The fifty-fifth temple is Nankōbō (南光坊), the only temple on the route to enshrine Daitsū Chishō Nyorai, a Buddha of the distant past.
It stands about 3.0 km from the fifty-sixth temple, in the heart of Imabari.
You are at once overwhelmed by the huge, magnificent gate at the entrance to Nankōbō. Four Heavenly Kings stand guard, inside and out, watching for anything untoward.
For a city-centre temple, the gate makes a genuinely commanding impression.
This is the main hall, where Daitsū Chishō Nyorai is enshrined — a rare Buddha found nowhere else on the pilgrimage.
The temple grew up beside the great Iyo shrine of the sea god, and that long history hangs about the hall.
The Daishi-dō, too, is large and magnificent. Before it I prayed for the safety of my friends, my family and all those close to me, and for peace in the world.
The scale of the halls gives even a quiet prayer here a certain grandeur.
NFT – Crypto Ohenro #34 Goshuin of Nankōbō（南光坊） –
This is the goshuin of the fifty-fifth temple, Nankōbō. The characters look brushed with a thick, bold pen rather than in formal calligraphy.
Fifty-four temples still remained on my journey, the temples of Imabari close together.
The distance to the next temple was about 3.4 km, a short walk across the city.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the honzon (principal image) of Nankōbō (Temple 55)?
The honzon (principal image) of Nankōbō（南光坊）, Temple 55 of the Shikoku 88 pilgrimage, is Daitsū Chishō Nyorai（大通智勝如来）. 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 Nankōbō located?
Nankōbō stands in Imabari, Ehime Prefecture, in the old province of Iyo, on the island of Shikoku, Japan. It is the fifty-fifth 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 Nankōbō belong to?
Nankōbō belongs to the Shingon Buddhism (Buzan school). Its mountain name (sangō), the traditional honorific title by which the temple is also known, is Bekkuzan Kongō-in（別宮山 金剛院）.
When was Nankōbō founded?
Nankōbō is of ancient origin tied to Ōyamazumi Shrine (early 8th century). Its history is closely tied to the early growth of the Shikoku pilgrimage.
Which temple comes after Nankōbō, and how far is it?
The next temple on the route is Temple 56, Taisan-ji (about 3.0 km). Walking in numerical order, pilgrims continue from Nankōbō 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.