded in 808 under Emperor Heizei as an esoteric Buddhist institution. It later transformed into a Zen temple during the Northern and Southern Courts period, reshaping its spiritual approach.
Chionji is one of Japan's three great Monju sanctuaries, alongside Abe Monju-in in Sakurai and Kameoka Monju in Takahata. Its nickname Kireto no Monju comes from the site's topography, and the Noh play Kuse no To takes the temple as its subject. The main Monju Bosatsu image is kept hidden and shown on only five days a year.
The temple is open from 8:00 to 17:00, and paid parking is available on-site for visitors. It is approximately a five-minute walk from Amanohashidate Station on the Kyoto Tango Railway.
The principal Buddha statue of Monju Bosatsu is open to public viewing for only five days each year, including the first three days of the new year. This restricted access makes visits during these periods especially meaningful for those seeking to see the sacred figure.
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