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Sefukuji Temple

大阪府

The sacred mountaintop temple where the young Kukai took his tonsure in 793 — the 4th station of the Saigoku pilgrimage and one of its most demanding climbs

Founded

550

Type

Temple

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大阪府和泉市槙尾山町136

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Info

Temple

Founded 550

1476 years

Overview

Where Kukai (Kobo Daishi) took his tonsure in 793, marking his entry into Buddhist life. The 4th site of the Saigoku pilgrimage on steep Mt. Makio, it is one of the route's most challenging climbs. Shingon pilgrims journey here from across Japan. Autumn foliage turns the mountain gold, combining deep faith with breathtaking scenery.

Origins

Founded by the monk Gyoman during the reign of Emperor Kinmei (mid-6th century). In 793 the young Kukai received the tonsure here under the master Gonzō. Has continued to uphold a tradition of rigorous practice as the 4th and most demanding site of the Saigoku Sanjusan-sho pilgrimage.

Pilgrimage Circuit

A pilgrimage of 33 Kannon temples — the oldest Kannon circuit in Japan, winding through 6 prefectures in the Kinki region and Gifu

Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage

Principal Buddha

Eleven-headed Senju Kannon

千

About Senju Kannon

Wooden seated Thousand-Armed Kannon by Tankei (Sanjūsangendō, Kyoto, National Treasure, Kamakura period)

Senju Kannon (Thousand-Armed Kannon): rescues all beings through a thousand methods, with a thousand hands and a thousand eyes. Usually represented with 42 arms standing for the full thousand — an expression of boundless compassion.

Kannon Forms · Seven Kannon

聖

Shō

十

Jūichimen

千

Senju

如

Nyoirin

馬

Batō

准