The day after my hike to Mt. Hakkyo, the cherry blossoms were still beautifully blooming in Tenkawa Village, so I headed to Yoshino with a faint hope that maybe I could still catch some of them there too. Unfortunately, they were completely gone. I’d been to Yoshino before, so I figured there wouldn’t be much new to see. But then I heard that for the grand repair of the Nio-mon Gate (which was actually under construction last time I visited too), the three largest hidden Buddhist statues in Japan, the Kongo Zao Gongen, housed in the main hall Zao-do (a National Treasure), were being specially exhibited. So, I hurried to see them!
This photo is from a pamphlet, but as I stepped into the dimly lit Zao-do Hall, the three enormous Zao Gongen statues seemed to float in blue light. Their sheer presence, especially the large faces that seemed to glare right at me, was so powerful it made me gasp.
It’s said that by repenting for your past, present, and future sins to each of these three Zao Gongen statues, you can be forgiven. During this special exhibition period, small enclosures were set up in front of each Zao Gongen, allowing each person to step inside, face the deity, confess, and pray.
Even though it was just a small enclosure, it really intensified the feeling of facing the Zao Gongen alone. I was overwhelmed by their gigantic, blue-glowing forms, and I also had a mysterious feeling that my prayers were truly being heard.
Even though I was disappointed not to see the cherry blossoms in Yoshino, the walk to Kinpusen-ji Zao-do Hall was definitely worth it. Since this is a special exhibition for the Nio-mon Gate repair fundraising, it seems they open it for a certain period each year during the construction. So, if you get the chance, I highly recommend it!
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