Mizusawa-dera, Buddhist pilgrimage temple in Shibukawa, Japan
Mizusawa-dera is a Buddhist temple that rises above Shibukawa, encompassing multiple buildings arranged with traditional architectural elements and courtyards. The complex includes various halls and a hexagonal structure called Rokkaku-do, which contains a rotating library mechanism displaying Buddhist scriptures.
The temple was founded during the Asuka period under Empress Suiko's reign, when Takanobe Ienari established it with support from the Goguryeo Buddhist cleric Ekan. This early establishment made it significant in the region's Buddhist history.
The temple displays a bronze statue of Senju Kanzeon Bosatsu, the Buddhist goddess of mercy, depicted with eleven heads and thousand arms. Visitors can stand before this figure and observe the intricate sculptural details that express her protective role in Buddhist belief.
Visitors must climb roughly 97 stone steps to reach the temple grounds. Wearing comfortable shoes and allowing time to explore the various halls throughout the site is advisable.
Inside a two-story hexagonal building, a mechanical carousel displays life-sized Jizo statues representing different realms of Buddhist rebirth cycles. This rotating mechanism creates a meditative visual experience as visitors observe the figures moving past.
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