Statues at Asahisan Fudoji Temple

Formidable Fudomyoo statues in the morning sun

Takako Sakamoto Jul 17, 2014 - 1 min read

<p>The ornament on his back probably signifies fire</p>

<p>Close up of the statue of the Goddes of Mercy for children, with a child clinging to her leg</p>

<p>Statue of the Goddess of Mercy with the bare rocks on her back</p>

<p>Small 'Mizuko Jizo' statues. 'Mizu' means water, 'ko' is child, and Mizuko signifies children who were washed away by water...usually it means babies who weren't born (died at birth or were aborted)</p>

<p>Small Jizo statues wearing various garments</p>

<p>Closer look at one of the Jizo statues. He has a peaceful look on his face</p>

<p>One of the Fudomyoo (Acala) statues</p>

<p>Small but formidable-looking Fudomyoo (Acala)</p>

<p>He has a sword in his hand...looks very angry!</p>

<p>He also has a sword in his hand. He must be protecting humans from harm's way</p>

<p>This one looks like only a child, but he is still protecting us</p>

<p>This statue also looks like a child in anger, with a sword in his hand</p>

<p>This one also stands in front of fire threatening enemies</p>

There are many statues standing on the grounds of Asahisan Fudoji Temple in Fukui city. Built in 1711, the statues of this temple have been protecting local people here from natural disasters and evils in their lives. Asahisan can roughly be translated as 'a mountain of morning sun'. Before the temple was built, people were suffering from natural disasters. Since there was a saying here that if Fudomyoo (Acala) is placed in the morning sun he would save humans from harm's way, people built this temple at the foot of Mt. Asuwa, aka, the place under the morning sun (Asahisan) in the hope that the Fudomyoo would protect them. When you look at the formidable-looking statues of Fudomyoo here, you may probably be convinced that they could truly protect us!

Takako Sakamoto @takako.sakamoto

I was born in and grew up in Tokushima prefecture, and have lived in many places since then: Nishinomiya, Kyoto, Nara, Mie, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Fukuoka and Fukui. I am currently living in Yokohama City. All the places I lived, all the places I visited, I have loved dearly. The histor...