We are now a little further into the hills and you’ve trekked a little bit to get here. If you are walking, you’ve made a few adjustments to your gear and getting the hang of things. A 5 kilometre walk from Konsenji (Temple 3), you are now at Dainichiji (Great Sun Temple). How are you feelings so far?
I think I came here on a perfect day. Cloudy and cool enough. I took some lucky photos too.
Dainichiji was one of the temples that saw more than its fair share of violence over the years. It’s location made it one where several times armies stomped through, laying waste, and it has bee rebuilt many times. The last rebuild was in the 17th century.
As you explore this temple you will find a hallway with 33 of Senju Kannon Bosatsu, who is also known as Guanyin, the buddha of compassion, and who is revered throughout Asia. Guanyin is the buddha who puts souls of the dead in the heart of a lotus and sends them to the afterlife in the Pure Land of Sukhavati. Fascinating.
You are making great progress thus far. The next temple is not so far away. Only a couple of kilometers. Are you ready? Let’s go.