青龍寺

Overview

Seiryuji is a temple of the Daigo school of Shingon Buddhism located in Shimokadoo, Yazu, Tottori Prefecture, with the mountain name Naritasan. Though a Shingon temple, it is a rare place that preserves the legacy of Shinto-Buddhist syncretism: enshrined within its main hall is the relocated sanctuary of Hakuto Shrine from Fukumoto in the same town. The delicate carvings on that sanctuary quietly draw in visitors.

Highlights

• ●An old temple of the Daigo school of Shingon, mountain name Naritasan
• ●The sanctuary of Hakuto Shrine relocated inside the main hall
• ●The Edo-period wave rabbit carving combining waves and a rabbit
• ●The legend of the rabbit said to have guided the goddess Amaterasu

History

Seiryuji is said to have originated from Jokoji, once located at Nakayama. The Hakuto Shrine sanctuary housed inside the main hall bears an intricate carving known as the wave rabbit, combining waves and a rabbit, said to date from the Edo period. The rabbit is associated with the one that is said to have served as a guide when the goddess Amaterasu descended upon Nakayama.

Map

35.4224, 134.2527 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1Arrive at Seiryuji in Shimokadoo, Yazu, and enter the quiet grounds
2. 2Pay respects at the Hakuto Shrine sanctuary within the main hall
3. 3Study the wave rabbit carving and the cormorant-and-heron details
4. 4Reflect on the guiding rabbit and the descent of Amaterasu

Did you know?

💡 The wave rabbit carving in the main hall depicts not only waves and a rabbit but also a cormorant (u) and a heron (sagi), a play on words in which u and sagi together sound like usagi, meaning rabbit. It is a witty masterpiece that still preserves its Edo-period form.

Nearby spots