Reigan-Do is a Buddhist site that dates back more than 1000 years. Countless Zen pilgrims have stopped and meditated in this natural cave. Musashi is perhaps the most famous of those who have found enlightenment and peace while meditating here.
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Musashi lived most of his life as a ronin or masterless samurai. At the age of 57, Musashi was invited by the head of the Hosokawa Clan; lord Tatatoshi, to become a guest retainer, due in part to Musashi's great accomplishments as a strategist, artist, wood carver, fencer, and teacher. Musashi was given a small stipend and great privileges such as hawking, and received permission to assume many of the trappings of a samurai general.
Musashi, upon his death was buried in the armor of a samurai general, standing with sword in hand, guarding the Tokaido road to Edo (Tokyo). Musashi wished to apply his philosophies and strategies to governmental policy, but was never given the chance, Lord Tatatoshi died a year after he joined the Hosokawa clan, thus ending Musashi's dream.It is speculated that Musashi suffered a great disappointment with the death of his benefactor, but Musashi, late in life, summoned his courage and wisdom another time; he left Kumamoto castle and walked over the mountains, and entered the cave / Buddhist shrine called Reigan-Do, and wrote the Book of Five Rings over the next twenty months.
I had a chance to visit Kumamoto castle on a "mini" Musashi trail vacation during the summer of 2001. The way over the steep mountains between the castle and cave took 45 minutes by car on a clear road, which was continually "cutting-back" amongst the steep ridges and deep ravines of the way. At his late age it must have been an difficult path for Musashi to follow on foot, alone, taking several days.
Mr. Kenji Kozakai, our friend, and fellow traveler on our Musashi journey, became lost, even with a GPS guidance system when trying to find the shrine since there are few markings to the hidden place. But, over a hill, through an orchard, around a steep corner, and behind a small farm field lies the Un Gan Zen Ji shrine, and the cave, Reigan-Do.
There are two priests who now take care of the place. Since it is so far out of the way, and since the support from the Hosokawa family has dwindled over the years, the shrine marginally exists. You won't find many fancy accoutrements at Reigan-Do, just two simple Zen Priests to cary on. On my visit to the cave that late July, I found that the small foot path to the cave had moss over many parts of the path, in fact it was a little slippery in some spots. Clearly, this was "a path less traveled" in Japan.
I believe that in many ways, Musashi's visit in 1645 is a prime reason the shrine is still preserved today.The temple must support itself now, and I would like to place Priest Baba's address here for your consideration. I don't usually trust anything I see on the internet because of the potential for fraud and misuse.
Perhaps a few who see this will try and maybe send a few bucks,* perhaps expecting a Reigan-Do bookmark in return, or less. Maybe include a self-addressed envelope, and enough extra money to cover the stamp, maybe in total; $10. I think for this place, $10 really can make a difference!
*Any transaction you may have with the temple, I will never know about or profit from in any way at all, and I'm not endorsing anything. Dr. Eric Scott Ph.D.
Send
mail to:Priest Baba Tetuya, Temple :Un Gan
Zen Ji
589 Iwado, Matuo-machi, Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan,
861-5282
Get your FREE Reigan-Do screen saver HERE!
