The forty-ninth temple is Jōdo-ji (浄土寺), which enshrines a Shaka Nyorai carved by Gyōki.
It lies just about 1.7 km from the fiftieth temple, an easy walk in eastern Matsuyama.
The entrance to Jōdo-ji is tall and imposing, with Kongō Rikishi guardians — perhaps three metres high — rising on either side of the gate.
For a town temple, it makes a surprisingly grand first impression.
This is the main hall, where Shaka Nyorai is enshrined. The purple cloth draped before it lends the hall a quietly refined atmosphere.
The temple also keeps a famous statue of the holy man Kūya Shōnin, with six small Amida figures shown issuing from his mouth.
Next, at the Daishi-dō, I recited the Heart Sutra. A pilgrim bus tour had arrived alongside me, but amid the bustle I still prayed for the safety of my family and for peace in the world.
Even in a crowd, the familiar words have a way of drawing you back into stillness.
NFT – Crypto Ohenro #40 Goshuin of Jōdo-ji（浄土寺） –
This is the goshuin of the forty-ninth temple, Jōdo-ji, fine in its mix of slow, careful strokes and quick ones.
Forty-eight temples still remained on my journey, the temples here set close together.
The distance to the next temple was about 3.2 km, an easy walk to the next gate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the honzon (principal image) of Jōdo-ji (Temple 49)?
The honzon (principal image) of Jōdo-ji（浄土寺）, Temple 49 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 Jōdo-ji located?
Jōdo-ji stands in Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture, in the old province of Iyo, on the island of Shikoku, Japan. It is the forty-ninth 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 Jōdo-ji belong to?
Jōdo-ji belongs to the Shingon Buddhism (Buzan school). Its mountain name (sangō), the traditional honorific title by which the temple is also known, is Sairinzan Sanzō-in（西林山 三蔵院）.
When was Jōdo-ji founded?
Jōdo-ji was founded by Gyōki; later converted to Shingon by Kōbō Daishi (Kūkai). Its history is closely tied to the early growth of the Shikoku pilgrimage.
Which temple comes after Jōdo-ji, and how far is it?
The next temple on the route is Temple 50, Hanta-ji (about 1.7 km). Walking in numerical order, pilgrims continue from Jōdo-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.