Zenkoji 善光寺

Zenkoji is a temple located in Nagano prefecture. It was built 1,400 years ago to enshrine the oldest Buddhist image (Ikko-sanzon Amida-nyorai) in Japan. Zenkoji does not belong to any Buddhist sect because it was built before the sects were established.

I had a chance to visit Zenkoji on June 1. Once every seven years, a ceremony for exhibiting the Buddhist image (Maedachi Honzon) is held there until June 29. In front of the temple, a wooden pillar (Eko-bashira) is erected for the event. The pillar is connected to the right hand of the Buddhist image by a fine thread. People believe that touching the pillar and thereby the image, means they will receive good luck. While I was there, lots of people formed a line to pray in front of the Buddhist image and to touch the pillar. People’s religious beliefs are the same as they were 1,400 years ago.

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