[Yoshino (① Opening of Kinpusenji Temple and the mountain path)] (Nara

I believe that the unique presence of "Yoshino" in Japanese history is due to the fact that it was a "peak" rather than a "mountain". The peak is merely one of the journeys, not the end...Countless lives that have passed through this peak since ancient times must have stood at the "crossroads" while looking far below, and thought about their own past and future, or that of this country. Therefore, just like the charm of the landscape itself with swaying clouds and mist, Yoshino's history is colored with a dramatic "hidden history" that cannot be captured in official history, and many religious and literary embellishments. The Omine Okugakemichi is a mountain trail that runs about 80km from Kumano to Yoshino. En no Ozuno (around the 7th century), who opened up this path, was born at the foot of the Katsuragi mountain range in Yamato Province (present-day Nara Prefecture). He spread mountain worship to various paths through his powerful spiritual powers that controlled the two demons, Zenki and Utoki. His life is largely legendary, but he is also recorded in the historical text (Shoku Nihongi), and brings a mysterious depth to ancient history. En no Ozuno devoted himself to training at the peak of Mount Kinpu in Yoshino, praying for peace in this world and the surrender of evil obstacles. In response to his telepathic power, the three deities Shaka Nyorai, Kannon Bodhisattva, and Maitreya Bodhisattva appeared, but En no Ozuno continued to pray, seeking even greater Buddhist power. Suddenly, the heavens and earth trembled, and he sensed the majestic and wrathful expression of a Gongen Buddha. This is the "Zao Gongen," which is said to have been transformed from the three deities Shaka, Kannon, and Maitreya in response to En no Gyoja's powerful spiritual power. En no Gyoja carved the image of the deity into a wild cherry tree and enshrined it in the mountains. The site of the ceremony later became "Kinpusenji Temple," which has flourished to this day as the head temple of Shugendo, founded by En no Gyoja, and the core of Yoshino. Currently, Kinpusenji Temple enshrines the gigantic Zao Gongen Triad, which stands at 7 meters in height. The dynamic form, painted in a rich, pure blue color, and the deeply engraved wrathful expression, seem to overflow with the spiritual power of nature itself. In particular, during the limited-time night viewing, the statue is suddenly illuminated, and its appearance in the deep darkness creates a tremendous impression reminiscent of a flash of lightning. The Zao-do (main hall) that covers this giant statue is also a magnificent structure, reaching a height of 34 meters, on a scale not suitable for the narrow mountainside. The large cypress bark roof, which firmly holds the core of the structure tightly assembled from huge pieces of timber, is an immediately recognizable symbol of Yoshino even when seen from the observation deck on the mountain, and the grandeur of the entire building seems to suggest that this land, which was developed as a base of faith, was destined to eventually correlate with chaotic political authority. In fact, in the Middle Ages, Kinpusen-ji Temple was linked to the Shingon sect and became a major base within Yamato Province, with as many as 36 monastic quarters and a large number of warrior monks. Naturally, it was seen as a disputed area, and at the end of the Kamakura period, when Emperor Go-Daigo (1288-1339) decided to overthrow the shogunate, his son, Prince Moriyoshi (1308-1335, commonly known as Daitonomiya), raised an army in Yoshino, relying on the warrior monks of Kinpusen-ji Temple and the rugged mountains and rivers. Yoshino was soon defeated by a large army of the Kamakura shogunate, but the prince escaped along the mountain ranges to Mount Koya, where he continued to put up a stubborn resistance, eventually becoming a key figure in the overthrow of the shogunate. As this fact shows, Yoshino was by no means the end of the line. This impression was given later, after the "flatlands" established their absolute superiority in terms of transportation, but when one carefully unravels the climate and history, it becomes clear that Yoshino functioned as a key transportation hub centered around the ridgeline, and as a legitimate "capital" in the mountain world. 《Happy New Year. Thank you for your continued support this year! 》 Recommended for solo travelers: ★★★ (There are quite a few people, but it's a large place so it doesn't bother me) Visited: Saturday, the first week of October, around 9am Access: About 15 minutes on foot from Yoshinoyama Station #Yoshino #Kinpusenji Temple #Yoshinoyama #Nara #Nara Prefecture #Nara Trip #Nara Sightseeing #I'm a Nara School #Delicious and Beautiful Nara #Back to Nara #Nara is Beautiful #Yoshino Town #Domestic Travel #Domestic Travel Lover #Temple Tour #Temple Lover #Temples and Shrines #Temple and Shrine Tour #En no Gyozuno #Shugendo #Buddha Statue Lover #Buddha Statue Tour #Ancient Temple Pilgrimage #Zao Gongen #World Heritage Site #National Treasure #Wooden Architecture #History Lover #Solo Travel #Life with Travel