【Japan tourism】Shikoku 88 temple pilgrimage trip [No.35] Iouzan Kyoutiin Kiyotakiji

2023年3月30日2023年4月15日

Kiyotakiji Temple is famous for praying to ward off evil. The statue of Yakushi Nyorai, which is higher than the roof of the main hall, is a symbol.

Kiyotakiji

Principal image	Yakushi Nyorai
Honzon mantra	On korokoro sendari matougi sowaka
Denomination	Shingon Buddhism Buzan sect

Place

Official site： none

Temple lodging： none

Phone：088-852-0316

Goshuin(red seal)

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History

It is said that in 723 (Yoro 7), Gyoki sensed the spirit of this place and carved a Yakushi Nyorai statue and built a hall as the principal image. It was named “Kageyamamitsuin Shakuhonji".

From 810 to 824, Kobo Daishi visited and built a platform on the rock about 300 meters above the main hall. Then, praying for a bountiful harvest, the Akai Gongen and the Ryuo Gongen were enacted for 17 days.

Then, on the day of the full wish, Kobo Daishi poked the altar with his vajra staff, and pure water gushed out like a waterfall and turned into a pond like a mirror. This is the origin of 'Kyouchi-in Seiryu-ji’, and the name of the temple has been changed to be a sacred place.

This spring water was useful not only for moistening the fields at the foot of the mountain, but also for exposing the “Mitsumata" to make paper. There is no doubt that it has contributed to the creation of the Tosa Washi industry, such as “Tosa Washi" and “handmade shoji paper." The quality of water is very important for Japanese paper making, and Ino Town, located upstream of the Niyodo River, is also famous for producing Tosa Japanese paper.

In the precincts, there is a corner that people do not approach called “Mountain of Irazu". Prince Takaoka (Shinyo), a son of Emperor Heijo, became a disciple of Kobo Daishi and aimed at Tenjiku. In 861 (Jogan 3), when he was alive, there is a counterattack five-ring pagoda built to hold a memorial service for himself.

In the Edo period, the Tosa feudal lord protected the temple, and it was a large temple on the Tosa road, with over 10 branch temples and seven temple buildings, such as receiving a donation of 100 koku of temple territory.

Highlight

【Niomon】On the ceiling of the Niomon gate, a dragon drawn by local painter Nansou Kubo glares at you. It is called “Happo-no-Nirami-Dragon" because its eyes meet from any angle.

It is about 18 km (about 50 minutes by car) to the next 36th bill place “Syoryu-ji"!