【Japan tourism】 Shikoku 88 temple pilgrimage trip [No.82] Aominezan Senjyuin Negoroji

2023年3月25日2023年10月10日

Negoro-ji Temple is located in Mt. Aomine, which is the main peak of Goshikidai, which consists of Aomine, Yellowmine, Akamine, Shiramine, and Kuromine, and is built at an altitude of 365m. Aomineyama is said to have been inhabited by the Ushioni. The picture of the ushi-oni is popular as a talisman to ward off evil spirits.

Negoroji

Principal image	Thousand-handed Kannon Bodhisattva
Honzon mantra	On bazaratarama kiriku Owaka
Denimination	Tendai Buddhism

Place

Temple lodging： none

Phone：087-881-3329

Gosyuin(red stamp)

History

Kobo Daishi, who sensed the Five Wisdom Nyorai (Five Buddhas of the Kongokai) of the Kongokai Mandala on the Goshikidai, built “Kezouin" as a place for esoteric Buddhism training in Aomine.

Later, when Daishi’s nephew, Chisho Daishi, was on a pilgrimage to Shikoku, he met Ichinose Myojin, the guardian deity of the mountain with a white monkey under a huge zelkova tree. [He was instructed to build training halls in Bishamon-dani, Renge-dani, and Kouya-dani, and to make Kannon statues out of the trees of Renge-dani.] A statue of Senju Kanzeon was carved out of Rengedani wood and enshrined in Senju-in Temple.

It is said that 'Kazouin’ and 'Setein’ were collectively named Negoroji because the stump of this sacred tree continued to emit fragrance.

Negoroji Temple was deeply devoted to Emperor Go-Shirakawa and prospered to the extreme. Later, it was revived by the Takamatsu feudal lords, and was converted to Tendai sect at this time.

Once upon a time, in Aomineyama, there lived a terrifying human-eating monster called Ushioni. The villagers decided to ask Kurando Takakiyo Yamada, a master of archery, to exterminate it.

However, even after entering the mountain, the ushi-oni does not appear. So Takakiyo made a wish to the principal image of Negoro-ji Temple. Then, on the 21st day, an ushi-oni appeared and struck an arrow in his mouth.

After chasing the fleeing ushi-oni, he found it dead in Sadagafuchi, about 2km to the west, and Takakiyo cut off the ushi-oni’s horns and dedicated it to the temple. Its horn is still kept in the temple.

Highlight

【Statue of Godaison】The Five Great Myoos related to the foundation of Kobo Daishi. Fudo Myoo, Gunsari Myoo, Daiitoku Myoo, Kongo Yasha Myoo.

【Mantai Kannon】About 33,000 Kannon statues donated by devotees from all over Japan are lined up in the concave-shaped corridor in front of the main hall.

It is about 15 km (about 30 minutes by car) to the next 83rd bill place “Ichinomiya Temple"!