The seventy-third temple is Shusshaka-ji (出釈迦寺), bound up with a legend of the boy Kōbō Daishi, and enshrining Shaka Nyorai.
It stands about 2.8 km from the seventy-fourth temple, on the slopes of Mt. Gahaishi.
The entrance to Shusshaka-ji is only a small gate, yet it exudes a character all its own.
Modest as it is, it suits this quiet mountainside temple.
Seen from a distance, the gate seems to wait for pilgrims at the top of the stairs.
It draws you upward, step by step, toward the hall above.
This is the small main hall, where Shaka Nyorai is enshrined, in a serene and gentle atmosphere.
Here, by legend, the seven-year-old Kōbō Daishi was saved by Shaka after leaping from the cliff above in a vow of faith.
Surprisingly, the Daishi-dō here is larger than the main hall. I stood among the other pilgrims and chanted the sutra.
High on the mountain behind lies Sutemi-ga-take, the cliff of his vow, now the temple’s inner sanctuary.
NFT – Crypto Ohenro #16 Goshuin of Shusshaka-ji（出釈迦寺） –
This is the goshuin of the seventy-third temple, Shusshaka-ji. Densely brushed into the corners of its narrow space, the characters look almost like a painting.
Seventy-two temples still remained on my journey, the cliff of the young Daishi’s vow high above.
The distance to the next temple was only about 0.6 km — the next temple all but next door.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the honzon (principal image) of Shusshaka-ji (Temple 73)?
The honzon (principal image) of Shusshaka-ji（出釈迦寺）, Temple 73 of the Shikoku 88 pilgrimage, is Shaka Nyorai（釈迦如来）. It is enshrined in the temple's main hall (hondō), where pilgrims offer incense, recite the Heart Sutra, and receive the temple's goshuin (hand-brushed seal).
Where is Shusshaka-ji located?
Shusshaka-ji stands in Zentsūji, Kagawa Prefecture, in the old province of Sanuki, on the island of Shikoku, Japan. It is the seventy-third of the eighty-eight temples of the Shikoku Henro, the circular Buddhist pilgrimage walked in the path of Kōbō Daishi (Kūkai).
Which Buddhist sect does Shusshaka-ji belong to?
Shusshaka-ji belongs to the Shingon Buddhism (Omuro school). Its mountain name (sangō), the traditional honorific title by which the temple is also known, is Gahaishizan Gumonji-in（我拝師山 求聞持院）.
When was Shusshaka-ji founded?
Shusshaka-ji was founded by Kōbō Daishi (Kūkai), on the mountain of his childhood vow. Its history is closely tied to the early growth of the Shikoku pilgrimage.
Which temple comes after Shusshaka-ji, and how far is it?
The next temple on the route is Temple 74, Kōyama-ji (about 2.8 km). Walking in numerical order, pilgrims continue from Shusshaka-ji to keep visiting each of the 88 temples and collecting their goshuin.
📖 See the full list of all 88 Shikoku temples →
Can’t make the pilgrimage yourself?Ohenro Gift can walk the 88 temples on your behalf (daisan) and deliver the completed nokyocho.