About Iwamotoji temple

The Iwamotoji temple which has 5 principal objects of worship is on the hill about 300m high in Shimanto-cho, where the famous beautiful Shimanto river is also located in the same city. It has a long history since Tenpyo era which was 729 to 749. According to the history of its temple, the emperor Shoumu ordered Gyouki Bosatsu to build this temple hoping that sevendisasters will be away and instead seven fortunes come to this place. It originally located in the Fukuenmanji which was about 3km toward northwest from the current place near Niida myoujinn. It used to be called as Niidadera. Kouboudaishi visited here Kounin era whici was between 810 and 824. He split 5 objects of worship believed to contain the spirit of a deity called “Goshintai” for 5 different places such as Fudoumyouzou, Kannonbosatsuzou, Amidanyoraizou, Yakushinyoraizou, Jizoubosatsuzou are settled for each place. Kouboudaishi also built Matsuderagokaji. Depend on these buildings he made, Fukuenmaji was called 12 Fukudera including Nanakadera and Niidamyoujinn was called Niidagosha.

Between 1573 through 1592 which was in Tenshou era, there were fires from wars caused declining those temples once. When they rebuilt the temples, all shrines and temples in this area belonged to Iwamotoji temple which it used to be called as Iwamotobou at that time. During the era of Sengoku(1467-1568) and Edo(1603-1868) periods, the feudal lord and Samurai(warlord) ordered Iwamotoji to manage Shinto Buddha practice around here. As a pilgrimage site it had been flourish in those days. During Meiji era around 1868, there was a political order for separation of God and Budda, therefore Niidagosha was separated and five budda and pilgrimage site were unified as Iwamotoji temple. At that time most of the land that the temple had were abolished and lost the half of its domain. However, reconstruction was difficult, it recovered a little by little and maintains the temple buildings.

The 37th pilgrim of Shikoku, Fujiisan Gochiin Iwamotoji temple

Sect: Shingon chisan ha
Honzon: Fudoumyouou, Kannon bosatsu, Amida nyorai, Yakushin yorai, Jizou bosatsu
The founder: Gyouki Bosatsu
Establishment: Tenpyou 729-749