The thirty-fourth temple is Tanema-ji (種間寺), the “Seed Temple,” which enshrines Yakushi Nyorai.
It lies about 9.8 km from the thirty-fifth temple, out among the fields west of Kōchi.
There is no gate at the entrance to Tanema-ji; the temple’s name is simply carved into a stone pillar.
The plain, unadorned approach suits a temple rooted in the everyday life of the farming country around it.
This is the main hall, where Yakushi Nyorai is enshrined. It appears to have been rebuilt, and the building is of concrete.
The temple’s name comes from the five grains Kōbō Daishi is said to have sown here, and it remains beloved for prayers of safe childbirth.
This is the Daishi-dō. Here I prayed for the safety of my family, for peace in the world, and for the long life of the elderly pilgrims I had met along the way.
Seeing older walkers on the road always moved me to wish them well.
The sky that day was a deep, clear blue, and simply being in the temple grounds lifted my spirits.
Fine weather has a quiet way of turning an ordinary visit into a small joy.
NFT – Crypto Ohenro #55 Goshuin of Tanema-ji（種間寺） –
This is the goshuin of the thirty-fourth temple, Tanema-ji, a keepsake of the “seed temple” of safe childbirth.
Thirty-three temples still remained on my journey, the road winding on through the fields.
The distance to the next temple was about 6.3 km, an easy walk west of Kōchi.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the honzon (principal image) of Tanema-ji (Temple 34)?
The honzon (principal image) of Tanema-ji（種間寺）, Temple 34 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 Tanema-ji located?
Tanema-ji stands in Kōchi, Kōchi Prefecture, in the old province of Tosa, on the island of Shikoku, Japan. It is the thirty-fourth 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 Tanema-ji belong to?
Tanema-ji belongs to the Shingon Buddhism (Toyoyama school). Its mountain name (sangō), the traditional honorific title by which the temple is also known, is Motoozan Suzaku-in（本尾山 朱雀院）.
When was Tanema-ji founded?
Tanema-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 Tanema-ji, and how far is it?
The next temple on the route is Temple 35, Kiyotaki-ji (about 9.8 km). Walking in numerical order, pilgrims continue from Tanema-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.