Kumadani-ji, Buddhist temple on Shikoku pilgrimage route in Awa, Japan
Kumadani-ji is a Buddhist temple in the Awa region and features a four-story wooden pagoda with multiple overlapping roofs and traditional Japanese architectural elements throughout the complex. The layout of the compound includes various halls and pathways arranged in a classic manner.
The temple was founded in the early 9th century by Buddhist monk Kukai and sits along an important pilgrimage route. A fire in 1928 destroyed the main hall, and the subsequent reconstruction shaped the site as it appears today.
The temple is dedicated to Senjū Kannon and displays a Thousand-Armed Thousand-Eyed Avalokiteśvara statue in the main prayer hall. Visitors can observe how this deity figures into the daily worship practices of those who visit.
Visitors reach the temple grounds via a stone pathway and encounter a purification basin before proceeding to prayer areas. The pathways are straightforward to navigate on foot, especially if you arrive early.
Four stone statues of Heavenly Kings stand at cardinal points near the temple entrance, each displaying different expressions and postures. Additionally, gargoyles depict a koi fish between two dragons, a rare motif in Japanese temple architecture.
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