Meiseki-ji, Buddhist temple in Seiyo, Japan
Meiseki-ji is a Buddhist temple of the Tendai school in Seiyo, on the island of Shikoku, and serves as the 43rd stop on the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage. The complex is made up of several traditional wooden buildings and halls dedicated to Thousand-Armed Avalokitesvara, set among old trees.
The temple was founded in the 9th century during the Heian period, an era when Buddhism was spreading quickly across Shikoku. Its inclusion in the 88 Temple Pilgrimage, linked to the monk Kukai, gave it a lasting place in the religious life of the island.
Meiseki-ji sits on the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage route, and many visitors arrive dressed in the traditional white pilgrim coat and sedge hat. Inside the halls, incense burns and sutras are chanted, giving the place an active religious life that is easy to observe.
The temple is in a rural part of Seiyo and is most easily reached by bus or car from nearby towns. The grounds include several separate buildings, so wear comfortable shoes for walking between them.
The temple's name, Meiseki-ji, means Temple of Famous Stones, referring to notable rocks found on the grounds rather than the trees that often draw more attention. These stones were once considered sacred objects and can still be seen on the site today.
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