Kongoho-ji Temple is the 2nd temple of Saigoku 33 Kannon. Name of Kimiidera Temple is more famous name than Kongoho-ji Temple.
According to the temple legend, Iko, a monk of Tang, China, traveled over Japan on foot and saw a beam of light coming from the top of the Mt. Nagusa. He climbed the Mt. Nagusa following the source of the beam of light and felt the golden Buddhist Goddess of Mercy with a thousand arms there. He curved the Buddhist Goddess statue of Mercy with a thousand arms and he kept it inside of the golden Buddhist Goddess statue of Mercy with a thousand arms. The Buddhist Goddess statue was dedicated to Kimiidera Temple as the hidden statue.
In the Mt. Gagusa, there are three sacred fountains, Seijo-sui, Youryu-sui and Kichijo-sui. “Ki” from Kimiidera Temple means Kishu Province. “mi” from Kimiidera Temple means three. ”i” from Kimiidera Temple means a fountain. Therefore, this temple is called Kimiidera Temple.
The Stone Monument and The Deva Gate in backside
The Dava Gate welcomes you to Kimiidera Temple.
The Main Hall
There is the golden Buddhist Goddess statue of Mercy with a thousand arms inside of the main hall. According to the temple legend, Kimiidera Temple was established in 770 during the Nara Period. The current existing main hall was built in 1759 during the Edo Period all made of timber of Japanese cypress and it is stately building. The main hall of Kimiidera Temple is the most excellent temple building in the basin of Kino-kawa River.
The Two-storied Pagoda
The two-storied pagoda was designated as a National Important Cultural Property expressing style of the mid-Muromachi Period. The pagoda uses normal tile roofing. According to the temple legend, in 1441, the temple building were damaged by storm and in 1449, the temple building were rebuilt. Therefore, it seems that the two-storied pagoda were also rebuilt in 1449.
If you have a chance to come to Kimiidera Temple, you can enjoy beautiful scene of Wakanoura, Japan National Herritage, from precincts of the temple.
Wakanoura, beautiful scene
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