Taisan-ji (Imabari)

Main hall

Plan of the temple (see text)

The Taisan-ji ( Japanese 泰山寺 ) with the Go Kinrinzan (金輪山) and Chakuōin (勅王院) is a temple of Shingon Buddhism in the city of Imabari (Ehime prefecture). In the traditional count, it is the 56th temple on the Shikoku pilgrimage route .

history

When Kōnin 6 (816) Kūkai visited the area, the population was suffering from the flooding of the Sōjagawa River ( 蒼社川 ), which had flooded the fields and destroyed the houses. The rural population blamed an evil spirit for it. Kūkai prayed for help for seven days until on the 7th day the holy Emmei Jizō Bosatsu ( 延命地蔵菩薩 ) appeared in the sky and caused the flood to drain. Kūkai planted the "jaws of unforgetting " ( 不忘の松 , Wasurezu no matsu) at the place where he had prayed, made a sculpture of the Jizō and built a prayer hall, which he called Taisanji.

During the reign of Emperor Junna , the place of prayer was expanded into a complete temple complex ( 七堂伽藍 , Shichidōgaran). The temple later suffered from civil wars and was finally moved from Mount Kinrin ( 金輪山 ) down to the current location, where Kūkai's jaws of unforgetting should once have stood.

The attachment

The simple temple complex at the foot of the mountain can be reached via stairs or a driveway. On the left edge is the main hall (本;, Hondō; 1) and in the front area to the right of the stairs is the hall dedicated to the temple founder, the Daishidō (大師堂; 2). To the side in front of the Daishidō stands the bell tower (鐘楼, Shōrō; 3). The two large guardian figures (仁王, Niō) that once stood in the temple gate are now inside the temple.