【Japan tourism】Shikoku 88 temple pilgrimage trip [No.27] Tikurinzan Jizouin Kounomineji

2023年3月11日2023年12月3日

Kounomine Temple is located in the mountains at an altitude of about 450m, with a steep approach from the coast. Fudasho called “Tosa checkpoint". It is one of the pilgrim rolls where you have to go up a steep slope even by car.

Kounomineji

Principal image	Eleven-faced Kannon Bodhisattva
Honzon mantra	On maka kyaronikya sowaka
Denomination	Shingon Buddhism Bzan sect

Place

Temple lodging： none

Phone：0887-38-5495

Gosyuin(red stamp)

History

It has a long history and originated from Kounomine Shrine, where Emperor Jingu enshrined Amaterasu Omikami.

In 730 (Tenpyo 2), Gyoki carved an eleven-faced Kannon statue under the imperial order of Emperor Shomu, and enshrined the gods and Buddha together as the principal image. After that, in 809 (Daido 4), Kobo Daishi built a temple and named it Kannon-do and designated it as a sacred place.

It is said that at the end of the Edo period, the mother of Yataro Iwasaki, the founder of the Mitsubishi conglomerate, visited the shrine to pray for her son’s success in life.

Round trip 20km for 21 days. I can feel my mother’s love.

In the early Meiji period, the temple was abandoned due to the anti-Buddhism movement, leaving only Kounomine Shrine, which enshrines Amaterasu Omikami. The principal image was entrusted to Kongocho-ji Temple, the 26th temple, and protected. It was rebuilt in 1887 (Meiji 20).

Highlight

【Iwashimizu】Behind the bell tower, “Kounomine Water", known as Kochi’s famous water, springs up. It is said that there is a miraculous cure for illness, and the pilgrim’s throat is moistened.