Nakanokawachi Jizo-do Temple 20 Sasaguri Pilgrimage

 

Nakanokawachi Jizo-do is known locally as Kakurin-ji, the 20th temple on the Shikoku pilgrimage that Nakanokawachi Jizo-do represents on this miniature version of the pilgrimage.

Though there is a very narrow road that passes near the temple, the best route is via a steep trail.

Yesterday was almost completely on asphalt roads, but it seems today there will be quite a bit of trails for those who walk the pilgrimage.

The honzon is a Jizo, and there are also many other statues around, including a couple of Fudo.

However, the most intriguing was a Kuginuki Jizo, a nail-pulling Jizo, within a giant pair of pincers.

This seems to derive from a more famous nail-pulling Jizo in Kyoto, and the background being that the "nails" to be pulled are karmic sufferings from a previous life.

The previous post was on temples 17 and 78.

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Yamate Amida-do & Yamate Yakushi-do Temples 78 & 17 Sasaguri Pilgrimage

 

Yamate is the central area of the narrow valley of Sasaguri through which the Tatara River, Main road, and train line runs.

The Amida Hall, number 78 of the Sasaguri Pilgrimage is sometimes known as Gosho-ji, the name of the 78th temple on the Shikoku Pilgrimage.

Obviously the Amida is the honzon of the temple, but there are also several other small halls including a Daishi Hall and a Jizo Hall.

There are also numerous Fudo Myoo statues. The Jizo Hall, the first photo of this post, seems to be more popular than the Amida. It is a Higiri Jizo, said to grant wishes on specific dates.

The next temple I visited, very close by, was across the river and back a little. The route I was taking would not be circular, rather almost a figure eight.

The Yakushido has a rather nice Atago Shogun Jizo, pictured below.

A Daishi statue and Yakushi statue are together in the main hall.

The original honzon, a small stone statue, is between them.

Once again, a multitude of Fudo Myoo's...

I've mentioned it before, but for me, the defining feature of this pilgrimage is the vast number of Fudo statues.....

The previous post in this series on my 4 day walk along the amazing Sasaguri Pilgrimage was on the mountain temple Ichinotaki, number 40 of the pilgrimage.

Ichinotaki-ji Temple 40 Sasaguri Pilgrimage

 

Ichinotaki Temple in the mountains of Sasaguri is said to have more than 500 statues, including a set of rakan.

Temple number 40 on the Sasaguri Pilgrimage, it is fairly high up a narrow valley.

Several shrines and altars line the approach path including the Tamamitsu Inari Shrine, pictured above, and the Shokankiten Hall next door to it.

The temple was established, by local donations, in 1892.

The honzon is a Yakushi Nyorai.

There are actually two waterfalls, the larger considered male, and the smaller, female.

With the waterfall comes many Fudo Myoo's, and I previously posted photos of 18 of them...

There is quite a large Bato Kannon, sometimes called Horsehead Kannon

Theer are alo numerous, but not 500, expressive statues of rakan, first photo of the post and the next couple of photos...

There is supposed to be one clutching a bunch of banknotes but I couldnt find it...

The statue below was very unusual, at least in this area. It is a Ta no kami, a god of the rice paddy.

When viewed from the rear it is unambiguously a phallus.

En no Gyoga, often found at waterfalls as the legendary founder of Shugendo.

The Seven Luck Gods.... only one of which is Japanese....

Looking down on Ichinotaki Temple

The smaller "female" falls....

The previous post was on the Fudo Myoo statues of Ichinotaki....

18 Stone Fudo Myoo Statues at Ichinotaki Temple in Sasaguri

 

Ichinotaki Temple is a small mountain temple on the Sasaguri 88 temple pilgrimage.

Unlike many of the miniature 88 temple pilgrimages, a lot of the temples in Sasaguri are in the mountains, and quite a few have waterfalls.

I have never seen so many Fudo Myoo statues as I found in Sasaguri, and as Fudo is associated with waterfalls used for ascetic training, Ichinotaki has more than usual.

They are all outside, and the majority are carved in stone.

They come in a wide range of sizes, and while a few are professionally carved, many are "less" professional, but in many ways more evocative.

As with all statues outside, the weather has worked on them and this adds yet another layer to their aesthetics... to me at least...

There is a lot more to see at Ichinotaki Temple but that will be for next time....

The previous post was on the previous temple, Shuzenji, also with multiple Fudo's