Comments on: A-Yokai-A-Day: Gagoze | 今日の妖怪：元興寺（がごぜ）

By: Matt

Matt — Fri, 26 Sep 2014 12:49:26 +0000

It very well could be that the legend doesn’t line up with history; these are essentially oral tradition and myth passed down over many generations. But Gangou-ji was built in 593, so that puts it right in the middle of the Asuka period.

By: Joshua

Joshua — Fri, 26 Sep 2014 06:20:25 +0000

Sorry I made a mistake an didnt realize that Asuka was a village in Nara and got it confused with something else… However, if Gagozes story dates back to the Asuka period (550-710 CE), which predates the building of Gango-ji acording to wikipedia which states:

“Following the transfer of the capital from Asuka to Heijō-kyō (now Nara city), the buildings of Asuka-dera were also removed from the original site in Asuka to Nara in 718 CE, and developed into a huge temple under the name of Gangō-ji. The original site of the Hōkō-ji was also maintained as a temple which survives into modern times.”

Dud Gangoze live in live in Asuka dera at first? and if so did he transfer to Gango-ji or is this a misconception or error of dates?

By: Joshua

Joshua — Fri, 26 Sep 2014 06:10:41 +0000

I have a question… If the story dates back to the Asuka period (550-710 CE), then Gagoze wouldnt be in the Nara temple but the former Asuka-dera. Which was later moved to Nara in 718 acording to wikipedia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asuka-dera

Thus Gagoze is not at the Gango-ji in Nara but resides where the temple once stood in Asuka. Correct?

By: A-Yokai-A-Day: Reiki | MatthewMeyer.net

A-Yokai-A-Day: Reiki | MatthewMeyer.net — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 11:55:11 +0000

[…] the stories that exist tell of powerful spirits even more fearsome than their living counterparts. One of the most well-known reiki legends takes place at Gangō-ji, a temple in Nara. A mysterious force was haunting the temple’s bell […]