“Shakkizan” rings with history. Today, we are at Enkōji. This temple is also called Shakkizan. Enkōji has a fascinating story. It is also known as Jisannin.
Enkōji is a Chisan Shingon temple. It sits in Sukumo, Kōchi Prefecture. This temple is number 39 on the Shikoku 88 temple pilgrimage. Pilgrims come here seeking healing.
The main image is Yakushi Nyorai. Yakushi Nyorai is the Buddha of healing and medicine. People visit Enkōji for blessings. They seek help from the deities.
Legend says Gyōki founded Enkōji in 724. Emperor Shōmu wanted temples in every province. Gyōki carved a wooden statue. This statue was of Yakushi Nyorai. It became the temple’s honzon.
In 911, something strange happened. A red turtle climbed from the sea. It carried a Buddhist bell on its back. This turtle is called “shakki” in Japanese. Statues of this turtle are all over Enkōji now. They honor the deities connected to the temple.
Look around at the buildings here. The Hondō dates back to the early Jinki period. See the Sanmon, also called Niōmon. Notice the Shōrō.
The Gomadō is a special shrine. People conduct Goma rituals here. They burn cedar sticks. They ask for blessings from the deities. You can buy cedar sticks nearby.
There is also an eye cleansing well. Kōbō-Daishi created it in 795. He used a Khakkhara to break the ground. Water sprang up to help villagers suffering from drought. Now, the hole is a well. It is called the “eye cleansing well.”
Don’t miss the red turtle and bell statue. There is also a Japanese rock garden here. You can also find a Japanese pond and stream garden. A turtle statue emerges from the pond. It is a highlight of this garden.
Enkōji has treasures too. The bronze bell dates to 911. It is an Important Cultural Property. It is the oldest Buddhist temple bell in Kōchi Prefecture. It measures 33 cm tall. The circumference is 25.2 cm. The diameter is 23.5 cm.
The temple also has wooden Yakushi Nyorai statues. There are Nikkō bosatsu and Gakkō bosatsu statues too. These are Sukumo City Designated Tangible Cultural Properties.
The Chinese juniper tree is around 400 years old. Sukumo City protects it as a Natural Monument. It was designated on July 24, 1963.
Take a moment to appreciate Enkōji. It is a place of history. It is a place of healing. It is a place of peace. Remember the red turtle and its bell. Remember the story of Gyōki. Remember the blessings offered here.