TOP > Divine Master Tenrai Hayashima Journey: In Search of Taoism (1)

天来大先生は日本国内はもとより、中国、ペルーと海外にも足を運び、天來大先生・タオイズムの旅


The House of Otakasa


Kochi Castle is a famous tourist attraction in Kochi Prefecture. You can see the entire city from its place on the hills. Few, however, know that during the Nanbokucho period, Divine Master Tenrai Hayashima’s ancestors, the Otakasa family, had their stronghold here.

The Otakasa were a powerful gozoku clan from Kochi City, Along with 14-century samurai such as Kusunoki Masashige and Nitta Yoshisada they fought for the southern side in the Nambokucho battles against the north with the seven-year-old titular head of the castle, Otakasa Matsuomaru, as leader. Matsuomaru died in battle at the age of 15. His remains are said to have vanished like sacred relics.

Otakasa Shrine stood in the current location of the Kochi Municipal Office. It was fused with Matsukuma Shrine in 1946, yet a memorial to Matsuomaru was put in place. Later generations of the Otakasa clan went on to defend the family name. During the Edo period the renowned nangaku scholar Otakasa Shizan made a major contribution to Edo period reforms as well as the construction of what is now Yushima Seido. He also gained the trust of the leader of the old Iwaki Province and exerted an influence on local politics. The Otakasa clan received instruction from the Murakami Genji clan in Taoist practices. Divine Master Tenrai Hayashima’s adopted family,? a branch of the Murakami Genji, has traditionally been the torchbearers of the science of ki medicine. Such historical reasons lie behind the choice of Iwaki City as the location of Nihon Dokan’s headquarters.

A night view of Kochi Castle
 A night view of Kochi Castle (formerly Otakasa Castle) beyond the cherry blossoms

The hall of worship at Matsushima
 The hall of worship at Matsushima

Matsushima Shrine and its torii gate
 Matsushima Shrine and its
torii gate

The house of Otakasa, family tree
 The house of Otakasa,
family tree


Mount Kunlun


Mount Kunlun is a sacred mountain that plays a prominent role in both myth and faith. According to Masao Hayashima’s Sennin Retsuden based on the Chinese classic Seven Slips of the Cloudy Satchel. ”There is on Mount Kunlun a magnificent palace where the highest of all female sages, the goddess Xi Wangmu lives. This goddess is a stunning of face and body. She controls both the yin and yang ki energies, nurtures both the Earth and heavens and created all.” Above the mountaintop is a place that controls the universe. Mount Kunlun is a crossroads for Heaven and Earth.

Divine Master Tenrai Hayashima climbed Mount Kunlun in May, 1991. He was invited to take part in the Quanzhen School of Taoism’s conference in Wendeng City, Shantong Province as the only Taoist sage in Japan. His wife Myozui was also invited.

In western Wendeng is the sacred Mount Kunlun where the founder of the Quanzhen school of Taoism, Wang Chongyang and his brightest disciple Qiu Chuji are said to have undergone trained as monks.

Wendong City gave Divine Master Tenrai Hayashima a rapturous welcome, saying, “The Sage has returned.” Local TV networks rushed to film the divine master as he ascended Mount Kunlun in a bamboo basket. Faith in the sacred nature of Mount Kunlun remains strong.

A Rapturous welcome.
 A Rapturous welcome.
“The Sage has returned.”

取材陣に取り囲まれてインタビュー攻めに
 Surrounded by reporters. In Search of
Taoism

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