The thirty-third temple is Sekkei-ji (雪蹊寺), one of only two Zen temples on the entire pilgrimage, which enshrines Yakushi Nyorai.
It stands about 6.3 km from the thirty-fourth temple, on the southern edge of Kōchi.
Like the temple before it, Sekkei-ji has no gate — the temples around here, it seems, simply do without one.
You step into the grounds straight from the street, with no clear threshold to cross.
This is the main hall, where Yakushi Nyorai is enshrined. There were many other pilgrims here, and we chanted the sutra together.
The temple keeps celebrated statues by the master sculptors Unkei and Tankei, which lends the hall a special weight.
The main hall is very large, and I found myself wondering just what it held within.
As the old family temple of the Chōsokabe, it carries more history than its quiet exterior suggests.
I also recited the Heart Sutra at the Daishi-dō, praying for the safety of my family, for peace in the world, and for a world free of poverty and discrimination.
Such wishes felt fitting in a temple that has weathered the turns of war and history.
NFT – Crypto Ohenro #56 Goshuin of Sekkei-ji（雪蹊寺） –
This is the goshuin of the thirty-third temple, Sekkei-ji. At a glance the characters look roughly brushed, but up close they are beautiful.
Thirty-two temples still remained on my journey, this rare Zen temple now behind me.
The distance to the next temple was about 9.8 km, a fair walk across the Kōchi plain.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the honzon (principal image) of Sekkei-ji (Temple 33)?
The honzon (principal image) of Sekkei-ji（雪蹊寺）, Temple 33 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 Sekkei-ji located?
Sekkei-ji stands in Kōchi, Kōchi Prefecture, in the old province of Tosa, on the island of Shikoku, Japan. It is the thirty-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 Sekkei-ji belong to?
Sekkei-ji belongs to the Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism (Myōshin-ji line). Its mountain name (sangō), the traditional honorific title by which the temple is also known, is Kōfukuzan（高福山）.
When was Sekkei-ji founded?
Sekkei-ji was founded by Kōbō Daishi (Kūkai); revived as a Rinzai Zen temple in the late 16th century. Its history is closely tied to the early growth of the Shikoku pilgrimage.
Which temple comes after Sekkei-ji, and how far is it?
The next temple on the route is Temple 34, Tanema-ji (about 6.3 km). Walking in numerical order, pilgrims continue from Sekkei-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.