Shikoku Temple 81, Shiromineji

The Shikoku temples come in all shapes and sizes, and are located in a vast array of topographies.  This one was a nice fitness test that I passed.  Getting long in the tooth, I am most keen to stretch my limbs as much as possible.

Shiromineji is located in the middle of Kagawa Prefecture on the sacred mountain Goshikidai. Goshikidai has five peaks: Aomine, Kinomine, Konomine, Shiraminesan, and Kuromine (Blue Mountain, Yellow Mountain, Red Mountain, White Mountain and Black Mountain).

Shiromineji stands on the westernmost peak, Shiraminesan. It is an old, quiet temple. There is a magnificent view of Seto Inland Sea from the approach to the temple.

Shiromineji was founded by Kobo Daishi and his nephew, Chisho Daishi in 815, when Kobo Daishi buried a nyoi hoju (a wish-fulfilling jewel), dug a well, and prayed for the salvation of mankind from the top of Mt. Shiramine. Later, Chisho Daishi climbed up the mountain, guided by a mysterious light which he considered the Light of Fortune.

He had a vision of a white-haired old man, the local deity, and saw a sacred tree appear in the Seto Inland Sea, shining with light and giving out a fragrant odor. He carved a statue of Senju Kannon (Thousand-armed Bodhisattva Who Hears the Sounds of the World) from the sacred tree and built a Buddhist temple with the statue as the principal image.