#hansobo

[crazyfox-archives]

A statue of a Tengu (天狗) along the path up to the Hansōbō (半僧坊), the shrine of the local protective deity of Kenchōji Temple (建長寺) in Kamakura established on the temple grounds in 1890

[lunasong365]

Hansōbō is the Shinto shrine directly behind Kenchō-ji, a Zen Buddhist temple in Kamakura, Kawagawa Prefecture, and sharing its grounds. This is not unusual in Japan, as religion is quite syncretic.

Komainu guard the sacred ground. Komainu represent yin yang (duality) principles. Yin is on the left (as seen from the outside) and represents the dark or yielding principle. The yin mouth is closed (Un in the sacred mantra) and has a pup under its paw. Yang is on the right and represents the light or forceful principle. The yang mouth is open (Ah in the sacred mantra) and has a ball representing the world under its paw.

The hillside up to the shrine is a garden covered with statuary and stone monuments. The monuments list the names of those who donated to Kenchō-ji, and represent over 100 religious organizations.

The statues are a type of tengu (goblin) called Karasu-tengu (crow tengu) and have wings and a beak. They accompany the enshrined kami Hansōbō Daigongen who is the tutelary spirit of the temple.  Photos by D.

[todayintokyo]

The road towards Hansōbō (半僧坊), a smaller shrine in the temple grounds of  Kenchō-ji (建長寺) in Kamakura

[todayintokyo]

Tengu at Hansōbō (半僧坊), Kamakura. I quote Mark Schumacher: 

Tengu have both Shinto and Buddhist attributes. Their supernatural powers include shape-shifting into human or animal forms, the ability to speak to humans without moving their mouth (and) the magic of moving instantly from place to place without using their wings.

[150daysinjapan]

Thou shalt not pass by Marco S. Nobile Via Flickr: Tengu statue in Kamakura, Japan

[150daysinjapan]

Karasu-tengu watching over the Hansōbō by Marco S. Nobile

[150daysinjapan]

Along the path to the Hansōbō by Marco S. Nobile

[todayintokyo]

Hansōbō (半僧坊), Kamakura