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Four Stones of Shitennōji Temple
There are four stones throughout the Shitennōji Temple grounds that serve as points of worship: The Tenpōrin Stone, buried in front of the Main Hall and marked by a plaque; the Indō Stone, by the Stone Torii Gate; the Kumano Worship Stone, by the Great South Gate; and the Ise Worship Stone, by the Great East Gate.
The plaque on the ground in front of the Main Hall depicts a tenpōrin, a wheel representing the spiritual transformations brought about by Buddha’s teachings. The stone buried underground is approximately 1.5 meters at its longest point.
The stone by the Stone Torii Gate is named indō, referencing the guidance of the Buddha’s teachings. It is said that the faithful pass through the gate when entering the Pure Land. According to ancient records, the bell in the North Belfry was rung three times in preparation for a burial, and the remains were placed before the Indō Stone so that Prince Shōtoku (574–622) would lead the soul of the deceased to paradise.
The Ise Worship Stone and the Kumano Worship Stone mark places to worship deities enshrined at other religious sites. Ise Jingū Shrine, located in Mie Prefecture, enshrines Amaterasu Ōmikami, the goddess of the sun, and the Ise Worship Stone at the east gate points in this direction. The Kumano Worship stone is for the three Kumano Sanzan Shrines in Wakayama Prefecture. A pilgrimage route from Kyoto to these temples includes Shitennōji as a stop before the route continues south.
The plaque on the ground in front of the Main Hall depicts a tenpōrin, a wheel representing the spiritual transformations brought about by Buddha’s teachings. The stone buried underground is approximately 1.5 meters at its longest point.
The stone by the Stone Torii Gate is named indō, referencing the guidance of the Buddha’s teachings. It is said that the faithful pass through the gate when entering the Pure Land. According to ancient records, the bell in the North Belfry was rung three times in preparation for a burial, and the remains were placed before the Indō Stone so that Prince Shōtoku (574–622) would lead the soul of the deceased to paradise.
The Ise Worship Stone and the Kumano Worship Stone mark places to worship deities enshrined at other religious sites. Ise Jingū Shrine, located in Mie Prefecture, enshrines Amaterasu Ōmikami, the goddess of the sun, and the Ise Worship Stone at the east gate points in this direction. The Kumano Worship stone is for the three Kumano Sanzan Shrines in Wakayama Prefecture. A pilgrimage route from Kyoto to these temples includes Shitennōji as a stop before the route continues south.
