【Japan tourism】Shikoku 88 temple pilgremage trip [No.20] Ryujyuzan Houjyuin Kakurinji
Kakurinji Temple is built on a mountain ridge at an altitude of about 550m, and is known as the second most difficult place to climb after Syousanji Temple. This temple is affectionately called “Otsuru-san".す。
Kakurinji
| Principal image | Jizo Bodhisattva |
| Honzon mantra | On kakakabi sanmaei sowaka |
| Denomination | Koyasan Shingon Buddhism |
Place
Official site： none
Temple lodging： none
Phone：0885-42-3020
〒771-4303
14 Nawashigao, Katsuura-cho, Katsuura-gun, Tokushima Prefecture
Goshuin(red seal)
History
In 798 (Enryaku 17), it was founded by Kobo Daishi at the request of Emperor Kanmu.
During his training, Kobo Daishi saw male and female cranes in the mountains spreading their wings and landing on an old cedar to protect a small golden Jizo Bodhisattva. Impressed, Kobo Daishi carved a statue of Jizo Bodhisattva about 90 cm high from a nearby sacred tree, and enshrined a golden Jizo Bosatsu statue about 5.5 cm protected by a crane as the principal image.
Furthermore, the mountain range in the precinct resembled Mt. Ryoju in Tenjiku, where the Buddha preached, so it is said that the name of the mountain was named Mt. Ryoju and the temple was named Kakurinji. The cedar trees, which are said to have landed cranes, still grow thickly.
Emperor Heijo, Emperor Saga, Emperor Junna, and successive emperors devoted themselves to the temple, and military commanders such as Minamoto no Yoritomo, Yoshitsune, Nagaharu Miyoshi, and Iemasa Hachisuka were deeply worshiped, and the temple prospered greatly.
Even in the tensho war, it is in a difficult place on the top of the mountain, so it has escaped the difficulty.
Higelight
【Three-storied pagoda】Construction began in 1817 (Bunka 14) and was completed in 1827 (Bunsei 10).
The first layer is hardened using “gihoujyu", the double layer is hardened with “hane", and the triple layer is hardened with “reverse lotus pillar".
The blueprints still exist, and as the only three-storied pagoda in Tokushima Prefecture, it is an important designated cultural property of the prefecture.
【Choishi】There are 21 stone pillars on this pilgrimage route, called “chouishi".
Starting from the main hall, there are 11 Muromachi period chouishi. The era names of Oan, Eiwa, and Meitoku are engraved.
The pilgrimage route is about 4 km from the foot of the mountain and takes about 1.5 hours to climb.
It is about 10 km (about 20 minutes by car) to the next 21st bill place “Tairyu-ji"!