In the previous article, we talked about how the genius monk Tokui built a grand barrier called 'Aizu Five Yakushi' to calm the great eruption of Mount Bandai.
If you lived in a time without modern medicine or disaster warning systems and were suddenly struck by a great eruption, epidemic, or flood, where would you seek help?
For the people of Aizu, the "Yakushi Nyorai (the Buddha who heals illness and suffering)" became a source of spiritual support.
The five Yakushi faiths established by Tokui gradually spread throughout Aizu over time, eventually developing into a massive prayer network known as "Aizu Twelve Yakushi". This time, we will highlight a few temples that have particularly interesting histories.
[Historical Mystery] The Legend of the "Child-Rearing Stone" that even the feudal lord relied on (No. 2: Kitayama Yakushi)
Prayers to Yakushi Nyorai evolved from fears of natural disasters to concerns for "individual health and family safety."
The second temple, "Kitayama Yakushi (Taisho-ji)" in Kitashiobara Village, has an intriguing episode. During the Edo period, the feudal lord of Aizu, Gamou Hideyuki, was deeply worried about his weak child (Kamechiyo Maru). Therefore, he visited this Kitayama Yakushi by traversing a steep mountain path, and it is said that when he placed his child on a large stone on the way back, the child became remarkably healthy.
This stone is still called the "Child-Rearing Stone" today, and in September, a festival called "Futatsu Ko Mairi" is held.
Monks on the Frontline of Disasters (No. 10: Enmei-ji)
Moreover, temples were not just places of prayer; they sometimes served as the "frontline of disaster response."
The tenth temple, "Enmei-ji" in Aizuwakamatsu City, has a history where, during the great flood that struck the Aizu region in the 21st year of Tenmon (1552), the founder monk, Shungen, prayed day and night and worked tirelessly to save the people suffering from hunger and distress.
While overlooking the village submerged in muddy water, what did the monks think, and how did they act? This is a very real and moving episode that suggests that temples functioned as a community's "safety net" rather than merely relying on statues.
Pilgrimage is the "ultimate academic journey."
Starting from the first temple, Eijitsu-ji (Bandai Town), to Kitakata, Yukawa, Aizubashu, Aizumisato, and then Aizuwakamatsu.
Visiting these twelve Yakushi Nyorai locations is a grand fieldwork experience that allows one to feel the geography, history, and the "real lives and mixed emotions" of the people of Aizu at that time.
In "Travel Threads," we connect the histories of the temples that exist at these points with lines and offer a tour in the [Academic Style] that deeply appreciates the breath of the people of that time along with explanations. This is not just a stamp rally by car, but an intellectual journey for adults that considers "why this Buddha is here in this place." Come and touch the profound history of Aizu with us!
【Aizu Twelve Yakushi List】
If you are interested, please feel free to experience the atmosphere of each history with your own feet.
| Number | Temple Name (Location) | Notes / Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| First | Eijiji (Bandai Town) |
The Juroku Yakushi Nyorai enshrined by Tokuichi upon entering Aizu. |
| Second | Taishoji / Kitayama Yakushi (Kitashiobara Village) |
The northernmost of the Aizu Five Yakushi. The 'Child-Rearing Stone' prayed for by the feudal lord. |
| Third | Chuzanji (Kitakata City) |
An elegant seated statue of Yakushi Nyorai with a wooden mosaic and lacquered finish. |
| Fourth | Katsukōji / Chūō Yakushi (Yukawa Village) |
The center of the Aizu Five Yakushi. Numerous important cultural properties including the national treasure, Yakushi Nyorai. |
| Fifth | Jōtokuji (Aizubakushita Town) |
Created in the Heian period. A small statue that preserves traditional one-piece carving techniques. |
| Sixth | Chōgōji / Kamiumi Yakushi (Aizubakushita Town) |
To the west of the Aizu Five Yakushi. A gentle-faced national important cultural property, Yakushi Nyorai. |
| Seventh | Yakuōji / Sugi Yakushi (Aizubakushita Town) |
A one-piece carving made from katsura wood. It retains the shallow inner carving of an ancient style. |
| Eighth | Yakushidō / Tagu Yakushi (Aizumisato Town) |
Originated from Tokui carving the 'Yakushi of the Li tree' from a Li tree. |
| Ninth | Kōan-ji / Nakata Yakushi (Aizumisato Town) |
One of the Aizu Three Kannon, vowed by a wealthy man who lost his daughter out of sorrow. |
| No. 10 | Enmei-ji (Aizuwakamatsu City) |
Has a history of monks striving to save the people from a great flood. |
| No. 11 | Jikō-ji / Minami Yakushi (Aizuwakamatsu City) |
The southern of the Aizu Five Yakushi. Placed at the demon gate to pacify the demon of the Bandai Mountain eruption. |
| No. 12 | Yakushi-ji / Takada Yakushi (Aizumisato Town) |
The Yakushi Nyorai with gold leaf. Also enshrines the Twelve Divine Generals. |
