Henjoko-in
Henjoko-in is a special head temple of the Shingon sect, located in Ojoin
Valley (Renge Valley) at Mount Koya in Wakayama Prefecture.
The principal image is the Fudoson statue,
said to have been carved by Kobo Daishi Kukai.
The Kii Shoku Fudoki records that "it
is said to have been named so because it is a beautiful place where the light
of Koso(Founder) Daishi Kukai radiated."
The temple was founded by Kobo Daishi Kukai
in 832.
Afterwards, Prince Shoshin is said to have
spent many years at the temple, and his nephew Kan'i served as its chief
priest.
After the temple was destroyed in the Great
Fire of Mount Koya, Kumano betto Tanzo rebuilt the temple as a temporary
residence during Emperor Shirakawa's visit to Kumano, and it was later
inherited by Bushubo Shinkaku.
Shinkaku founded the Jokiin school, a sect
of esoteric Buddhism known as the Ojoin school.
The 9th abbot, Kakukyo, is known for
converting the Cho(108m) wooden marker from Jison-in Temple to Okunoin Cemetery
into stone tower markers (Choishi stupa).
Temple treasures include a colored paper
sliding screen painting of landscapes and figures by Ikeno Taiga (a National
Treasure), a colored paper folding screen by Jikian, and an Amida Buddha by
Kaikei.
The temple had close ties with the Nanbu
family, lords of Morioka Domain who were descended from the Kai Genji clan, and
these ties continue to this day.
Take the bus from Nankai Electric Railway's
Koyasan Station, get off at Rengedani No.8 bus stop, and it is a 5-minute walk.
