Iwamoto-ji


Iwamoto-ji is a Chisan Shingon temple in Shimanto, [Kōchi (town)|Shimanto], Kōchi Prefecture, Japan. Temple 37 on the [Shikoku pilgrimage|Shikoku 88 temple pilgrimage], the deities that are worshipped at this temple are Fudō Myō-ō, Shō Kannon, Amida Nyōrai, Yakushi Nyorai, and Jizō Bosatsu. The temple is said to have been founded by Gyōki during 729–749.

History

Gyōki founded Iwamoto-ji in 729 after receiving an imperial command by Emperor Shōmu who had an interest in establishing a system of provincial temples in Japan. He originally built a group of seven temples to represent the seven stars and seven good fortunes described in Humane [King Sutra|Ninnō-gyō]. Kōbō-Daishi arrived at Shimanto Town in 810 and added five shrines and five temples to the area over a span of 14 years.
Several fires caused by war burned the temples down and were temporarily closed. During 1652–1688, the temple, now known as Iwamoto-ji, was re-built in a different location than its original temple. The five honzon that survived from the fire at the other temples were permanently moved to Iwamoto-ji in 1889, and still remain on the temple grounds today.

Buildings