temple (Buddhist)Asakusa (department store)

Tobifudo Shohoin Temple (Minowa, Tokyo)（Tobi Fudo Temple, Shohoin)

ĀryācalanāthaTendai sect (of Buddhism)aviation safety

Tobifudo is a temple of the Tendai sect of Shugen Buddhism, founded in 1530 by Shozan Shonin, a mountain ascetic (a monk who entered mountains to practice asceticism based on mountain beliefs). The name “Tobifudo” comes from the anecdote that when the temple’s chief priest went to Omine (Nara Prefecture) for ascetic training with a statue of Fudo, people gathered at the temple to pray despite the absence of the main image, and the image flew back to Edo overnight. In recent years, the flying Fudoson has become associated with airplanes, and more and more people visit the temple to pray for safe flights and safe travels. Recently, it is also famous for the safe return of the asteroid probe “Hayabusa”. It is also said to be a place to pray for entrance examinations, since it “does not fall off” when it flies, and for safe golfing, since it flies so well.

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