【Japan tourism】 Shikoku 88 temple pilgrimage trip [No.87] Hudarakusan Kannonin Nagaoji
Nagaoji is known locally as “Nagao no Kannon-san" and “Temple of Chikaramochi and Shizuka Gozen tokudo".
Nagaoji
| Principal image | Holy Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva |
| Honzon mantra | On arorikya sowaka |
| Denomination | Tendai Buddhism |
Place
Temple lodging： none
Phone：0879-52-2041
〒769-2302
653 Nagaonishi, Sanuki City, Kagawa Prefecture
Gosyuin(red stamp)
History
In 739 (Tenpyo 11), when Gyoki was walking through this area, he felt a message from a willow on the side of the road. Therefore, it is said that a 3-shaku 5-sun (approximately 1m) statue of Sho Kannon Bodhisattva was sculpted as the principal object of worship and the hall was built and opened.
Kobo Daishi visited this temple from 806 to 810 (Daido era) and prayed for national security and a bountiful harvest by holding a goma prayer for seven nights at the beginning of the year so that he could enter the Tang Dynasty successfully.
Kobo Daishi, who returned from Tang Dynasty, visited this place again, copied the “Dainichi Sutra" one character at a time, built a memorial tower, and converted to Shingon Buddhism at that time.
Kobo Daishi’s New Year’s Seven Nights of Prayer has been handed down to this day, and every year on the 7th day of the new year, the “Daieyo" is held in grand style. In connection with the story that Kobo Daishi threw a talisman to people, a lucky mochi is thrown and a competition is held to carry a large mirror mochi (160 kg) placed on three sides.
It is a local tradition that colors the New Year, and on January 2nd, there is an event called “shamisen mochi pounding," in which a bag of mochi is pounded to the rhythm of a musical instrument.
Over the years, many emperors have devoted themselves to the temple, but it was destroyed by fire during the Tensho era except for the main hall.
Between 1596 and 1615 (Keicho era), the Ikoma clan restored the temple, and in the Edo period, Matsudaira Yorishige, the feudal lord of Takamatsu, donated a pagoda and built a temple, converting the Shingon sect to the Tendai sect. The current pagoda and Niomon Gate were built around this time.
After the Meiji Restoration, the main temple temple was provided for public facilities such as schools, police, and county offices.
Highlight
【Nioumon】
【Nagao Tenmanjizai Tenjin Shrine】
【main hall】 It was built in 1683 by the lord of the Sanuki Domain, Matsudaira Yorishige.
The principal image survived many fires and was designated as the best hidden Buddhist statue among the seven Sanuki Kannon.
【Shizuka Gozen tonsure Mound】It is said to be the hometown of Shizuka Gozen, a concubine of Minamoto no Yoshitsune.
There is a mound next to the main hall where he and his mother, Iso Zenni, buried the hair that was cut off when they entered the priesthood.
It is about 18 km (about 40 minutes by car) to the next 88th bill place “Ookuboji"!