Genkaku-ji, Buddhist temple in Koishikawa, Japan
Genkaku-ji is a Buddhist temple in the Koishikawa district of Tokyo's Bunkyo ward with a main hall built in 1979. The temple displays a wooden statue of King Enma and contains other Buddhist religious artworks within its grounds.
The temple was founded in 1624 by Buddhist priest Joyo Zuiha and received backing from powerful Tokugawa leaders of the time. Its establishment occurred during a period of significant temple construction across Japan.
The temple follows Pure Land Buddhism and houses the Amida Trinity with Buddha and two attendant Bodhisattvas. Visitors can observe how this spiritual tradition shapes the daily religious life at the site.
The temple welcomes visitors daily and offers temple seals for those interested in collecting them. Regular religious ceremonies take place throughout the year and visitors can observe or quietly participate in these practices.
Visitors bring konnyaku, a jelly-like food, as an offering to the Enma statue because locals believe it helps with eye troubles. This unusual practice reflects centuries of folk belief that continues to shape how people interact with the temple today.
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