Ryūkō-ji (RYUKOUJI Temple) is a temple in
the vicinity of the Kanagawa Prefecture Enoshima. Enoshima island is known as
the scenic area. This temple is located in the ruins of a medieval execution
ground. Therefore, in the precincts there is prison. This prison is cave.
Prison was built by excavating the rock.
RYUKOKUJI has a deep connection with the
Nichiren (NICHIREN, 1222 ~ 1282). He was a Buddhist monk. NICHIREN has
criticized the Kamakura shogunate. He also criticized other denominations. So,
the shogunate was decided to executed him in there.
Execution officer was seated him on top of
the big stone. Then, the light came from the direction of Enoshima. His eyes
were lightheadedness. So NICHIREN was scrapes. His sentence has been changed to
banishment.
After the death of NICHIREN, his disciples
made a temple there in 1337. NICHIREN has been worshiped as the founder to
people. His sect has continued today.
Mongolian emperor of messenger also killed
in this execution ground. Kublai Khan (KHUBILAI KHAN) sent a five messengers to
Japan in 1275. Part of the messenger was Arabic people.
But shogunate was executed them. Kublai
Khan was anger. He sent troops to Japan in 1281. However, the fleet was destroyed
by the typhoon. Japanese has called this typhoon as "kamikaze".
KAMIKAZE now means "wind to save national crisis".
There is a splendid five-story pagoda in
RYUKOUJI. This tower is wooden building. The Kanagawa Prefecture has three
towers. However, two are made of new reinforced concrete.
Antiquary will hold a market on third
Sunday of each month. People will be able to get the Japanese antiques at a low
cost. On the back of the temple there is a mountain. We will be able to see the
beautiful Enoshima from the mountain. There is also a white tower. The top of
the white tower is gold. People will be able to see the beautiful this tower
from Enoshima.