Dragon 青竜

Rengejo-in temple is located in the northwestern part of Isshin-in Valley. The present-day main hall ( hondo ), kitchen ( kuri ), and main gate ( sanmon ) were reconstructed in 1860 with the support of the Sanada clan. Having survived a major fire in 1888, the temple retains the prestige of an Edo Period feudal lord’s temple. Rengejo-in features accommodation with a garden and free WiFi throughout the property as well as free private parking for guests who drive. This 4-star ryokan offers luggage storage space. Guests can enjoy garden views. At the ryokan the rooms include air conditioning and a safety deposit box. An Asian breakfast is available each morning. Main gate. The Main gate ( sanmon ) welcoming visitors is adorned with large paper lanterns raised on poles and bearing the Sanada family crest (the Rokumonsen) and a tablet attesting to the gate’s reconstruction in 1860 w...

The True Word (Shingon) teaching refers primarily to two sacred texts, the Kongocho-kyo (Sanskrit: Vajrasekhara Sutra) and the Dainichi-kyo (Sanskrit: Maha-Vairocana Sutra), written around the 2nd century at Nalanda Monastery in northern India. This Buddhist school of the yoga of the three mysteries, the "traiguya-yoga", explains that it is possible to become a Buddha in this life. These teachings affirm that the original nature of the spirit of man is pure. It is the heart of compassion, the “bodhi”, whose essence is identical to that of the Universe. What differentiates the different schools of the True Word (Shingon) is precisely the means of apprehending this ultimate reality. In general: if we suffer, it is because we attach ourselves to what is impermanent in this world of form and desire, which everyone conceives in this way according to what he is internally. The passions, grouped under the term triple poison (lust, anger ...

Konpon Daito, the "Basic Great Pagoda", according to Shingon Buddhist doctrine represents the central point of a mandala covering all of Japan. Standing at 48.5 meters tall and situated right in the middle of Kōyasan, this pagoda was built as a seminary for the esoteric practices of Shingon Buddhism. Kobo Daishi and his successor Shinzen Daitoku devoted themselves to the construction of this pagoda, which took from 816 through 887. Kobo Daishi referred to this pagoda as a representation of the universe, and, as it played a role as the central training hall ( dojo ) for the Shingon Sect, it was called the Konpon (principal) Daito. This is believed to be Japan’s first square two-storied pagoda. It enshrines an image of Vairocana in the Womb Realm and is surrounded by four Buddhist figures from the Diamond Realm. The sixteen pillars that support it are inscribed with images of sixteen boddhisatvas, drawn by Insho Domoto. Images of the eight pat...