Shidoji Temple

This is a Shingon sect temple of the Omuro school in Shido, Sanuki City, Kagawa Prefecture. Its name is Fudarakusan Shojoin. The principal image is an eleven-headed Kannon. It is the 86th temple of the 88 Shikoku Pilgrimage Temples. According to temple legend, it was founded during the reign of Empress Suiko (reigned 593-628) when a monastery was built to house an eleven-headed Kannon statue carved by Sonoko (Chihoni), and was then promoted by Fujiwara no Fuhito and Fusasaki. It was burned down during the Tensho period (1573-92) but was rebuilt after 1604 (Keicho 9) when Ikoma, the lord of Takamatsu Domain, became a follower. In 1667 (Kanbun 7), the feudal lord Matsudaira Yorishige constructed various halls, and in early modern times the temple boasted a magnificent landscape, becoming a famous temple in eastern Sanuki. In addition to the wooden eleven-headed Kannon statue and two standing attendant statues, which are the principal image of the temple, there are other nationally important cultural properties, such as a colored silk eleven-headed Kannon statue and six scrolls depicting the origins of Shidoji Temple. The origins tell the legend of Fujiwara no Fuhito and the female diver, which became the subject of the Noh song "Ama." Within the temple grounds there is a memorial tower for the female diver, a curved garden with a strolling path, and a dry landscape garden. The principal image is displayed to the public at the Jyūrokudo Market on July 16th, attracting many people from the surrounding area.

[Hiromune Mashiba]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

香川県さぬき市志度にある真言(しんごん)宗御室(おむろ)派の寺。補陀落山(ふだらくさん)清浄院(しょうじょういん)と号する。本尊は十一面観音。四国八十八か所第86番札所。寺伝によると、創建は推古(すいこ)天皇（在位593～628）の時代に園子（智法尼）が刻ませた十一面観音(かんのん)像を安置する精舎(しょうじゃ)を建てたのに始まり、藤原不比等(ふひと)・房前(ふささき)らによって興隆されたという。天正(てんしょう)年間（1573～92）兵火により焼失したが、1604年（慶長9）以後、高松藩主生駒(いこま)氏の帰依(きえ)を受けて再興。また1667年（寛文7）同藩主松平頼重(よりしげ)が諸堂を造営し、近世には荘厳な景観を誇り、東讃岐(さぬき)の名刹(めいさつ)となった。本尊の木造十一面観音像・両脇侍(わきじ)立像のほか、絹本着色十一面観音像、志度寺縁起図絵6幅など国の重要文化財がある。縁起には藤原不比等と海女(あま)の伝説を伝え、謡曲『海士(あま)』の題材となった。境内には海女の供養塔、曲水式回遊庭園、枯山水庭園がある。7月16日の十六度市(いち)には本尊が開帳され、近郷の人でにぎわう。

［眞柴弘宗］

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例