Sankakuji Temple 65 Shikoku Ohenro Pilgrimage

 

Sankakuji Temple, the 65th on the Ohenro Pilgrimage is the last temple in Ehime, before entering the final prefecture, Kagawa.

It is on a mountain at 360 meters above sea level, and there are some fine views on the way up and down.

In earler days it was classed as a difficult-to-reach temple, but nowadays the climb is easier.

This is one of the many temples on the pilgrimage founded by Gyoki.in the early to mid 8th century.

In 815 Kobo Daishi visited and carved the honzon, an eleven-faced Kannon. It is a secret Buddha only opened to the public every 60 years.

Within the grounds is a triangular pond with a triangular island. This is now a Benzaiten shrine, but according to legend the triangular "island" was used as a goma altar by Kobo Daishi. The pond is the origin of the temples name.

The temple is known for its very old cherry trees, but when I visited in winter, they were not at all imoressive.

In the early 9th Century, Emperor Saga donated a lot of land to the temple and it prospered and at one time was a large complex.

The whole temple, excluding the honzon, was destroyed by Chosokabe.

The current main hall dates to 1849.

The Yakushi in the Yakushi-do is said to cure warts and corns.

The 7 meter tall standing Jizo was made in 1977

The previous temple on the pilgrimage was number 64, Maegamiji.

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Shikoku Pilgrimage Temple 37 Iwamotoji

Iwamotoji, the 37th temple on the Shikoku pilgrimage known as Ohenro, is located in Shimanto, Kochi, in the SW part of Shikoku Island.

Its about 80 kilometers to the next temple, and 65 from the previous temple.

When I arrived in very early December, there was still some fine autumn colour around.

There was a fine pair of Nio guardians in the Nio gate....

Though they didn't look to be very old...

The origins of the temple are in the mid-8th century when Gyoki, under orders of Emperor Shomu, founded a temple a couple of kilometers to the north, next to the Niida Myojin Shrine.

It was called Fukuemanji, and when Kobo Daishi visited next century he enshrined 5 different Buddhas in 5 shrine in the complex.

They were a Fudo Myoo, a Kannon, an Amida, a Yakushi, and a Jizo. These are now the 5 honzon at Iwamotoji.

Iwamotoji is unique on the Shikoku Pilgrimage in having 5 honzon

Fukuemanji was the temple on the pilgrimage, and Iwamotoji was a lodgings on the route between it and the next temple at Ashizuri Cape.

In the 17th century, Fukuemanji fell into disrepair, and the priest transferred to Iwamotoji, which then became the pilgrimage temple.

At the start of Meiji, with the shinbutsu bunri edict, the 5 Buddhas were transferred from the shrines to Iwamotoji.

The temple was closed down in 1871 but reopened in 1889.

The main hall, built in 1978, is well known for its painted ceiling.

575 colourful paintings, by both professional artists and regular citizens draw visitors.

The most famous one is of Marilyn Monroe, but I didn't notice it.

The oldest structure in the temple is the Daishi Hall, believed to be about 200 years old. Photo 9 above.

Photo 8 is the circular Seitendo enshrining Kangiten.

This is a small Suitengu Shrine.

Behind the temple is the Mikumano Shrine.

The temple has a large lodgings house.

The previous temple was number 36 Shoryuji.

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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.