During the pilgrimage, I visited Ozu Castle. That was repaired by Todo Takatora, a master of castle construction. The view in collaboration with Hiji-kawa River was beautiful,so the author Ryotaro Shiba loved it.
That is the 43th temple of Shikoku 88temple pilgrimage. The lord is the Senjukanzeonbosatsu.It was built under the order of Emperor kinmei and rebuilt by Kobo Daishi.I took a detour because the pilgrimage route from Butsumokuji was destroyed by heavy rain. At the hotel where I stayed, I enjoyed pickles pickled in Nukadoko (rice bran bed), which was inherited from the Edo period, and local sake to relieve my fatigue.
I visited the Jingansi Temple in Shanghai, China. Jingansi Temple is a famous temple in China built in the third century by the order of Sun Quan of Wu. Kobo Daishi also visited this temple as a Japanese envoy to Tang Dynasty China. The grounds of the shrine were filled with the smell of fragrant olive.
That is the 42th temple of Shikoku 88temple pilgrimage. The lord is Dainichi Nyorai which is said to have been carved by Kobo Daishi. This temple was also built by Kobo Daishi.It rained heavily while I was praying, and I took shelter from the rain at the rest area in front of the temple gate. I spent a while talking with the pilgrims from Tokyo and Fukushima. The pickles served at the reception were delicious.
That is the 41th temple of Shikoku 88temple pilgrimage. The lord is the eleven faced Kannon that is reported to have been created by Kobo Daishi. It was also built by Kobo Daishi. There is a torii (shrine gate) in the approach,which is a vestige of the syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism. Rice production is thriving here,so the rice field spreads in front of the gate.
That is the 6th temple of Shikoku exceptional Sacred Sites. The honzon (principal image of Buddha) is 11 faced Kannon. When Masamune Date’s son Hidemune Date became the lord of Uwajimajo Castle, this temple was built in the direction of Kimon (unlucky direction) of Uwajimajo Castle to pray for peace and security of the Uwajima Domain. That still watches over Uwajimajo Castle.
During the pilgrimage, I visited Uwajima Castle. That was founded by Todo Takatora, a master of castle construction. It is one of the 100 best castles in Japan. The area around the castle is a virgin forest and is a treasure house of nature with large trees.
It is a 50 km journey from Kanjizaiji to Ryukoji in Uwajima. It is a fine day and I walk along the Uwa Sea. The Uwa Sea is located on the Ehime Prefecture side of the Bungo Channel. This place used to be the base of pirate Fujiwara no Sumitomo.
That is the 40th temple of Shikoku 88temple pilgrimage,and the first sacred ground of Iyoji “Enlightment hall”. The lord is Yakushi Nyorai which is said to have been carved by Kobo Daishi. This temple was also built by Kobo Daishi by the order of Emperor Heizei.In the precincts there is a monument of Basho Matsuo.This is the farthest from the first temple. I stayed at shukubo.I watched the sunset at Souzu river near this temple.
It is the 210th day from the first day of spring the lunar calendar. Usually, typhoons hit Japan on September 1. Around this time, the ears of rice come out and it is said to be an unlucky day for farmers.Disaster Prevention Day is also set for September 1.