The 2.28 hectare mountain forest surrounding the temple became the prefecture's Souzen
Temple Nature Sanctuary in 1978. In the temple grounds are some of Kiryuu's natural
monuments - Japanese cypress, red pine, etc. - and on the back mountain, a deciduous
forest consisting nostly of oak trees grows amidst low striped bamboo.
Cutting through the forest is a nature trail, 'Amitabha Lane'. The temple's wooden
Amitabha Buddha is a prefectural cultural asset. Through the teachings of the Priest
Honen, Taro Sonoda'home came to believe in Buddhism, taking Chimei as his Buddhist name
and starting a school for priests in Ogura village.
The Amitabha image is said to date from the time Sonoda realized praying to Buddha was
the only path to enlightenment. Events include '7 herb rice gruel' ceremony on January 7
and 'morning rice gruel' meeting held the first day of every month. Takigi Noh is
sometimes performed in front of the main temple. |
