Once you pass the torii, you have three choices, go left, go straight up past the Enoshima Shrine Gatehouse (a.k.a. Zuishinmon) or go right.
If you go left, you will see Kodama Shrine, if you go right, it’s a shortcut to Iwaya.
But for now, let’s go straight through Zuishinmon.
You will see Karako Paintings inside the Zuishinmon, as well as paintings in the ceiling.
The path leads you to the Benzaiten and Doji.
As for what Benzaiten is all about, together with the shrines on Miyajima (Hiroshima Prefecture) and Chikubushima (Shiga Prefecture), Enoshima is known as one for the three most famous shrines to Benzaiten in Japan. Benzaiten was originally an Indian God of Water and it is believed that Benzaiten faith in Japan began during the Nara Period.
As you turn right, you will then see a stone known as “FUKUISHI” (Lucky Stone).
According to the tale, Sugiyama Kengyo (Sugiyama Waichi) was born in Ise in 1610. He lost his sight when he was a child and he learned acupuncture under famous acupuncturists but suffered from his clumsiness to acquire the technique.
He confined himself in Iwaya Cave and went on a fast of 21 days. On the last day of the fast, he tripped over the FUKUISHI and lost conscious.
When he awakened, he found a bamboo rod with a pine needle inside. It inspired him to creat the acupuncture technique. FUKUISHI cured the 5th Edo period Shogun, Tokugawa Tsunayoshi with his new acupuncture technique and ascended to a high position as Kanto-So-Kengyo.
It is said if you find something around the stone, you will have good luck.
It’s now time to go upstairs and see Enoshima Shrine (Hetsunomiya)!
And I’ll discuss that in tomorrow’s post!
