【Japan tourism】 Shikoku 88 temple pilgrimage trip [No.47] Kumanozan Myoukenin Yasakaji
Yasaka-dera Temple is famous for its fire-walking ascetic training, which is performed during Shugendo rituals.
Yasakaji
| Principal imege | Amida Nyorai |
| Honzon mantra | On amirita teisei karaun |
| Denomination | Shingon Buddhism Godai sect |
Place
Temple lodging： none
Phone：089-963-0271
〒791-1133
773 Yasaka, Joruricho, Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture
Gosyuin(red stamp)
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History
It is an ancient temple with a history of 1,300 years that is said to have been founded by En no Gyosha Ozuno, the founder of Shugendo.
In 701, the pagoda was built under the guidance of Ochi Tamaoki, the provincial governor of Iyo, at the request of Emperor Monmu. It is said that the name of the temple is derived from the fact that it was built by cutting the slopes of the eight places, and that it is also derived from the increasingly prosperous “Iyasaka".
In 815 (Konin 6), Kobo Daishi performed a Buddhist ritual at this temple, revived the ruined temple, and established it as a sacred place. The seated statue of Amida Nyorai, the principal image of worship, is said to have been made by Eshin Sozu Genshin.
After that, Kumano Gongen’s branch spirit and Junisha Gongen were dedicated from Kishu and became a training hall of Shugendo, and it came to be called 'Kumano Yasaka Temple’. It boasted of prosperity with 12 temples in the precincts and 48 branch temples, and prospered enough to have a monk’s army.
However, after being destroyed by fire during the Battle of Tensho, the scale of the temple has been steadily shrinking. The place where the temple stands now is where Kumano Gongen and Junisha Gongen were enshrined.
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In the basement of the main hall, about 8,000 Amitabha statues dedicated from all over the country are enshrined.
【helping hand】 It is located on the left side of the 10th step from the bottom of the stone steps leading up to the main hall. It is said to be a hand of help to get rid of the nine difficulties, and it is said to be beneficial for foot and eye diseases.
【Enma-do】"Gokuraku" and “Jigoku" are divided into left and right. Gokuraku depicts the beautiful Pure Land, while Hell depicts the realm of hungry ghosts, animal animals, and asura.
【Iyasaka Fudoson】On April 29th every year, the [Saito Ogomakyou Fire Crossing Training] is held.
It is a Shugendo Kaji prayer that you walk barefoot on the burning lawn. This is attributed to the fact that the temple was originally a training hall for Shugendo.
It is about 5 km (about 15 minutes by car) to the next 48th bill place “Sairinji"!