小嶋晶子さんのインスタグラム写真 - (小嶋晶子Instagram)「Went to Hase temple. Hase temple is often called the ‘Flower Temple’ because it has flower-filled precincts throughout the four seasons. Peonies are particularly very popular among people. The best known legend of this temple is the story of the peony and Empress Mezu-Bunin. The story goes that the Empress Mezu-Bunin, who excited in China about 1,000 years ago, had a golden heart but her face was ugly. It looked like a horse. One day she heard magical power of the Eleven-faced Kannon, the Buddha of Compassion of Hase temple in Japan. She prayed for the Hase Kannon from China to change her looks, and the Kannon heard her prayer. Her wish was granted and she became incredible beautiful. In appreciation for the Kannon she gifted a lot of treasures to Hase temple and those gifts included several peonies. This is the beginning of beautiful peonies in Hase temple. 四季を通して様々な花が咲く「花の御寺」と名高い長谷寺へ。毎年牡丹の時期に訪れていますが、今回、法話で聞いた「牡丹と長谷寺の伝説」が面白い。ギュッと要約すると“唐の時代の中国、馬頭夫人(めずぶにん)という名の心はめちゃくちゃ美しいけど、見た目が・・・な皇妃が自分の容姿に悩んで、長谷寺の十一面観音に「美人になりたい!」と願ったら、絶世の美女に!感謝感激雨あられで送った、たくさんの宝物の中に牡丹があり、これが長谷寺に咲く牡丹の始まり..だそう”。私も観音様にしっかりお願いしてきました🤣 #hasetemple #hasederatemple #peony #peonies #nara #japan #🌺 #🇯🇵」5月4日 23時45分