Carpe Diem #410, Kanjizai-ji (Temple 40)

Dear O-Henro ... Haijin, visitors and travelers,

Welcome at the second part of our Shikoku Pilgrimage. Today, the first of March, we are entering Ehime Prefecture, the 3rd Prefecture on Shikoku Island and the start of our last part of Shikoku Pilgrimage's 88 temples. This month we will walk along 48 temples, but we don't visit them all. As you can see on our prompt-list, we will visit 25 temples and I think I have chosen the most wonderful temples.

Let me first tell you something more about Ehime Prefecture.Ehime Prefecture (愛媛県 Ehime-ken?) is a prefecture in northwestern Shikoku, Japan. The capital is Matsuyama.
Until the Meiji Restoration (1868), Ehime Prefecture was known as Iyo Province. Since before the Heian period, the area was dominated by fishermen and sailors who played an important role in defending Japan against pirates and Mongolian invasions. The name Ehime comes from the Kojiki and means "beautiful maiden."

Ainan, Ehime Prefecture

Kanjizai-ji is situated in the town called Ainan and is devoted to Yakushi Nyorai or the Buddha of Medicine and Healing. He is still one of the most important Buddhas especially during rituals which are performed at funerals, because he is also the Buddha who leads the buddhists to Nirvana.

Kanjizai-ji (Temple 40)

Nirvana calling
Yakushi Nyorai guides you
to Enlightenment

(c) Chèvrefeuille

With this episode we are on our way to the last temple of the Shikoku Trail. Than we will have seen and visited the 88 temples who are inspired on the life of Kobo Daishi (774-835) who was born on Shikoku Island and was one of the founders of Shingon Buddhism.

This episode will be open for your submissions tonight at 7.00 PM (CET) and will remain open until March 2nd 11.59 AM (CET). I will (try to) post our next episode, Ryuko-ji (Temple 41), later on today. For now ... have fun, be inspired and share your haiku, senryu, tanka, kyoka or haibun with us all here at Carpe Diem Haiku Kai.