The unique Chinese style temple and Buddhist cuisine, Manpuku-ji

The Manpuku-ji temple in Uji, Kyoto, is the head temple of Japanese Buddhism Oubaku sect.
The temple built in 1661 at the Edo period.
Oubaku sect is not so old as a Japanese Buddhist Zen sect.
However it has unique temples for it's Chinese style of architecture.
The buildings in the precincts of Manpuku-ji look like ones from Chinese temple.

Oubaku sect was founded by the Chinese monk Ingen.
Ingen came to Nagasaki with his disciples for the invitation by monks in Nagasaki, and later he moved to Settsu province (the part of current Osaka).
At first he had a plan to go back China after 3 years, however his followers in Japan asked him to stay longer.
Besides that, Tokugawa shogunate apportioned him a land in Uji, and also Manpuku-ji was built for Ingen.
Finally Ingen abandoned the first plan and decided to stay in Japan forever.
At Manpuku-ji they had called their sect Rinzai first, however they changed the name Oubaku later.
"Oubaku" came from the mountain in China where Ingen had had his first "Manpuku-ji" temple before.

Ingen was respected by many people, and even former Emperor, Tokugawa shogun, high ranking governors and noblemen became believers of him.
Intellectuals in Japan gathered to meet him.
Ingen gave them Zen teachings and new knowledge which China culture had.

As an example, according to legend Ingen brought a sort of bean with him to Japan.
The bean is called "Ingen-mame (the bean of Ingen)".
Even today you can see Ingen-mame in super markets or vegetable stores in Japan.

In addition, we can have a Fucha-ryori (Chinese Style vegetarian gourmet) in Manpuku-ji and restaurants around the temple.
It is a sort of Shojin-ryori (Buddhist cuisine which served in Japanese Buddhism temples), but it has unique Chinese style.
It's origin was the Buddhist cuisine in China which Ingen introduced to Japan.
Manpuku-ji have served it to entertain people by tasty and novel vegetarian foods.
Still we can have it around the temple today.
However if you want to Fucha-ryori in a complete meal, usually you need a reservation to the temple or other restaurants.
Please keep it in your mind.

Gozu-Tenno, the enshrined deity of Yasaka jinja shrine

Yasaka jinja shrine is one of popular sightseeing places of Kyoto.
At June, we can see "Gion matsuri" festival at the shrine and area around.
That season, the area becomes bustling and crowded with local people and tourists.

The enshrined deity of the shrine is to be thought Gozu-Tenno or Susanoo no Mikoto.
Gozu-Tenno's origin is not sure, but it seems the deity had a connection to Korean peninsula.
The deity's figure is descrived as a male person with a huge body and a bull's head.

Gozu-Tenno has many interesting anecdotes, however we hardly understand how the deity really is like.
According to a legend, when a plague come to Heian-kyo (ancient name of the central of Kyoto), people thought the plague was caused by a curse of some terrible deities.
People prayed to Gozu-Tenno, then the plague stopped.
After that, people started to worship the deity as a guardian deity for health.

It seems the religious faith of Gozu-Tenno have brought to Heian-kyo by foreign people like merchants or technical experts from Korea or China.
They have brought new technology, culture and even faith of deities to Japan.
In other words, Japanese culture is consists of both native and foreign customs and traditions.
This is the way our unique culture have made.