Fudōmyō-Ō

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A Small Vermilion Shrine for Fudōmyō-Ō, the Immovable Wisdom King 
華寺境内の朱色が美しい不動明王堂

A small vermilion shrine housing a statue of the Buddhist deity Fudōmyō-Ō, or the “Immovable Wisdom King.”

Although located within the grounds of Ryuge-ji, a Buddhist temple, the shrine’s architecture closely resembles that of a traditional Shinto hokora. It’s a quiet example of how Japan’s two spiritual traditions — Buddhism, introduced from China, and indigenous Shinto — once blended naturally in daily life.

This fusion is known as shinbutsu-shūgō (神仏習合), the harmonious coexistence of kami and Buddhas that flourished for centuries. While the Meiji government’s separation order in 1868 sought to divide the two, the effort was not entirely successful. Even today, small moments like this remind us of the enduring ties between them.

• Location: Kanazawa Ward, Yokohama, Japan
• Timestamp: 2025/01/09 17:12
• Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter
• ISO 320 for 1/480 sec. at ƒ/2.5
• Classic Negative film simulation

References:

1. Google Maps: Ryugeji Temple・龍華寺
2. Google Maps: Fudōmyō-Ō Shrine
3. Ryugeji Temple Website (Japanese)
4. Yagenborifudoin Temple: Namu Fudōmyō-Ō・南無不動明王（Japanese）
5. Mark Schumacher: Fudō Myō-Ō (English)
6. Elena Lisina: Fudo Myo (English)
7. Byodoin Temple: Fudo Myo-ou (English)
8. Art Institute of Chicago: Fudo Myo-o (English)
9. Town News: Fudo Myo-o Opening (Japanese)
10. Wikipedia: Shinbutsu-shūgō (English)

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