Goshuin of Tanema-ji（種間寺）#55（34th Temple）

#55 （34th Temple）

Tanema-ji
種間寺

Title: Tanema-ji（種間寺）
Temple No: 34
Principal Image: Yakushi Nyorai（薬師如来）
Price: 0.005ETH
Edition: 1/1
Additional Information:  
On his return from China, Kōbō Daishi is said to have planted (maku) five varieties of seeds (tane) at this temple at the time he founded it. Thus the name TaneMa(ku)ji. The honzon was carved by a Korean who had been invited to Japan by Emperor Bintatsu in 578 to help with the construction of Tennōji in Naniwa (now ōsaka). The Korean sculpture carved the image as a guardian of the sea as he was once saved from shipwreck by divine intervention.

{Frederick Starr says that it was Shōtoku Taishi who was building Tennōji in ōsaka, and that it was he who summoned the Korean to carve this statue.}

The temple is a popular place for pregnant women to pray. Many women pray here for an easy childbirth, and those women who have had their prayers answered customarily donate water dippers to the temple with their bottoms knocked out. When she first finds that she is pregnant, the women takes a whole ladle to the temple priest. He knocks out the bottom, places it on the altar, and prays over it over the course of two days after which the woman takes it home and places it in the Tokonoma. After a safe delivery, the woman brings the ladle back to the temple in thanks.

The temple has been destroyed by typhoons on numerous occasions but is always rebuilt. Of interest is a preserved copy of the Tripitaka, the Cannons of the Buddhist Scriptures. It is classified as a National Treasure.