Protecting Tradition: Help Restore Fukugon-ji’s Sacred Guard

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Fukugon-ji Temple, located on Kyushu island in Japan, is a historic Zen temple with deep roots in the community. Due to aging and damage from earthquakes, the temple is raising funds to repair its important statues and protect its cultural treasures for future generations. Fukugon-ji Temple was built for the Tachibana lords, who ruled the Yanagawa region during two periods: from 1571 to 1600 and from 1620 to 1871. It was established to enshrine their legacy and has served as their family temple. It houses the graves of the 1st lord, all the way to the 16th generation as well as the main subordinates that served the Lords. For centuries, it has preserved their history, traditions, and ancestral graves.

The Four Heavenly Kings are Buddhist guardians who protect the four directions: Jikokuten (East), Zōjōten (South), Kōmokuten (West), and Tamonten (North). These guardians have protected Fukugon-ji Temple for centuries, watching over the temple and its visitors.

Among the Four Heavenly Kings, Jikokuten, the guardian of the East, is the first statue they seek to restore. His name means “Protector of the Nation,” and he is known for his fierce expression and vigilant posture, symbolizing his role in warding off evil and maintaining peace. At Fukugon-ji, Jikokuten has stood watch for centuries, guarding the temple’s eastern side and embodying the same protective spirit that once gave strength to warriors and rulers like the Tachibana. Restoring his image is not only a return to artistic beauty, but a renewal of the temple’s role as a place of protection and peace.

We are raising funds to help cover the partial cost of Jikokuten’s restoration, which is estimated to be 100,000 USD. Your support will help preserve this important guardian for future generations and protect the history, spirit, and cultural legacy of Fukugon-ji Temple.

If you can read Japanese, please consider donating directly through this link.

https://baigakusan.fukugonji.jp/index_test.html

Scroll down and select "プロジェクトを支援する”

Thank you all for reading this, and I hope you consider helping in this project.