- Kanjizai-ji
Kanjizaiji (観自在寺) is a Shingon Buddhist
temple in "Ainan-cho" (愛南町),Minamiuwa District, Ehime ,Japan . It is number 40 of the 88 temples in theShikoku Pilgrimage ."-Ji" (寺) means temple in Japanese. "Kanjizai" (観自在) is the name of
Avalokitesvara (観音, "Kannon") which is used in theHeart Sutra (般若心経, "Hannya-Shingyo").The history of the temple is said to date to the year 807 when
Kūkai visited the town and made 3 venerable statues (尊像, "Sonzou") in honor ofEmperor Heizei . At that time he made "HonzonYakushi Nyorai " (本尊薬師如来), "Wakihutsu Amida-Nyorai" (脇仏阿弥陀如来) and "Jūichimen Kanzenon" (十一面観世音). These statues were quite precious for all the people from the commonalty to the Emperors.Emperor Heizei andEmperor Saga visited this temple every year. That's why, the area around this temple became called "Hirajo" (平城) whose character means Heizei (平城).There are some events in each month and sometimes there are so many booths on the street. The small festival is called "O-
daishi -sama" (御大師様) and it is held once around two months to celebrate the tie with Kūkai.Kanjizaiji has some special features. This temple has one of the "Nanyo"
Seven Gods of Fortune (南予七福神, "Nanyo-ShichiFukujin") in "Houshūden-Hakkakudou" (宝聚殿八角堂). "Nanyo" (南予) means the southern part of Ehime.Thedeity of this temple is called "Benzaiten " (弁財天). He is a deity of treasure and arts. He prevents the natural disasters for people, and brings the rich harvest in the town. And also he brings people good fortune of studying.Kanjizaiji has also statues of the twelve
Zodiac signs (干支, "Eto"), and they're called "Hattaihutsu-Jūnishi-Honzon" (八体仏十二支本尊). The visitors water their own signs' statues and pray to it.External links
*jp icon [http://www.kanjizaiji.com/ Kanjizaiji] - the official website
*
*en icon [http://www.tigertoda.ch/englisch/ Documentary movie about the 88 Temple Pilgrimage]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
