Day 18: No.40 Kanjizai-ji (観自在寺)

The approach to No.40 Kanjizai-ji

The main gate of No.40 Kanjizai-ji

No.40 Kanjiza-ji is the farthest away from No.1 Reizan-ji (Shikoku Henro Pilgrimage is like a round trip), and is known as the back gate of the 88 sacred temples. Yes, I would say that I’ve completed half of my pilgrimage by reaching to this temple, wow!

A list of firefighting team ? (the mark above each name is Matoi – fireman’s mark)

Very unfortunately, the main temple of Kanjizai-ji was destroyed by fire in 1959. As I saw it, this board is a list of firefighting team, since I can see the fireman’s mark – Matoi above the each name. The board seems to be made in 1960 , while the main temple was rebuilt in 1964. So I’m guessing that there might be some connection with these firefighting teams and the rebuild activity.

The twelve zodiac sign board

I saw the similar zodiac sign board at No.35 Kiyotaki-ji.

The Nio-statue

Now I’m always looking forward to see the Nio-statue at each temple. The one in Kanjizai-ji has quite unique expression. Indeed, they look very different and there’re no two nio-statues alike.

The main temple of No.40 Kanjizai-ji

As described already, the main temple was rebuilt and renewed, so it’s not so great in terms of style. There were beautiful plum blossoms in the precincts. After reciting the sutra, I had a little chat with the lady who wrote the sutra chanting on my stamp book.

“Are you going to stay at Kameya today?”
“No, unfortunately, it’s closed, so I’m planning to stay at guest house Beach”
“Ah, their old landlords were kind and nice, and the scenery is also great. However, the building is very old. As you might know, Naoto Kan, the former prime minister and his wife had stayed there once.”

Also, when I was holding my camera to take some pictures around, she came out from inside and proposed me to take some pictures of mine. I was a bit happy because I didn’t have any pictures of myself except some selfies taken by my mobile phone during this pilgrimage.

8 guardians of 12 zodiacs

Eight stone guardian statues of 12 zodiacs were carved in the temple. You can make a wish by pouring water over your zodiac guardian deity.

3 frogs statue

Shukubo – accommodation is provided

The temple stamp of No.40 Kanjizai-ji

Dedicated toYakushi-Nyorai (薬師如来)
Founded byKobo-Daishi (弘法大師)
DenominationShingon-sect Daikakuji-group (真言宗大覚寺派)
Mantraおん ころころ せんだり まとうぎ そわか
On Korokoro Sendari Matougi Sowaka
Next templeNo.41 Ryuko-ji (50.2 Km away)
Previous templeNo.39 Enko-ji (25.8 Km away)
No.40 Kanjizai-ji