Tenjō-ji, Buddhist temple on Mount Maya in Kobe, Japan.
Tenjō-ji is a Shingon Buddhist temple on Mount Maya, rebuilt about 1 km north of its original site after a 1976 arson fire. Its grounds include the 1985 main hall, the 2002 Maya Hall, a 2005 open-air stage, and two dry-landscape gardens by garden historian Nishi Katsura. The old site, now Maya-san Historic Park, keeps the surviving Niō Gate, stone walls, and steps.
A monk named Hōdō established the temple in 646 at the request of Emperor Kōtoku, following his successful healing of the ruler's illness. The founding was an act of imperial gratitude for the monk's healing power.
This is the only temple in Japan dedicated to Maya, Buddha's mother, and visitors encounter rituals and prayers focused on protection during pregnancy. The practice draws people seeking blessings for childbirth and safe delivery throughout the year.
The temple sits at the end of a walking path from the ropeway station and is reached through forested footways. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes and prepare for changing weather conditions at this elevation.
The main image is a golden Eleven-Faced Kannon about 6 cm tall, said to have been carved by the Buddha himself and brought to Japan by the monk Hōdō. It is a secret image shown only once every 33 years, and it was revered as the guardian buddha of the Osaka Bay area and the provinces around Mount Maya.
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