Maegamiji Temple 64 Shikoku Ohenro Pilgrimage

 

Temple 64, Maegamiji, was originally located high up on Mount Ishizuchi, the 1,982 meter high sacred mountain, highest mountain in West Japan, and a major Shugendo centre.

When En no Gyoja, the legendary founder of Shugendo was climbing the mountain in the late 7th century he encountered a man at the point he gave up trying to reach the summit. The mans words convinved him to keep going and on his way down after reaching the top and having a vision he established the temple.

Emperor Kanmu established 7 halls at the temple in the late 7th century.

Kobo Daishi is known to have visited twice.

All of this occurred at about 1,400 meters on the mountain, roughly where the modern ropeway ends.

In the Edo Period a small branch temple called Satozenjinji was built at the base of the mountain for people who could not make the tough climb up. This was where the huge Ishizuchi Shrine now stands, a little west of the current Maegami Temple.

The original temple on the mountain became known as the Okunoin.

In 1868 with the Shinbutsubunri declaration, the Buddhist sites connected to Ishizuchi either became shrines, or closed down.

After petitioning by local parishioners the current Maegami Temple was built at its current site.

In 1972 the main hall and its honzon, an Amida, were destroyed by fire and rebuilt with a new honzon which has always been a "secret Buddha."

The precincts contain a Gongen hall, a Daishi hall, a Goma hall, and a Konpira hall.

There is a waterfall for austerities with a Fudo Myoo. There are also an Inari Shrine and a Benzaiten Shrine.

The previous post in the series was on Temples 62 & 63.

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