【Japan tourism】Shikoku 88 Temple pilgrimage trip [No.25] Housyuzan Singonin Sinsyouji

2023年3月9日2023年12月3日

Shinshoji Temple is built on a hill overlooking Murotsu Port and is commonly known as “Tsudera".

Shinsyouji

Principal image	Jizo Bodhisattva
Honzon mantra	On kakakabi sanmaei sowaka
Denomination	Shingon Buddhism Buzan sect

Place

Temple lodging： none

Phone：0887-23-0025

Goshuin(red stamp)

History

When Kobo Daishi made a tour of Shikoku, the shape of the mountain resembled the jewel held by Jizo Bodhisattva. This place was designated as a sacred place, and the Jizo Bodhisattva was carved and made into the principal image of worship, and named “Houshuzan Shingonin Shinshoji".

There was a time when the site was expanded and managed by the clan, but due to the Meiji reforms, the temple was abandoned and the land became extremely small. The main hall was built in 1975 and the Daishido in 1963.

In the “Konjaku Monogatari Shu" (Collection of Tales of Times Past), it is described as “Tsudera" in “Tosa Province Murototsu" and “Jizo Bodhisattva left the temple voluntarily after being caught in a fire". There is a story about how Jizo Bodhisattva, the principal image of the temple at that time, was caught in a fire, changed himself into a monk, left the temple himself, and escaped from the disaster he had informed the villagers about.

Also, in “Kyuukinanjishi", there is a story about when the ship on which Kazutoyo Yamauchi, the first lord of the Tosa domain, was about to be wrecked off the coast of Muroto in the 7th year of the Keicho era. There is a description that the principal image of that time appeared in the form of a monk, took the rudder, and guided the ship safely to Murotsu Port.

When he couldn’t see the monk, he found the body of Jizo Bodhisattva, the principal image of Buddha, wet. Since then, the principal image has been called “Kajitori Jizo".

Highlight