Konrenin

Konrenin

Konren-in is a temple of the Chizan sect of the Shingon sect, and its official name is Kongo-san Jigen-ji Konren-in.

The temple is said to have been founded in the early Kamakura period, and the principal image is Dainichi Nyorai.

１．The bigining ofKonrenin

1.The place where Konren-in is located is called “Inuishi”

According to an ancient document, when a high priest from Izu visited Cape Inuo (approximately 1 km to the west), a large jet-black dog appeared, grabbed the hem of the high priest’s robe in its mouth, and did not let go. It is said that the dog was overjoyed when he led the dog to this place where there was a dipper. Unable to restrain himself, the high priest climbed to the top of the cairn, recited the Kannon Sutra and waved his staff, causing the six rings to scatter and the dog to disappear. It is said that Konren-in Temple began when a hall was built to enshrine Kanzeon Bodhisattva here.

2. Hishakuzuka(mound of cane)

In the legend of Inuishi, the dog wouldn’t leave the high priest, so when he waved his shakujo over the cairn, the dog disappeared, so the name came to be called “Hisukuzuka.” A Kannon-do hall was built below this.

３．Kannondo

The 29th temple of the Awa Kokusatsu Kannon Sacred Site, where the Eleven-faced Kannon Bodhisattva is enshrined. It is opened in the year of the Ox and the year of the Horse. It began when a high priest, guided by a dog, built a hermitage and enshrined a statue of Kannon Bodhisattva. It was located behind the main hall until it burned down in 1901, but was rebuilt at its current location in 1901.

Kannon Spiritual Path Song

“Entering straight ahead

Looking up,

Hisyakuzuka

The Pure Land is

The Dog Stone Hall”

4. Sanmon(gate of temple)

There is a Sanmon gate on the approach road that stretches straight towards Hizukuzuka. The style is a four-legged gate (shikyakumon), and there is a plaque that says “Jiganmushiji”.

Frontage(center to center of pillars) = 9.3 shaku(about 282cm) (center to center of pillars)

Roof = Copper sheet roofing

The gate of Kinrenin Temple before it collapsed by a typhoon

The temple gate seen from inside the temple grounds (before collapse)

The newly rebuilt temple gate (after it was destroyed by a typhoon)

The Sanmon gate collapsed due to Typhoon No. 15 in 2019, but was subsequently rebuilt in December 2020. During reconstruction work, ink writing “February, 7th year of Horeki” was discovered on old parts, confirming the year when the Sanmon gate was built.

The gate of Kinrenin Temple.It was collapsed by a typhoon

Ink writing on the gate of Kinren-in Temple

５. Dragon on the transom of the main hall

In the transom of the main hall, there is a large sculpture, 3 shaku (90 cm) by 14 shaku (4 m 20 cm), that is thought to have been a collaboration between Awa’s master craftsman Nobuyoshi Takeshi Ihachiro and the second generation Nobutsune. there is “The Wave and the Parent and Child Dragon”.

６．Hokyointo

A tower in which sutras were stored. The Sanskrit characters of the four Buddhas of the Vajra world are engraved on the body of the pagoda. Judging from the curve of the hat, it is thought to be from the late Edo period.