Chikurin-ji Temple

Overview

Chikurin-ji Temple (竹林寺) is a Shingon Buddhist temple in Kōchi city, Kōchi Prefecture, on the island of Shikoku. It is Temple 31 on the Shikoku 88 temple pilgrimage, a circuit of 88 temples associated with the monk Kūkai. The temple’s main image is Monju Bosatsu, the bodhisattva of wisdom.

The temple is said to have been founded in 724, during the Nara period (710–794), in the first year of the Jinki era (神亀). Its full name in Japanese is Chikurin-ji, and its kana reading is ちくりんじ.

History

The founding of Chikurin-ji is traditionally attributed to the monk Gyōki, an early eighth-century Buddhist priest known for his public works and temple construction across Japan. According to temple tradition, Gyōki established the temple in 724 at the request of the imperial court, carving the main image of Monju Bosatsu himself. The temple was built on the slopes of Mount Godaisan, a site chosen for its resemblance to Mount Wutai in China, the earthly abode of Monju.

During the Heian period, the temple grew in importance as a centre for the worship of Monju. The Shingon monk Kūkai, who founded the Shingon school of esoteric Buddhism in Japan, is said to have visited the temple during his travels on Shikoku. The pilgrimage route that later became the Shikoku 88 temple pilgrimage was formalised over the following centuries, and Chikurin-ji was fixed as Temple 31, following Zenjibu-ji Temple and preceding Zenraku-ji Temple.

The temple complex was damaged and rebuilt several times over the centuries, particularly during the wars of the Sengoku period. The current main hall dates from the early modern period. In the late Edo period, the temple’s gardens were redesigned, and those gardens survive today as a designated Natural Monument of Japan.

What Stands There Today

Chikurin-ji houses a number of important Buddhist sculptures, several of which are designated as cultural properties. The main image, Monju Bosatsu, is enshrined in the main hall and is the focus of the temple’s worship. The temple also holds a collection of statues associated with the pilgrimage tradition, including images of Kūkai and other esoteric Buddhist figures.

The temple grounds include the Hōmotsukan, a treasure hall that displays many of the temple’s most significant objects. The late Edo-period gardens, laid out around a pond in the style of a stroll garden, are a major draw for visitors and are protected as a Natural Monument. The gardens incorporate the natural slope of Mount Godaisan, with paths that wind past stone lanterns and clipped shrubs.

The temple sits within Godaisan Park, a large public park on the edge of Kōchi city. The park also contains the Godaisan Museum and a number of other cultural facilities, making the area a centre for both pilgrimage and tourism.

The Name in Japanese

The temple’s name is written 竹林寺 in kanji.

• Kana reading: ちくりんじ
• Romaji: Chikurin-ji

The name breaks down character by character as follows:

• 竹 (chiku) — “bamboo.” This character is read as take when standalone, but in this compound it takes the on’yomi reading chiku.
• 林 (rin) — “grove” or “forest.” Standalone, this is hayashi; in this compound it is read rin.
• 寺 (ji) — “temple.” This is the standard suffix for Buddhist temples in Japanese, read ji in this position.

The full name thus means “Bamboo Grove Temple,” a reference to the bamboo forests that once covered the slopes of Mount Godaisan. The character 寺 appears in countless Japanese temple names, and its reading shifts between ji and tera depending on the word; here it is ji.

Note that the reading of the first two characters together, chikurin, is a standard on’yomi compound meaning “bamboo grove.” The name is a classic example of a Japanese temple name built from two Sino-Japanese characters plus the temple suffix.

Visiting and Context

Chikurin-ji is located in the Godaisan district of Kōchi city, roughly a 30-minute bus ride from Kōchi Station. The temple is open to visitors year-round, and the Hōmotsukan has separate admission. Pilgrims walking the Shikoku 88 temple pilgrimage arrive at Chikurin-ji after completing Temple 30, Zenjibu-ji, and continue on to Temple 32, Zenraku-ji.

The temple’s position on the pilgrimage route means it sees a steady flow of pilgrims in white robes and sedge hats, particularly in spring and autumn. The gardens are especially popular in late autumn, when the maple trees turn colour. The temple also offers the standard pilgrimage service of stamping the nōkyōchō, the book in which pilgrims collect red stamps and calligraphy from each of the 88 temples.

For visitors not walking the full pilgrimage, Chikurin-ji is a convenient day trip from central Kōchi. The Godaisan Park surrounding the temple offers views over Kōchi city and the Pacific Ocean, and the nearby museum provides context on the region’s history. The temple’s combination of pilgrimage significance, sculptural treasures, and landscaped gardens makes it one of the most visited sites in Kōchi Prefecture.