Naritasan Kurume Bunin

Kurume Narita-san 久留米成田山
Religion
Affiliation Shingon
Location
Location 1386-22 Kamitsu-machi, Kurume-shi, Fukuoka prefecture
Country Japan
Geographic coordinates 33°17′5.8″N 130°32′6.8″E
Architecture
Completed 1958
Website
http://www.kurume-naritasan.or.jp/

Naritasan Kurume Bunin (成田山久留米分院) or Kurume Narita-san (久留米成田山) is a Shingon Buddhist temple in Kurume, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. It is a direct branch of Narita-san Shinshō-ji in Narita, Chiba Prefecture.

Founding

The temple was established in 1958 after part of the spiritual embodiment from the Narita-san Shinshō-ji Temple which is well-known throughout Japan for housing Fudō myōō (Ācala) was given to it.

Jibo Kannon

The Jibo Kannon of the Jeweled Gates of Good Fortune is the fourth tallest statue in Japan, and the twenty-fourth tallest in the world. This birch bronze monument depicting Avalokitesvara stands 62 metres (203 ft) tall. The temple was spending ¥2 billion (approximately $50 million) to build a large statue of Kannon and the work was completed in 1982.

The dot on her forehead is a gold plate 30 centimetres in diameter encrusted with 18 three-carat diamonds, and her ornamental necklace contains an arrangement of a crystal and 56 jade stones. The baby she cradles is 13 metres (43 ft) long.

Visitors take a spiral staircase to the platform providing a panoramic view of the area, as far as Mount Unzen in the distance.

The Hell and Paradise Museum

The Hell and Paradise Museum (Gokuraku-den (極楽殿)), a replica of Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya, India, is built on the temple grounds. It features dramatic, graphic recreations of scenes showing Buddhist heaven and hell.

Access

From Nishitetsu Kurume Station, board a bus towards Yame Eigyōshō. Get off the bus at "Kamitsu Machi," approximately 15 minutes from the train station.

Gallery

  • Main hall
    Main hall
  • Sanmon with the statue in the background
    Sanmon with the statue in the background

See also