Tocho, Majestic Buddha and Serene Cherry Blossoms

"2-4 Mikyoshicho, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka-shi"

4.2

Introduction

Mt. Nanyue is the main temple of the Shingon sect in Kyushu. The main deity of the temple is Kukai, the great master of Buddhism. According to legend, in the first year of the Daito era (806 AD), Kukai returned to Japan and established this temple to promote the spread of esoteric Buddhism in the east. As one of the oldest temples in Japan, it was originally located by the sea. It was later moved to its current location by Tadanori Kuroda, the second lord of the Fukuoka Domain. The temple's cemetery houses the graves of Tadanori Kuroda, Mitsunori Kuroda, and Jihigata Kuroda, making it the family temple of the Kuroda clan. The temple covers an area of 150,000 square meters and also received a donation of 300 koku. Today, it is designated as a historical site by the city of Fukuoka. The Thousand-armed Kannon Bodhisattva, housed in the temple, is a masterpiece from the Heian period, carved from a single pine tree. Although it appears to be a small statue standing at only 87 centimeters tall, it exudes a sense of thickness and weight. It was designated as a national treasure during the Meiji era.