Baekje Temple 2023.06.23

The fresh greenery was beautiful.

It is located east of Lake Biwa and on the western slopes of the Suzuka Mountains. According to the temple legend, it was built in the 14th year of Emperor Suiko (606) by Prince Shotoku. When Prince Shotoku came to this place with the Goryeo monk Huiji, who was visiting at the time, he saw a mysterious light in the mountains. When I went to visit the source of the light, I found that it was a cedar tree. The prince carved the cedar as a standing tree with roots to make an eleven-sided Kannon statue (Ueki Kannon) and built a hall around the statue. This is said to be the beginning of Baekje Temple, and it is said that the temple was built after Yongunji Temple in Baekje, so it was named Baekje Temple.