【Japan tourism】Shikoku 88 temple pilgrimage [No.5] Mujinzan syougonin jizou-ji

2023年3月3日2023年10月19日

Among the 88 temples in Shikoku, there are 6 temples whose principal image is Jizo Bosatsu. However, Jizoji Temple is the only Jizo Bodhisattva that has attracted the faith of samurai.

Jizou-ji

Principal image	Enmei Jizo Bodhisattva
Honzon Mantra	On kakakabi sanmaei sowaka
Denomination	Shingon sect Omuro sect

Place

Official site： none

Temple lodging： none

phone：088-672-4111

Goshuin(red seal)

History

In 821 (the 12th year of Konin), Kobo Daishi founded this temple by the imperial request of Emperor Saga. Kobo Daishi carves a small statue of Victorious Jizo Bodhisattva and makes it the principal object of worship.

After that, Jokan Shonin, who was a priest of Kii Kumano Gongen, carved a Enmei Jizo Bodhisattva Statue to extend his life, and placed the Shogun Jizo Bosatsu carved by Kobo Daishi in his womb.

The temple was donated by Minamoto no Yoritomo, Yoshitsune, and the Miyoshi clan, who were devout warlords, and the Yokosuka family, the feudal lord of the Tokushima domain. For this reason, it once had a large temple territory, and there was a time when there were more than 300 branch temples in Awa, Sanuki and Iyo.

From 1573 to 1592, it was destroyed by fire during the battle of Chosokabe Motochika. In 1915, a misfire occurred from a worshiper.

Highlight

【Awashima hall】、【Suikinkutsu】。

【Tarachine ginkgo tree】A gigantic ginkgo tree over 800 years old stands in the center of the precincts.

【Five Hundred Rakans】The Okunoin is also famous for its rows of colorfully colored wooden Rakan statues with various facial expressions.

Okunoin is located on the left side of the main hall and up the stone steps. It was built in 1775 as the Gohyaku Rakan Hall, but it was destroyed in a fire in the Taisho period. After that, it was rebuilt and now there are about 200 bodies lined up. An admission fee is 200 yen.

It is about 5 km (about 15 minutes by car) to the next 6th bill place “Anrakuji"!