My Shikoku Henro Tales Part 13 - Konzo-ji temple 76

A soft rain was falling when we left Zentsu-ji, temple 75 so instead of walking 3 kilometres to 

Konzo-ji, temple 76 we walked back to Zentsuji station to take the train.

The JR Dosan line bound for Takamatsu took us to Konzo-ji in just 5 minutes.  The walk from 

Zentsu-ji to the station certainly took much longer.

Thankfully, the rain had stopped when we arrived at Konzoji station.  The conductor leaned out of
the train and directed us to cross the tracks to walk to the temple.

 The skies were still cloudy after the rain and the weather was warm and humid.  Thankfully, it
was just a 500 meter walk to the temple. 

After a few hundred meters, we saw the sign pointing the way to  Konzo-ji. 

Konzo-ji's bell tower is located at the front of the temple.  There was another henro leaving just as 

we arrived.  To the right side beyond the trees is the Niomon gate, the main entrance to the temple. 

A stone torii marks the entrance to a small shrine. Shinto and Buddhism co-exist, usually even 

side by side. 

A statue of General Nogi, a hero of the Russo-Japanese war of 1904 is set in one corner. 
His former residence is located within the temple grounds.  

A fierce looking Fudo Myoo stands near the Daishido.  He has his own urn for burning incense
and his own alms box.  This is normal in temples as there are people who after paying their
respects to the main deity at the Hondo, also pray to their particular "favourite" deities.  

Around the temple grounds, it was fun to spot these small statues of the Shichi Fukujin or
the Japanese 7 Gods of Fortune.   Each symbolises a particular virtue or blessing.  

Let me try to identify them for you (and apologies in advance if I mixed them up).

Clockwise from right : Fukurukuju, with his white beard is the god of Longevity;  
Ebisu is usually shown carrying a fish but perhaps the fish has been covered by his bib.  
Ebisu represents honesty;  on the lower right hand is Benzaiten, shown with her lute.
She is associated with the Arts;  next is Hotei who is the god of Happiness (as you can see
from his cheerful smile);  Bishamonten, holding a spear, is the god of warriors and he
represents Dignity;  Daikokuten is holding a money bag and he is the god of Fortune. 

And finally, standing with a deer beside him is Jurojin, the god of Wisdom.

This plain traditional wooden structure is Konzo-ji's Daishido.  Note the red lamps at the entrance,
with drawings of lotus flowers.  The temple was established in the 8th century but I am not sure
just how old these buildings are. 

The Hondo contains the statue of Yakushi Nyorai, the main deity of Konzo-ji.  

Kobo Daishi's cousin, the monk Enchin lived here in the 9th century and is credited with the remodelling of the temple buildings.

Aside from the gong at the entrance to the Hondo, there is a long strand of wooden beads, 

that looks like a giant string of prayer beads.   As you pull on it, a bead falls on the next bead and makes a loud clacking sound.  It's like firecrackers popping but strangely has a hypnotic and
soothing effect.

In front of the Hondo is Daikokuten, decked out in brilliant gold,  carrying a mallet and a sack
of money.  You may attach gold paper on him and make a wish.  The pieces of gold paper are in
the red box, this is also where you can drop your payment of 300 yen per small gold square. 

The temple office is tucked away behind this cluster of statues.   The elderly monk was very
kind and chatted with us as he stamped our nokyochos.
Like the others that we had met in the previous temples, he was surprised and pleased to learn that
we were Filipin-jin. I suppose he was more used to seeing western henro doing the pilgrimage. 

Before we left, he asked us to wait as he disappeared behind his office. 

When he came back, he handed us a packet of sacred salt and instructed us to sprinkle it on the 

four corners of our house as a protection against fire.  

"O-settai" he said with a smile and a small bow.   It was a sincere and heartwarming gift. 

P.S.

Konzo-ji is the only temple where I was not able to take a photo similar to the sketch in the nokyocho.  Sumimasen.