ENGLISH

Carvings on Furring Wood Sidings of the Inner Hall

妻沼聖天山歓喜院

奥殿胴羽目の彫刻

All the carvings of the inner hall are elaborately engraved. The carvings on the furring
wood sidings on the rear of the inner hall depicting ancient rites and practices of China
are particularly magnificent. The carvings are rich in emotion depicting the “Seven
Deities of Good Fortune and Play by Chinese Children” and other objects. The carvings
remind us of the grace of the Azuchi-Momoyama period (1568 - 1600).
Started in 2003, the works to repair and preserve the entire main building, which isdesignated by the State as a national cultural treasure, were completed in 2010,
resurrecting the original form when it was first built.

Eagle and Monkey

Menuma ofMusashi Province
Nikko ofSHODENZAN
TempleSaitama Prefecture( Carving on the Main Building )鷲と猿（本殿彫刻）

Annual Events of

The carving was reported to have been carved by
Hidari Jingoro (temple carpenter and sculptor in thelate 16th to early 17th centuries). An eagle rescues amonkey which is about to fall into a rapid current.
The monkey represents the uncontrollable evil
passions of humans and the eagle saving the monkey
is indeed the principal image of Shoden.

Menuma SHODENZAN Temple
First temple visit of the New Year
New Year’s Day

Setsubun Ceremony – Toshiotoko and Toshionna(men and women who were born in a yearwith the same Chinese zodiac sign
as the current year) throw roasted soybeans.
February 3

Play by Chinese Children

Ceremony to view the principal image
being bathed in a bath filled with oil
in worship of the image(A visit once per year to Shodenzan Temple
to see this ceremony is recommended )( Part of Carvings on theMain Building )唐子遊び（本殿彫刻の一部）

Second Saturday and Sunday in March

Cherry blossom viewing
Early April

Spring grand festival(A kimono-clad children’s procession
in a traditional festival )Holy Ground for Prayers dedicated to Great Sage Vinayaka

April 18 and 19( God of Wisdom, Prosperity and Good Fortune )Buddhist rite of burning brushwood
sticks on the altar as a light to invoke divine help

Saint No. 88 of the Kanto Region’s 88 Saints’ Holy Grounds : No. 7 of the 12 Holy Grounds in Musashi Province
Buddhist Deity of Mercy No. 16 of the Kanto Region’s 33 Deities of Mercy : No. 13 Pilgrim Spot in Shinshikoku of Hatara CountyApril 19

Anniversary of death of Lord Saito Sanemori
May 21 on lunar calendar

GongBuddhist All Souls’ Days ( Bon Festival )August 13 to 15( Cultural Property designatedby Saitama Prefecture ) 鰐口Autumnal grand festival(October 19 - Buddhist rite ofburning brushwood sticks on the altar
as a light to invoke divine help)

The gong is made of bronze donatedto Shodenzan Temple in the 2nd yearof Rekio (1339) during the period ofthe Northern and SouthernDynasties. It measures 31cm indiameter. The inscription engravedon the gong reads “Shodendo ofFukugawa Village in the Province ofMusashi …..” and is a valuable itemin the administrative history of thearea. It verifies that the Menuma
district was then called “Fukugawa
Village.”

October 18 and 19

Grand chrysanthemum viewing party
November 1 to 15

Praying festival for children of three,
five and seven years of age who dress up
in traditional kimonos
Mid-November

Star Festival, praying festival
for warding off evil fortune
December 22

Ringing of New Year’s Eve bells
December 31

Tosui BridgeKumagaya
To Takasaki Police Station

National Highway 407

MenumaAdministrativeCenter
Fujitsu Kumagaya Plant

Chuo Community
CenterNMenuma
High School
Bypass Road for National Highway 17
Yagihashi
Department StoreNational Highway 17
KumagayaStationThis fabric was woven during the Shizong period ofthe Ming Dynasty of China (16th century) and wasbrought to Japan, weaving birds and clouds in deep red
on a navy blue ground. An inscription is written at one
end of the fabric.
This piece was donated to Shodenzan Temple by LordNarita Nagayasu, the owner of Oshi Castle. FifthTokugawa Shogun Tsunayoshi examined and admired
it and donated his two writings out of respect for thequality of the work. This event is recorded in the “AnEssay on Weights and Measures” authored by OgyuSorai (1666 - 1728, a leading Confucian scholar) also.

★ At Kumagaya Station of Takasaki Line of Japan Railway or Joetsu Shinkansen Line, take a bus

To TokyoRoute17

JR Takasaki LineArakawa RiverNaKagohara
Station40
ay 1
Chichibughwl Hi
TetsudonaoitLine(Cultural Property designated by Saitama Prefecture) 紵絲斗帳

How to Get to Shodenzan TempleTone RiverShodenzan

To Honjo

Fabric Woven withYarn Made of False Nettles

Kanetsu Expressway
Hanazono Interchange
Higashi-Matsuyama Interchange
To Chichibubound for “Ohta,” “Nishi-Koizumi” or “Menuma Shoden-mae” operated by Asahi Bus Co. Get off
at “Shoden-mae” bus stop.
★ From Hanazono Interchange of Kanetsu Expressway, drive on National Highway 140 and 407,
and travel from Noborito Intersection toward the urban area.

K ANGIIN
Shodenzan Temple 聖天山歓喜院
1627 Menuma, Kumagaya, Saitama Prefecture 360-0201, JapanTelephone : 048-588-1644 +81-48-588-1644
FAX : 048-588-0016 +81-48-588-0016

Websitehttp://www.ksky.ne.jp/ ~ shouden/
Presented by Chieko Yamada / Tatsuya Ooka

H25.8 20,000 A

Deified Spirit Shoden 聖天さま Good Fortune Warding off of Misfortune Matchmaking
The history of Shodenzan Temple dates back to the third year of the Jisho Era(1179) when, as a local governor, Lord Saito Betto Sanemori enshrined theDeified Spirit Shoden, the main object of worship venerated from generation togeneration, at the temple. Lord Sanemori was known for his personality that wasrich in bravery, justice and humanity as cited in the Tale of Heike, Tale of Hogen,
Genpei Seisuiki (the Rise of the Minamoto and Fall of the Taira), Yokyoku(NohSong) Sanemori, Kabuki Tale of Sanemori and other ancient tales and songs. In
the eighth year of Kenkyu (1197), Saito Rokusanenaga, the second son of Lord
Sanemori, became priest Ashobo Ryoou and founded the Kangi House of thistemple.
Shoden’s principal image was officially named “Great Sage Kangiten” and isworshipped in Japan also after Saint Kobo, the founder of the Shingon Sect ofBuddhism, who asked it to be brought to Japan from China as a guardian deity ofBuddhism together with esoteric Buddhism. Shoden is embraced as a god of good
fortune and protector against misfortune.
The principal image is enshrined in the center of a priest’s staff and is a Buddhist
statue that is usually kept hidden from the public. As the head in the priest’s staffof deity, the principal image is an important cultural property designated by theState.
The deified spirit of Shoden in Menuma is known as one of the three great deified
spirits of Shoden in Japan and is especially renowned for divine efficacy inmatchmaking. The deified spirit of Shoden is known for making all good matchessuch as family health and safety, business prosperity, warding off of misfortune,
good fortune, traffic safety and success in school examinations, to say nothing ofstrengthening the bonds of married couples. Shodenzan Temple is visited bymany people who offer prayers.

Main Building 御本殿(National cultural treasure designated by the State)

The main building has an architecture in which atemple at the front for worshippers is joined to themain sanctuary by a paved room, consisting of theInner Hall 34㎡ in floor area, Intermediate Hall(27㎡) and Hall of Worship (127㎡). This building
style is “Byogata-shiki Gongenzukuri”, in which
multi buildings are combined as one style. The
Inner Hall has an architectural design called“Yatsunumezukuri”. All the parts and walls of thebuildings are decorated with carvings and thebuildings are precious ancient cultural remnants ofthe middle part of the Edo Period (1600 - 1868),
painted in brilliant colors. The main building was
designed and built by Hayashi Hyogo Masakiyo, acraftsman of Menuma and a descendant of Hirauchi
Masanobu who was active as a master carpenter for
the Works Department of the Tokugawa Shogunate.
Twenty-five years after the main building was being
built, the work was handed over to his son,
Masanobu, for completion. It was completed in the10th year of the Horeki era (1760).

27th Temple of 100 Flowery Temples
in Eastern Japan

CherryFlowers of the four seasons bloom throughout
the year in the gardens of Shodenzan Temple,
including Yoshino, Hikan, double-floweringand Kawazu winter cherry trees.

ぐんだりGundali( tantric Buddhist deity )軍茶利明王
One of the five guardian gods
together with the God of Fireand Trailokyavijaya(Vanquisher of the ThreeWorlds). The original vow ofGundali is to lead people tospiritual enlightenment by
being strict with them out oflove. The waterfall represents
delicious water.

Bell Belvedere 鐘楼

Tower of Peace 平和の塔

The Bell Belvedere stands on afloor area of 13㎡. It wascompleted in November in the11th year of the Horeki era(1762). The master carpenter was
Hayashi Hyogo Masanobu Jr. The
bell was recast in 1955 and it
now tells time in the morning andevening everyday as a bell ofpeace familiar to the local
citizens in their daily lives.

Built in 1958, the Tower of Peace is of a
Tahōtō type and is made entirely ofJapanese zelkova wood. The principal
image of the tower is the 11-faced
Buddhist deity of mercy and enshrines theholy names of those that died in wars.
Memorial services for the spirits ofancestors and babies lost throughmiscarriage or abortion are also conducted.
Compared with prayers for good healthand prosperity at the main building,memorial services for the repose of thedead and for the atonement of sins areoffered here.

Saint Hall 大師堂

Tower of Peace

Scripture
House

Main Building

Water House

Office for Issuing
Paper Cards andWooden Tablets

Iroha Song
Monument

Buddhist Deity of Mercy for
Health and Long Life 健康長寿観音

MenumaCommunity Center

Toilets with historicHall for
Shodenzan pictures
Confinement
Building
Gate with
ExerciseA
Guardian Gods
Building
B

Middle Gate

Hall for Burning
Holy Sticks of Invocation

Main Sanctuary ofHead Temple

Kangi
House
Kongo GuardianGod HallA typical stone monument of theZenkoji Temple type built in theKamakura period (1185 - 1333).
Images of three Buddhist saints areengraved and the monument has a highacademic value also. The rear of themonument is engraved with mantras of
the Buddhist triad. It is not known
exactly when it was built. The monument is located in front of the gate ofthe head temple and measures 177cm inheight and 12cm in thickness.

Nunobashi
Bridge

BellBelvedere

Gosha Myojin Shrine
Tenmangu Shrine

MenumaKindergarten( Cultural Property designatedby Saitama Prefecture ) 板碑

Shirahige Shrine

Shrine for
Goddess of Eloquence,
Musicand Art
Kojin Shrine

Saint Hall

DagobaSite of Ancient Battlefield
as depicted in Ohira Memorial
Picture Scroll

Gundali

Ishibutai
Stone Crypt

The deity is the principal image of the 16th temple among the 33
Deities of Mercy in the Kanto Region for warding off senility.

Tosui
BridgeNational
Highway 407

Main Sanctuary ofHead Temple 本坊本堂
The main building was built by Lord
Sanemori dedicated to the principal
image. The head temple was built byhis son, Ryoou, a high-ranking
priest, as a venue of ascetic practices
for ascetic devotees serving theprincipal image.
The main building is an exercise hallfor praying and the head temple isan exercise hall for ascetic practices.

To OhtaTone RiverDagoba

Map of Precincts

The office was additionally built in conjunction withthe ceremony for exhibiting Buddhist images in 1996.

Gate with Guardian Gods 仁王門

Reportedly built in the first year of theManji era (1658), the gate was destroyedin 1891 by a typhoon. The gate wasrebuilt in 1894. The guardian gods on
the left and right remain intact since thegate was originally built in 1658 and aremasterpieces that remind us of thepervading spirit of the Muromachi
Period (1333 - 1568). The roof of thegate was refurbished in 1982.

Hall for Burning Holy
Sticks of Invocation 護摩堂

MenumaElementary School

Parking Lot

Located in front of the middlegate, the hall provides memorialservices for Buddhist rites ofburning small sticks of wood toinvoke the divine help of esoteric
Buddhist teachings of theShingon sect. Prayers for traffic
safety of automobiles are offeredin front of the hall.

Shoden-maeBus Stop

Statue of LordSanemori

Kisoumon
Gate

Statue of Lord Sanemori
Oogai Shrine

ParkingLot

Pedestrian mall

The hall is dedicated to PriestKobo, who founded the Shingon
Sect of Buddhism. Reported tohave been built in 1197, the sainthall of a storehouse construction
with earthen walls was rebuilt in
November 1995 as a major
reconstruction project. The SaintHall is the final, most important
temple among 88 Holy Grounds
in the Kanto Region. More andmore people, dressed in white
Buddhist pilgrim’s attire, cometo the temple to fulfill their sacredvows.

Office for Receiving Applications for Confinementin Temple for Devotional Purposes and for Issuing
Strips of Paper and Wooden Tablets Inscribed withWords of Religious Significance 籠堂受付・お札授与所

実盛公銅像

A statue of Lord Sanemori was erected in
1996 as a project to commemorate the818th anniversary of the founding of thetemple. The sound mall emits the song of“Saito Sanemori,” which was a song
created for music classes of elementary
schools, praising the benefit derived fromthe virtue of Lord Sanemori.

Shikyakumon[Four-Legged ]Gate (Middle Gate)
四脚門（中門）Featuring the characteristics ofthe Muromachi Period (1333 1568) such as patterns on endsof wood and decorative boardsin the center of side gables, thegate is a valuable building. The
local residents call the gate the“Jingoro Gate”. The gate wasrefurbished in 1990.

Kisoumon Gate

( Important Cultural Property designated by the State ) 貴惣門

The gate is the first temple gate of Shodenzan Temple and is
16m high. Three gables that are characteristic of multiple layer
construction are combined, featuring a magnificient structural
beauty that is rarely seen in other parts of the country. The
exteriors of the gate are decorated with elaborate carvings. Thegate has images of two guardians, the Guardian of the East andGuardian of the North, on its left and right. The gate was built
in the 4th year of the Kaei era (1851). The master carpenter
was Hayashi Masamichi, who was a craftsman of thenMenuma Town. The roof of the gate was refurbished in 1987.