Myotoku-ji Temple

4.0

"Amakusa's first Zen Buddhist temple was founded in 1645. The temple tells about the history of Amakusa Christians. After the Amakusa Shimabara Rebellion, it was built to help settle the minds of the confused islanders and convert Christians to Buddhism. The main gate is sometimes called the Amakusa-no-Yomeimon. The writing on is plaque refers to ""spreading the teachings of Buddhism and defeating the heresy of the sect of Jesus."" In addition, the stone stairs on the approach to the temple are carved with crosses; as with fumi-e paintings (where suspected Christians were forced to step on sacred images to show they weren't believers) people would have to step on the crosses as they walked to the temple. A Koyasu Kannon statue on the grounds recalls Mary; a statue of the Bodhisattva Jizo, commonly called the ""Foreigner Jizo,"" is clearly Caucasian."

Spot details

Address: Kumamoto Amakusa-shi Hondomachi Hontobaba 1148 Map
Area: Amakusa Area
Fees: [Admission fee to worship]Free
Parking Lot: Available(5spaces)

Information Sources: NAVITIME JAPAN

Review

Zen temple

Reviewed : 2021.02.10

It is a Zen temple in Amakusa, which was built after Amakusa Uprising to reactivate Buddhism. The main gate, which stands at the end of a long path, is very imposing. As the temple is on the top of...
山門が立派な寺院

Reviewed : 2021.09.26

天草市の山の中腹にある曹洞宗の仏教寺院。キリスト教からの改宗など歴的な位置づけは有るようですが、観光で寺院自体を楽しむ場合あまり興味を引くことはなかった。本堂に比べ、山門は300年ほど前に建立された立派な佇まいで見応えあります。
明徳寺

Reviewed : 2019.05.06

あまり知識はないが、キリシタンの踏み絵が有名な場所らしい。禅寺らしく門が迫力があり、横には鳥居が沢山あった。雰囲気が有る場所