Kannon of Royal Ease

hibutsu at Kanshinji

This Shingon temple, originally founded by a disciple of Kūkai, is located deep in the mountains outside Osaka. It’s superlative carved hidden buddha of Kannon in the ‘style of royal ease’ is opened to the public once a year, on the 17th of April, and closed the next day.

(The story of the rape of this image related in HIDDEN BUDDHAS is true.)

entrance gate

steps to temple grounds

Kanshinji’s

hidden buddha

graveyard in compound

imperial mausoleum

(where Koji met Tokuda)