In the previous article, I talked about how the genius monk Tokui built a grand barrier known as the 'Aizu Five Yakushi' to calm the great eruption of Mount Bandai.
If you were living in an era without modern medicine or disaster warning systems, where would you seek help if suddenly faced with a major eruption, epidemic, or flood?
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 Tokuichi spread throughout Aizu over time, eventually developing into a vast network of prayers known as "Aizu Twelve Yakushi". This time, we will pick out and guide you to several 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."
At the second temple, "Kitayama Yakushi (Taisho-ji)" in Kitashiobara Village, there remains an intriguing episode. During the Edo period, the feudal lord of Aizu, Gamou Hideyuki, was deeply concerned about the frail health of his child (Kamechiyo Maru). Therefore, he made a pilgrimage to this Kitayama Yakushi through a steep mountain path, and it is said that after placing his child on a large stone on the way back, the child became remarkably healthy.
This stone is still called the "Child-Rearing Stone," and in September, a festival called "Futatsuko Mairi" is held.
Monks on the Frontlines of Disasters (No. 10: Enmei-ji)
Moreover, temples were not merely places of prayer; they sometimes served as the "frontlines 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, devoted day and night to prayers, striving to rescue people suffering from hunger and hardship.
As the monks looked down on the village submerged in muddy water, what were they thinking, and how did they act? This is a very real and moving episode that suggests the temple 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, Aizubashiyama, Aizumisato, and finally Aizuwakamatsu.
Visiting these twelve Yakushi Nyorai locations is a grand fieldwork experience that allows you to feel the geography, history, and the "real lives and mixed emotions" of the people of Aizu at that time.
At "Tabinoito," we offer a tour in the [Academic Style] that connects the histories of the temples existing at these points with a narrative, allowing you to deeply savor the breath of the people of that era. 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." We invite you to join us and touch upon the profound history of Aizu.
【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 |
Keijitsuji |
The Juroku Yakushi Nyorai enshrined by Tokuichi in Aizu. |
|
Second |
Taishoji / Kitayama Yakushi |
The northernmost of the Aizu Five Yakushi. The 'Child-Rearing Stone' prayed for by the feudal lord. |
|
Third |
Chuzanji |
An elegant sitting statue of Yakushi Nyorai made with inlaid wood and lacquer. |
|
Fourth |
Katsutokuji / Chuo Yakushi |
The center of the Aizu Five Yakushi. Numerous important cultural properties including the National Treasure, Yakushi Nyorai. |
|
Fifth |
Jotokuji |
A work from the Heian period. A small statue that preserves the traditional technique of single wood carving. |
|
Sixth |
Chogoji / Kamiumi Yakushi |
To the west of the Aizu Five Yakushi. A gentle-faced important cultural property, Yakushi Nyorai. |
|
Seventh |
Yakuoji / Sugi Yakushi |
A single wood carving of cedar. Preserves the shallow inner carving of the old style. |
|
Eighth |
Yakushido / Tagu Yakushi |
Originated from the 'Yakushi of the Li Tree' carved by Tokuichi. |
|
Ninth |
Kōan-ji / Nakata Yakushi |
One of the Aizu Three Kannon, vowed by a wealthy man who lost his daughter in sorrow. |
|
Number Ten |
Enmei-ji |
Has a history of monks striving to save the people from a great flood. |
|
Number Eleven |
Jikō-ji / Minami Yakushi |
The southern of the Aizu Five Yakushi. Placed at the demon gate to calm the demon of the Bandai Mountain eruption. |
|
Number Twelve |
Yakushi-ji / Takada Yakushi |
Gold leaf adorned Yakushi Nyorai. Also enshrined are the Twelve Divine Generals. |
