Temple 39, Enkō-ji
Temple 39, Enkō-ji
Enkō-ji is temple No. 35 on the Shikoku pilgrimage. It’s the last temple in Kōchi before the pilgrimage route heads north into Ehime prefecture.
What to see
The temple gate stands atop a few stone steps, and it holds two fine, red Niō guardian statues. To the left of the gate is a wash basin with the belfry beyond. There are gardens on both sides of the path and a statue of a turtle carrying a temple bell, which is related to a legend. The path turns right, with the Daishi Hall on the left and the main hall beyond it. The Goma Hall is up the path between the main hall and the Daishi Hall, and in front of the main hall to the right is a well, a storehouse and the temple office. Besides the turtle statue just inside the gate, there are six other images of turtles around the precincts.
The temple holds a small bronze bell dated to 911 in the early Heian period.
An old juniper tree estimated to be 400 years old grows in a narrow courtyard to the right side of the temple.
History
In 1579, when Chōsokabe Motochika of Tosa (Kōchi) was bringing all of Shikoku under his control, he made the priest of this temple the head priest of Konpira Daigongen in Sanuki which he designated ‘the head temple of Shikoku’s pacification’. Later, in 1600, after Motochika retreated to Kōchi after being defeated by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the temple continued to enjoy the patronage of the Chōsokabe. However, when the Chōsokabe were replaced by the Yamauchi clan, the influence of the temple declined. It was temporarily closed down due to the movement to abolish Buddhism at the beginning of the Meiji period (1868-1912), it but was rebuilt in 1889.
Legend
According to temple legend, Gyōki carved a statue of Yakushi Nyorai as the principal image in 724 by order of Emperor Shōmu.
In 911, a red turtle that lived in a pond in the temple grounds disappeared. Some time later, the turtle reappeared carrying a temple bell on its back, which was believed to have come from the Dragon’s Palace under the sea. The nearest sea is about 10 km from the temple, so the turtle had a long walk. To mark the occasion, the temple’s ‘mountain name’ was changed to ‘red turtle mountain’.
Information
Name in Japanese: 延光寺
Pronunciation: enkōji
Address: 390 Hiratacho Nakayama, Sukumo, Kochi 788-0782
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