51st. of 88
sacred temples in Shikoku
This temple, the 51st of Shikoku
Sacred Temples, lies 1km to the east of Dogo Hot Spring. The
temple contains the Nio-mon gate, a national treasure, and
other buildings that are designated as important cultural
properties such as the main hall and three-story pagoda. It
is worth paying a visit to the treasure hall, where more
than 300 articles of the temple's treasures are exhibited.
copyright(c)
Matsuyama City Office
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Story of Ishiteji (A-stone-and-hand)
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Saburou
Emon
was a rich man in this district and very greedy. He
did'nt notice that the traveler, who asked him for
charity, is Kobo
Taishi (Saint Kobo) and smashed the bowl in
his hands into pieces. The bowl spli t and
scattered to every (eight) side. After that,
Saburou
Emon's
eight children died one after another. At last, he
decided to embrace a religion and went on a
pilgrimage in Shikoku right on the heels of
Taishi. It is said that Saburou
Emon is
the founder of the pilgrimage in Shikoku. He came
across Taishi at last in the holy temple No.12 at
the 21st of the pilg rimage in Shikoku and he was
forgiven for his sin just before he died at the end
of his strength. At that time, Taishi handed him a
small stone. After that Okitoshi Kono, the head of a powerful
family in Iyo, had a son who clasped a stone
tightly in his right hand and wouldn't let it
loose. Okitoshi prayed for his son to
Ankyouyou-ji
Temple
of that time, and the son opened his hand.
After that
time, it has been said that the Temple began to be
called "Ishiteji Temple". "Monju-in" in the direction of
Joururi-ji Temple was called the remains
of Saburou Emon's residence.
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