Recalling the Ungyo statue of Shitennoji Temple's Nio-mon Gate while in Taishi Town, Minamikawachi District

20260112 The Ungyo statue of Shitennoji Temple's Nio-mon Gate. It has been destroyed by fire several times due to lightning and war. The current statue is said to be the eighth generation, rebuilt in 1963 after the previous one was lost in the 1945 Great Osaka Air Raid. The blue color represents anger kept within, a figure that quietly endures.
Dodoitsu (7-7-7-5 syllable structure), by YY-Tei.
“Glaring at the heavens, though it is the eighth time, the people who gather are good men and women.”
No matter how many times it burns, people return to their original intentions.

This is the Ungyo statue at the Shitennoji Temple’s Nio-mon Gate. Over the centuries, it has been destroyed several times by lightning and war. The current statue is the eighth generation, rebuilt in 1963 after its predecessor was lost in the Great Osaka Air Raid of 1945. Its blue colour is said to represent suppressed anger, symbolising a spirit that endures its emotions in silence.
Dodoitsu (Poem in 7-7-7-5 syllables) by YY-Tei:
”Ten niramu koto / Hakkaime naredo / Tsudou hitobito / Zen’nan zen’nyo”
”Looking up to the heavens / Glaring for the eighth time / Yet the people who gather here / Are all but kind and faithful souls.”
No matter how many times the temple burns, people always return to their “shoshin” (original purity of heart).

This is the Ungyo statue at the Nio-mon Gate of Shitennoji Temple. Over the centuries, it has been destroyed several times by lightning and war. The current statue is already the eighth generation; it was recreated in 1963 after its predecessor burned down during the great air raid on Osaka in 1945. Its blue color stands for “suppressed anger” – a symbol of a spirit that masters its emotions in deep silence.
Dodoitsu (poem in 7-7-7-5 rhythm) by YY-Tei:
”Ten niramu koto / Hakkaime naredo / Tsudou hitobito / Zen’nan zen’nyo”
”With the sky firmly in view / you glare now for the eighth time / yet the people who linger here / are only faithful and good souls.”
No matter how often the temple burns, people always return to their “Shoshin” (the original purity of the heart).

Here is the Ungyo statue of the Nio-mon gate at Shitennoji Temple. Over the centuries, it was destroyed several times by lightning and war. The current statue is the eighth generation, rebuilt in 1963 after the loss of the previous one during the great air raid on Osaka in 1945. Its blue color represents a “contained anger,” symbolizing a spirit that endures its emotions in silence.
Dodoitsu (poem in 7-7-7-5 syllables) by YY-Tei:
”Te niramu koto / Hakkaime naredo / Tsudou hitobito / Zen’nan zen’nyo”
”Looking toward the heavens / you strike for the eighth time / yet those who gather here / are nothing but good and faithful souls.”
No matter how many times the temple falls prey to the flames, people always return to their “shoshin” (the original purity of the heart).