Temple 16: Kannonji 16番：観音寺

Official explanation

A votive tablet in the main hall, depicting a woman surrounded by flames, is one of the notable features of this temple. In a story from the Meiji era (1868–1912), it is said that a pilgrim took shelter here from the rain. As she was drying her clothes by the fire, her body suddenly ignited. Realizing it was divine punishment for mistreating her elderly mother-in-law, the woman repented and later dedicated the picture to the temple’s deity.

It is said that Emperor Shomu (701–756) ordered the establishment of Kannonji and that Kukai came in 816 and carved the statue of the main deity, the Thousand-Armed Kannon (Avalokiteshvara). On the grounds are also a number of guardian jizo statues. Among them is Yonaki Jizo to whom parents pray for help in getting small children to stop crying at night.

出典: 地域観光資源の多言語解説文データベース（観光庁） — www.mlit.go.jp/tagengo-db. この英語解説文は観光庁の地域観光資源の多言語解説整備支援事業で作成しました。
Source: Japan Tourism Agency, Multilingual Explanation Database. This English text was produced by the Japan Tourism Agency's multilingual explanation project and is shown unedited. Opening hours and services may have changed since it was written.