In search of the dragon: Mt. Murō’s sacred topography

要旨

This article considers the worship of the dragon, a spirit believed to reside in the caves on Mt. Murd, and the early history of the temple of Murd-ji located in southern Nam prefecture. Throughout Murd-ji history, these dragon caves have functioned as sites considered to be particularly efficacious for conducting prayers for rain. This study uses the evidence of literature and material culture to explore the relationship between the drag on belief, agricultural rituals, and relics on Mt. Murd. A particularly compelling connection is the momito, or rice-grain stupas, discovered inside the Miroku-dd (Maitreya Hall) on the grounds of Murd-ji.

主題