Oct 6, 2010

Dou'unji - Cave Cloud Temple 08


As I reached the open area in the middle of the bowl-shaped valley, I notice a sign. It was erected by the Izumi-ku Ward Office and contained a brief history of the temple. It said that it was established in the 1330s and that, as I said before, the name derived from the mediation caves and the constant fog and low clouds that used to cover the area. Specifically the sign was there to bring attention to the statue of Kannon that was in a meditation cave.
This is the meditation cave. It was so dark inside that I could not see the statue of Kannon, but it was obvious that there was something inside. In the past this cave would have been used as a place for a monk to sit and meditate. In was interesting that someone had placed flowers on the little altar in front but that they were completely dry.
Just to the left of the cave were some bas-relief statues, all lined up and artistically balanced. The second from the left looked very old, or maybe it had just had more exposure to the weather. The bottles are offerings left by the people who come here.
A little ways further into the valley was another meditation cave. Again it was too dark inside to see the contents. I guess that I should go back some day and take a strong flashlight with me. Notice that in both cases the stone has been cut away so that there is an overhang above the cave protecting the meditating monk from the weather.

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