Temple 67, Daikōji

【History of the temple】
Daikōji was commonly called Komatsuoji, after the temple’s mountain name, Komatsuozan (temples are metaphorically called mountains). The nearby community is called Komatsuo.

According to legend, Daikōji was built in 742 as a branch temple of Todaiji. It originally stood about one kilometer northwest of the present site, and enshrined the three gods of Kumano Sansho Gongen. In 792 Kobo Daishi visited the temple. In 822 the temple was rebuilt by order of Emperor Saga. However, at the end of the Sengoku period (1467-1590), the temple was completely destroyed by fire during the invasion of Sanuki (Kagawa) by Chosokabe Motochika. It was rebuilt in the Keicho era (1596-1615), but was destroyed by fire again. The Hondo was rebuilt in 1741.

Although today's Daikōji is a Shingon sect temple, it has the unusual history that it had temples of two sects, Shingon and Tendai, within the same grounds; there were 24 Shingon priests’ cells and 12 Tendai priests’ cells. This is why the Tendai sect had a great influence on the temple, which can be seen in the buildings, with a Shingon Daishido on the left of the Hondo and a Tendai Daishido on the right, where the third founder of the Tendai sect, Chigi, is enshrined. There are statues of Fudo Myōō (Immovable Wisdom King) and Bishamonten (Vaishravana) on either side of the principal image; the Fudo Myōō is in the Tendai style.

The following five statues are designated Cultural Properties of Kagawa Prefecture. First, there is the principal image of Yakushi Nyorai, carved by Kobo Daishi in the late Heian period (794-1185). It is a seated statue 84 cm in height, made of Japanese cypress and covered in gold leaf over Japanese lacquer. Second, there is a seated statue of Tendai Daishi carved in 1276. It is 77.4 cm high, painted, and made of Japanese cypress. There are very few statues of Tendai Daishi. Third, there is a seated statue of Kobo Daishi. Recent research has revealed that it was made in 1276, the same year as the seated statue of Tendai Daishi. It is a Designated Cultural Property. It is the oldest inscribed statue of Kobo Daishi on Shikoku. Finally, there are two majestic standing images of Fudo Myōō at the Niomon Gate carved by Unkei, a renowned sculptor of the early Kamakura period (1185-1333). With a height of 314 cm, they are said to be the largest statues of Fudo Myōō at any of the Shikoku Pilgrimage temples. On a flat plaque, inscriptions say, "Daikōji",” “the year 1267,” and "Fujiwara no Asaomi Tsuneasa.”

【Highlights】
・Seven-day Lantern Ceremony in the Hondo
This is a ceremony to light a red candle and pray for seven days. This will heal illness, bring easy delivery, and help create a good marriage.
・Niomon Gate
The imposing statues of Kongo Rikishi were carved by Unkei, a famous sculptor.
・Japanese nutmeg and camphor trees on the approach to the temple