【Japan tourism】Shikoku 88 temple pilgrimage trip [No.12] Marosan Syoujyuin Syousanji

2023年3月6日2023年4月15日

Syousanji

Principal image	Kokuzo Bodhisattva
Honzon mantra	Noubou akyasya kyarabaya on arikya maribori sowaka
Denomination	Koyasan Shingon Buddhism

Place

Official site： none

Temple lodging： Be(30people, Reservation required)

Phone：088-677-0112

Goshuin(red seal)

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History

Syousanji Temple is located halfway up Mt. syousanji ( 8th station) at an altitude of 938m. Cars can pass now, but the road from Fujiidera to Syousanji used to be known as a difficult place and was called “Pilgrimage Korogashi". This temple is located at the second highest altitude among the Shikoku sacred sites.

The temple was founded by En no Gyoja in the Asuka period, and it is said that the temple was founded by opening the mountain and enshrining Zao Gongen.

However, according to legend, a serpent with supernatural powers lived in this area, and it breathed fire to annoy the villagers.

It is said that Orochi breathed fire and attacked crops and villagers.

Kobo Daishi will appear there.

The serpent burns the entire mountain to stop Kobo Daishi, who visits, but Kobo Daishi makes a sign of Maro (meaning water ring) and moves forward while chanting mantras. It is said that the fire was slowly dying. The serpent appeared in a rocky cave near the summit, but Kobo Daishi confined the snake in the rocky cave with the protection of Kokuzo Bosatsu.

When a three-faced Daikokuten (Daikokuten on the front, Bishamonten on the right, and Benzaiten on the left) was carved and enshrined in a rock cave, natural disasters disappeared. Kobo Daishi prayed for the masses’ comfort and a bountiful harvest for the affected villagers, and carved a four-shaku five-sun Kokuzo Bosatsu as the principal image of worship.

Highlight

【Three-faced Daikokuten】There is a statue of Daikokuten in the center, Bishamonten on the right, and Benzaiten on the left.

【Joshinan】This temple was built on the site where it is said that Emon Saburo, the originator of the Shikoku Pilgrimage, finally met Kobo Daishi and reached his final moments. It is located about 1.6km down the road from the precincts of Syousanji Temple. Kobo Daishi put up a cane used by Emon Saburo instead of a grave marker. It is said that it grew into a large cedar tree, hence the name Jyousinan. The current cedar is the second generation.

It is about 30km (about 1 hour by car) to the next 13th bill place “Dainichiji"!