【Japan tourism】 Shikoku 88 tempe pilgrimage trip [No.64] Ishidutisan Konjikiin Maegamiji

2023年4月3日2023年12月4日

Maejinji, which stands at the foot of Mt. Ishizuchi, is the head temple of the Ishidzuchi sect of Shingon Buddhism and the Konpon Dojo for Shugendo. Ishizuchi, with an altitude of 1,982m, is counted as one of the Seven Sacred Mountains of Japan.

Maegamiji

Principal image	Amida Nyorai
Honzon mantra	On amirita teisei karaun
Denomination	Shingon Buddhism Ishidzuchi sect

Place

Temple lodging： none

Phone：0897-56-6995

Gosyuin(red stamp)

History

En no Gyoja Ozunu, the founder of Shugendo, was training at Mt. Ishizuchi. Then, I felt that Shaka Nyorai and Amida Nyorai appeared as Ishizuchi Kuraou Gongen. It is said that the statue was carved, enshrined and worshiped.

After that, Emperor Kanmu prayed for recovery from illness, and when it was fulfilled, the Shichido Garan was built and the title of Konjiki-in Maegamiji was given by the imperial order. It has a deep connection with the imperial family, and successive emperors have devoted themselves to protecting the temple.

Kobo Daishi is said to have entered Mt. Ishizuchi twice when he was young, and it is known that he practiced the “Kokuzo Gumonjiho" to gain memory power by praying to Bodhisattvas, and practiced Goma rituals and fasting.

During the Edo period, it became a place of prayer for the Matsudaira family, the lord of the Saijo Domain, and flourished. However, due to the separation of Shintoism and Buddhism during the Meiji Restoration, the temple was abandoned. Ishizuchi Shrine was built in the place where Maegamiji used to be.

In 1889 (Meiji 22), it was restored along the old Sanuki Highway, a few hundred meters to the east, and has reached the present.

At the annual opening of the mountain on July 1st, believers in white robes gather and chant “Nanmaida" to the sound of conch shells.

Highlight

【Gongendo hall】It is said that if you touch the three Zao Daigongen statues on the night of the 20th of each month, you will be cured. Gongen-do is built on a higher place than the main hall.