Hino city Course

Kongo-ji Kyu-Gobugongen-shaden was founded as a guardian deity of Kongo-ji temple. According to records in the temple, it is called Gobugongen (five Gongen) because Yoriyoshi Minamoto contributed to build Hachiman shrine and then gather Inari, Nyu, Takano and Seiryuu Gongen (all shrines) at the same place. The remaining ridge tags tell that Gobugongen was constructed in 1340 and rebuilt in 1671. This is one of the few shaden architectures remaining from that period. This vivid Ikkensha-zukuri architecture is 1.52 m wide and 1.30 m deep with copper sheeting and a step canopy. It is lacquered in vermilion, carvings are emphasized using ink and Kaerumata (frog-leg strut) of the step canopy are in ultramarine blue. Five enshrined boards with carvings of deities' names contain additionally the construction date, 28th February, 1340 and the names of Honji Suijyaku (manifestations of Buddhist deities). These are all designated national art treasures. Gobugongen-shaden was relocated in 1996 due to the construction of Okuden, and is now in front of Dainichi-do.

Benzaiten (Japanese name for Hindu Goddess Saraswati), one of the Seven Deities of Good Fortune, honored by the water as Goddess of River, is popularly worshipped. The size of this painting paper is length 92.5cm, width 37.2cm, with painted silk, framed-finish. Estimated to be drawn during Muromachi period, author unknown.

At the slightly higher place from the center of the painting drawn main Goddess Benzaiten, below on the left are the seven servants, on the right below are the eight servants. All are located on the ground describing as rocks etc., lower on the picture expressed waterfront with waves. Mountains painted in ink above Benzaiten as background. In front of the servants are carriages with rice packs on the wagon and white horses. Lower center drawn is considered to be Daikokuten, unlike other 15 children, wears cap and have moustache.

This expression of Daikokuten was seen in old examples but this is rare in that Daikokuten was drawn at Benzaiten as one of fifteen children. Notable as origin of Seven Deities of Good Fortune.

The Fudo-do (Fudo-Hall) is a magnificent building with wide copper roofing with the original shape of the thatched roof. The building shows a figure of main halls of medieval esoteric-Buddhism of the Shingon sect. One of the features of the building is the elegant and stately curved roof with large eaves. The temple is believed to have been completed as a large-scale temple at the end of the 12th century. According to the inscription on the back of Fudomyoo-zo Kohai (the statue of Fudomyoo's aureola), Fudoyoo-zo is designated as National Important Cultural Property. Fudo-do (Fudo-Hall) was destroyed by a storm on August 4, 1335 then repair of the hall finished at the current site on June 28, 1342.

It is believed that this Nio-mon Gate is constructed in late Muromachi period. Large roof covering the veranda with railing on the second floor gives massive impression. The style of the gate is 3-bay two-storied gate with one entrance. The roof style is a hip-and-gable roof, and thatch roofing style with copper sheeting. When originally designed, it was a two-storied gate as it is now. But during the construction the design was changed to eight-legged style with Kirizuma-style (a roof with both sides spreading outward at an angle from the ridge) to cover top parts of the gate. Therefore it looked like one-storied gate. At the repair work in 1959, it was reproduced to the current style, two-storied gate with copper sheet roofing. The Nio statue placed in the gate is allegedly built in Muromachi period. On the top of the gate, there is a framed board that read "Takahata-san (mount Takahata)", which was written by Unsho, the 7th head priest of Chishaku-in Temple in Kyoto in early Edo period.

"Takahatazan Kongoji Monjo" consists of 4,110 items of documents related to Takahatazan Kongoji temple, which has been a well-known as one of the Three Fudo in the Kanto region. The documents were produced from the medieval times through the Showa era.

Takahatazan Kongoji temple has been called "Takahata Fudoson" since ancient times. According to the temple legend, the beginning of Kongo-ji temple was as follows; per an Emperor's behest, Jikaku Taishi Ennin (794-864) had set the current location as a sacred site for the protection of Kanto in the Teikan era (859-877); and then, a hall had been built to enshrine a statue of Fudoson. In August 1335, the Fudo hall at the top of the mountain collapsed due to a rainstorm. After the collapse, priest Gikai Shonin restored the statue of Fudoson together with Korai Suketsuna, who was jito (the lord of manor). Gikai Shonin has been called the father of the restoration of the temple. At the same time, Gikai Shonin transferred the Fudo hall to the current location at the foot of the mountain. After Tokugawa Ieyasu moved to the Kanto area in August 1590, Ieyasu donated 30 koku as territory of the Fudo hall in November 1591. The temple had flourished as one of 11 temples for Chizan group of Shingon Buddhism in the Kanto region and had grown to one of the largest temples with 36 branch temples.

These documents are an important group of historical materials, which help us understand details of historical trends related to Kongo-ji temple, actual conditions of the temple management, the worship of the temple and rituals, its relationship with the branch temples, relationship with the shogunate and the Meiji Government, social situation at the time, its relationship with surrounding local societies.

The statue of Fudo Myoo and two statues of Doji Zo(=boy attendants). All three statues are enshrined in Fudo-do of Kongo-ji temple.

Fudo Myoo is a god of Buddhism. The god has a role of converting people to Buddhism and widely worshiped by Buddhists.

In addition, the name of "Myoo" is well known to the believers of a religion other than Buddhism in Japan.

The name of two statues of boy attendants are "Kongara-doji" and "Seitaka-doji"."Doji" means boy attendant. They are followers of Myoo.

It seems that all of three statues were made in late Heian period. They are very precious cultural heritage and designated as National Important Cultural Properties.

Oriental white stork & Japanese dormouse

©Tokyo Zoological Park Society

Tama Zoological Park, one hour from central Tokyo by train, is a unique zoological park, where animals are displayed under naturalistic and spectacular habitats set up in its vast land of 52 ha (129 acres). The zoo has three ecological areas, i.e., the Asiatic Garden, African Garden and Australian Garden, and the Insectarium.

The zoo has 13 species of Natural Monuments and Special Natural Monuments.

Natural Monument : Steller's sea eagle, Red-headed wood pigeon, white-tailed eagle, Branta bernicla, golden eagle,bean goose,greater white-fronted goose, Japanese dormouse,Japanese wood pigeon

Special Natural Monument : red-crowned crane, oriental white stork, long-tailed cock, Japanese serow