Zenjibu-ji Temple

Zenjibu-ji is a temple in Toichi, Nankoku, Kochi Prefecture, and the 32nd temple of the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage. Its mountain name is Hachiyo-zan and its formal name is Kumonji-in. The principal image is an eleven-faced Kannon that has long been revered by local fishermen as the "Funadama Kannon," the guardian of ships off the Tosa coast. The temple stands on a small hill by the sea, and the grounds look out over Tosa Bay.

Tradition says the priest Gyoki opened the first hall in the Jinki era (724-729) at the order of Emperor Shomu. Temple tradition says Kobo Daishi (Kukai) recognized the site as sacred ground, performed a goma ritual and carved the eleven-faced Kannon as the principal image. The mountain name Hachiyo, "eight petals," comes from the mountain's resemblance to Mount Potalaka, the paradise of Kannon, shaped like an eight-petaled lotus seat. The temple is also called Kumonji-in after the Kokuzo Gumonji practice, and because a landmark on the summit also worked as a lighthouse, it came to be called "Minedera."

The lords of Tosa, the Yamauchi family, are said to have always prayed here for safe passage when they left Urado Bay on their journeys of alternate attendance in Edo. The first lord, Yamauchi Kazutoyo, and his successors up to the fifth used the sea route, while from the sixth lord, Toyotaka, the overland Kitayama road became the main route. This history of faith tied to the sea is a feature of the temple.

The highlights are the view over Tosa Bay from the hilltop and the Deva King (Nio) statues, which are nationally designated Important Cultural Properties. There are two wooden statues, and the inside of the closed-mouth figure bears an inscription saying it was made by Jomei in 1291. The statues that stood in the gate are now kept in a storage building. Beyond the steps up from the gate stands the main hall, with the Daishi-do to its left, and the Jizo-do and Amida-do beyond it. The bronze bell, dated 1308, is a Kochi Prefectural designated property.

A clear morning or daytime gives the best views. A visit takes about 30 minutes.

About 4 km away in a straight line are Chikurin-ji and the Makino Botanical Garden, and Katsurahama is about 5 km away. Temple 31, Chikurin-ji, is about 8 km by road, and Temple 33, Sekkei-ji, about 11 km. By car it is about 11 km from Kochi IC on the Kochi Expressway, with free parking for about 30 cars.