The sixty-seventh temple is Daikō-ji (大興寺), enshrining Yakushi Nyorai and long shared between the Shingon and Tendai schools.
It lies about 8.7 km from the sixty-eighth temple, in the Kagawa countryside.
This is the entrance to Daikō-ji. Fences have been placed around the great Kongō Rikishi statues at the gate to keep visitors from touching them.
The towering guardians, attributed to the master Unkei, are the largest such figures on the route.
This is the main hall, where Yakushi Nyorai is enshrined. The overall colour scheme is dark, lending it a sombre, solemn atmosphere.
That gravity suits a temple of such long and layered history.
Next is the Daishi-dō, which gives off the same dark impression. As I recited the sutra, I prayed for the safety of my family.
Fittingly, the temple keeps separate halls for both Kōbō Daishi and the Tendai master Chishō Daishi.
NFT – Crypto Ohenro #22 Goshuin of Daikō-ji（大興寺） –
This is the goshuin of the sixty-seventh temple, Daikō-ji. The Sanskrit seed-letter looks almost like an insect’s antennae, yet the flow of the fine brush carries real artistry.
Sixty-six temples still remained on my journey, the road now well into Kagawa.
The distance to the next temple was about 9.4 km, a fair walk through the countryside.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the honzon (principal image) of Daikō-ji (Temple 67)?
The honzon (principal image) of Daikō-ji（大興寺）, Temple 67 of the Shikoku 88 pilgrimage, is Yakushi Nyorai（薬師如来）. 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 Daikō-ji located?
Daikō-ji stands in Mitoyo, Kagawa Prefecture, in the old province of Sanuki, on the island of Shikoku, Japan. It is the sixty-seventh 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 Daikō-ji belong to?
Daikō-ji belongs to the Shingon Buddhism (Zentsū-ji school). Its mountain name (sangō), the traditional honorific title by which the temple is also known, is Komatsuozan Fudō-in（小松尾山 不動光院）.
When was Daikō-ji founded?
Daikō-ji was founded by Kōbō Daishi (Kūkai), early 9th century. Its history is closely tied to the early growth of the Shikoku pilgrimage.
Which temple comes after Daikō-ji, and how far is it?
The next temple on the route is Temple 68, Jinne-in (about 8.7 km). Walking in numerical order, pilgrims continue from Daikō-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.