Marugame｜The prayer temple of the feudal lord family, the secret statue of Mahavairocana and the master-made Daikokuten

This Miaofa Temple can be traced back to 1,300 years ago and belongs to the Tiantai Sect. During the Warring States Period, this was a temple where the feudal lords' families prayed and worshipped, and it was also a spiritual sustenance for the people of Marugame. The temple enshrines the secret Buddha Vairocana, as well as a statue of Mahakala made by the Tiantai sect's missionary master, and a statue of Master Yuansan subduing demons. Speaking of Genzo Master, he is also known as Ryogen, Kaku Master, Dou Master, and Jike Master. He is the 18th abbot of Tendai and the lord of the revival of Enryakuji Temple on Mount Hiei. It is said that the monk army that influenced Japanese history was created by him. According to legend, a plague broke out in Kyoto during the Eikan period, and Master Yuansan was also infected. He entered a meditative state, transformed into a Yaksha, and drove out the evil spirits. After he woke up, he asked his disciples to draw the image of Yaksha and distributed it to the people. The epidemic gradually subsided. Because of the image of Yaksha, he was called "Koksha Master". During the COVID-19 period, many Japanese also put Kaksha Master amulets at home. There is another kind of Bean Master amulet. Because the pronunciation of "豆" (まめ) is similar to "魔灭", it is regarded as a talisman to ward off evil spirits and eliminate disasters. This Myoho-ji Temple has an area called "Buson-no-Ma" that displays the works of the three great masters of the Edo period, Yoshihiko Buson. Six of the paintings have been designated as national cultural properties, including the cycad painting and the Hanshan and Shide painting, which have been converted into folding screens for display. 📍Address: 9 Tomiyamachi, Marugame, Kagawa 763-0021 Japan 🚗Five minutes walk from JR Marugame Station #AprilGoodDestinations2025