A story about being stopped by Fudo-san.

The story of the pilgrimage continues.

It may be a little different from a monster,

Japan is originally a country of eight million people, and Shikoku is a place where it is believed that the living, the dead, and perhaps even spirits roam.

 

 

 

 

 

The 45th temple of the Shikoku Pilgrimage, Kaiganyama Iwayaji Temple.

This is the temple at the halfway point of the 88 temples.…

Along with the 44th temple, Daibo-ji, it is located in a place called Kumakogen.

 

 

 

Shikoku is a warm island, so the mountains and basins are not that great.There is a lot of snow outside…

This is a story from when I was traveling around before I had any real sense of it or any experience.

 

 

 

 

Kumakogen is at an altitude where it feels relatively cool even in summer.

This year, snowfall from Kochi(The temple wife said that this kind of rain is rare in Kochi.…"It was a strange journey with traffic restrictions and a snow-covered world overnight when we slept in the car.)

Visiting a shrine while admiring the snowy scenery…On the way to the parking lot at Daihoji Temple, I slipped slightly and got a scare.…

 

 

 

 

From the parking lot to the temple gate,It's quite a test of stamina to get from there to the main hall.

The road is paved, but has a steep slope.…

Furthermore, in winter, the water that accumulates on the road surface and in the steps freezes.…("Wait a moment," the guide said, stopping us with his hand, and then he crushed the ice with his shakujo, which was really cool.…I also thought)

On this day too, I was careful where I stepped as I visited the shrine.

 

 

Pilgrims have a set procedure for praying, starting with the purification basin.After purifying yourself, you can offer incense, candles, andThen, chanting sutras, etc.(This is not a pilgrimage blog so it will be a bit brief.)I do this, but

The main hall and Daishido2The correct way to do this is to repeat the process.(We will pay homage to the principal image and Kobo Daishi.)

 

 

 

 

Depending on the temple, there are various other halls that you can visit.

You can also climb up the chains known as Seriwari Zenjo to the inner sanctuary, or use the ladder to visit distinctive geological sites in the area.

 

 

Within it there is a cave-like place called Ana Zenjo.

 

 

It's really dark inside and it's slippery.

(Since I started doing the pilgrimage, I feel like my fear of the dark has become even more acute.…Was this also a hint towards Ayakashi's activities?)

I was feeling excited when I visited the shrine.

 

 

Acala, who is at the very back, and the Great Master are always

"Welcome."

I felt like I was being welcomed with kindness.

 

 

Speaking of Fudo Myo-o,

It is said that Dainichi Nyorai appears in this wrathful form to admonish and guide the people.,

Despite the poor footing and darkness, even elderly grandparents were politely praying at the shrine.

Fudo faith is really deeply rooted in the people.…and.

 

Come to think of it, my late grandmothers,

Today is Kannon Day, today is Fudo Myo-o…And I remember him frequently going out to pray at shrines.…

 

 

 

 

As always,

Please allow me to visit slowly,

 

 

Now, next…

Normally, I would go down the mountain towards Tobe city,

There's something I've always wondered about when I see signs.

 

 

"I'd like to go via the Ishizuchi Skyline."

 

 

Ishizuchi is a highway oasis that is my regular lodging when in Ehime.

Wouldn't it be quicker to go via the Skyline???…It was just a sudden thought.

 

 

 

I usually turn left, but now I turn right…

 

Hmm.

The scenery is still snowy.

I wonder what the view from Ishizuchi Skyline is like.←There was no sign saying it was closed.

 

 

Guided by the car navigation system, we headed to the tranquil countryside.Into the landscape.

A father and his children were sledding in the snow…

The dad stared at me intently, perhaps because he found the license plate from a foreign area unusual.

I'm not lost, I'm following the car navigation system, I thought to myself.

 

 

 

As we drove on, the snow got deeper and deeper on the road.(I'm sure I had winter tires on.)

Once, a slight slip.

Considering the condition of the road, would it be better to put chains on this?…And then,

2Fighting with peopleStruggling to get the chain…

 

 

It took a long time, but finally1Is the chain installation complete??At about that time,

My husband,

"sorry…Let's go back."

and.

 

 

Well, at this rate, it was hard to tell how long it would take to put on the chains.(It was the first time I ever touched a chain.←I don't have a license)

It was a place I wanted to go,

For some reason, I honestly

"Yeah, let's go back.…"

and.

 

 

 

 

meanwhile30Was it a minute?…

As I walked back along the road,

The father and children who were playing were nowhere to be seen.

(It's cold, so maybe he went back home...)

 

 

 

Return to the place where you can see the sign that says Daihoji Temple and Iwayaji Temple.

Shivers, and…

 

 

The hole meditation I had visited just before.

Isn't that father Fudo-sama?…

His children are his relatives, Kongara-san and Seitaka-san.

 

 

 

It all made sense to me, and at the same time I was in awe.

"Wow, I'm so sorry."

(We were both half crying and yelling in the car, seriously)

 

 

If you're from Shikoku, where are you heading?Are you on the wrong path?…I often hear people say things like,

I was sent off with a stare,

Both my husband and I felt a sense of unease about this in the back of our minds.

"Where are you guys going?"

I wonder if they were surprised.…and.

 

 

However, I think God stopped us from going ahead by slipping.

Thank you so much for guiding me on this raw, rotten girl pilgrimage~~~~~…(Prostration)

 

 

 

Fudo Myo-o, like thisThat's it.!!

It's things like this that give rise to the public's passionate belief in immutability.!!

…Since then, I have not been able to look up to Fudo Myo-o.…

 

 

 

[Sakuraya Mirage] I've loved yokai since I was a child.
During his university days studying Japanese art history, he encountered Yoshitoshi, Kyosai, and Inubou-bi-koroku. Wanting to quietly carry ayakashi with him in his daily life, he makes handmade yokai.