Kanjizai-ji
The Kanjizai-ji ( Japanese 観 自在 寺 ), with the Go Heijōzan (平城 山) and Yakushiin (薬 師院) in Minamiuwa County (南 宇 和 郡), Ehime Prefecture , is a temple of the Daigakuji branch (大 覚 寺 派) of the Shingon Buddhism . In the traditional count it is the 40th temple on the Shikoku pilgrimage route . The Kanjizai-ji is the temple that is furthest from Temple No. 1 and is therefore also called the "turning point of the consecrated places of Shikoku " (四 国 霊 場 の 裏 関 所, Shikoku reijō no ura-sekisho). It is also the first temple in Ehime Prefecture when walking clockwise on the pilgrimage route.
history
According to tradition, in 807, at the request of Emperor Heizei , Priest Kūkai made the main cult figure, a Yakushi Nyōrai and as a companion an Amida Nyōrai and an eleven-faced Kannon from a piece of wood from a sacred tree (霊 木, Reiboku) and a complete temple complex (七 堂伽藍, shichdō garan).
In 1638, Prince Kūshōhosshinnō (空 性 法 親王) from Daikaku-ji in Kyōto visited the temple on a pilgrimage and stayed overnight. The go “Yakushiin” comes from him. At the time, the temple was flourishing, with 48 clusters and an income of over 2,000 koku . All buildings were lost in fires in the Edo period , but some of them could be rebuilt with the support of the princes of Uwajima, a branch of the Date , for whom the Kannjizai-ji was the prayer temple.
investment
You enter the temple via a staircase and pass the temple gate, which is designed here as a Niō gate (仁王 門; 1), as a gate with space for the two temple guards to the right and left of the passage. On the right hand you have the temple bell (鐘楼, Shōrō; 2), after a few steps you can also see the octagonal pavilion "Hōjuden" (宝 聚 殿 八角 堂; 3) on the right. After a few steps you pass an elongated, low building on the left (; 4), which shows twelve Buddhist saints as stone sculptures on its front.
After a little way and a few steps you stand in front of the main hall (Hondō; 5). It burned down in 1959, but was renewed until 1964. To the right is the Daishidō (大師 堂; 6), the hall dedicated to the temple founder. It was rebuilt in 1993 in the pyramid style (宝 形 造 り, Hōjei-zukuri) and, as a special feature, is surrounded by a corridor that is sprinkled with sand. In front of the Daishidō there is a stone treasure pagoda on the green, here called "Shinkeihōtō" (心 経 宝塔; 7). The last pavilion is the one for the holy Sasayama Daigongen (篠 山大 権 現; 8).
The guest house (信 従 会館; Shinjū Kaikan; G) of the temple can be reached directly from the street.
photos
Stairway to the temple gate
View of the main hall
Temple bell
Twelve Buddhist saints
Hōjuden octagonal hall
Daishidō and Shinkeihōdō
literature
- Ehime-ken kotogakko chireki komin bukai rekishi bukai (Ed.): Kanjizai-ji . In: Ehime-ken no rekishi sampo. Yamakawa Shuppan, 2008. ISBN 978-4-634-24638-6 . Page 222, 223.
- Oguri, Doei: Kukai. Shikoku hachijuhachi kosho no arukikata. Chukei no Bunko, 2011, ISBN 978-4-8061-4067-2 .
Web links
Coordinates: 32 ° 57 '52.8 " N , 132 ° 33' 50.6" E