Fugen-ji Temple

Overview

Fugen-ji is a temple of the Kennin-ji branch of the Rinzai Zen school, located in Murozumi, Hikari City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. Its principal image, the Fugen (Samantabhadra) Bodhisattva, has long been revered both as a buddha of longevity and as a guardian of the sea. Set in the seaside town of Murozumi, the temple has walked alongside the prayers of people wishing for safety at sea and good fishing. Within the grounds stand a Niō gate, sixteen rakan (arhat) statues, a tenbōrin dharma wheel, and a Koyasu Kannon, and the celebrated Sesshū garden is handed down here as well. The temple also holds treasures, and a walk through its quiet precinct offers the calm of a Zen temple together with the devotional scenery unique to a seaside town.

Highlights

• ●The principal Fugen Bodhisattva, revered as a buddha of longevity and guardian of the sea
• ●The Sesshū garden bearing the name of the painter-monk Sesshū
• ●Sights such as the Niō gate, sixteen rakan statues, dharma wheel, and Koyasu Kannon
• ●The air of a Rinzai Zen temple rooted in the seaside town of Murozumi

History

At the heart of Fugen-ji is the Fugen Bodhisattva, deeply venerated as a buddha governing both longevity and protection of the sea. As a Zen temple of the Kennin-ji branch of Rinzai, it has stayed close to the lives of Murozumi's people and their prayers for safety on the water. The Sesshū garden preserved in its grounds bears the name of the Muromachi-period painter-monk Sesshū and speaks to the long span of years the temple has accumulated. For details of its founding and history, please consult official information.

Map

33.9226, 131.9675 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1Head from central Hikari to Fugen-ji in the seaside town of Murozumi
2. 2Pass through the Niō gate and pay respects to the Fugen Bodhisattva
3. 3Visit the sixteen rakan statues and Koyasu Kannon, then view the Sesshū garden
4. 4Stroll on, combining the old streets of Murozumi with the seaside scenery

Did you know?

💡 The principal Fugen Bodhisattva is worshipped both as a 「buddha of longevity」 and as a 「guardian of the sea,」 a fitting reflection of the seaside setting of Murozumi. That a Sesshū garden survives in the grounds also makes it a temple not to be missed for its ties to the master of Muromachi-period ink painting.

Nearby spots