Dojoji Temple

Dojoji Temple

Dojoji Temple is a Tendai sect Buddhist temple located in Hidakagawa Town, Hidaka District, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. Its mountain name is "Tenneisan," and its principal deity is the Thousand-Armed Kannon. It is said to have been commissioned by Emperor Monmu and built by the monk Gyōon in the first year of the Taihō era (701 AD), making it a historically significant site. The wooden standing statue of the Thousand-Armed Kannon and the wooden standing statue of a bodhisattva preserved in the temple have been designated as National Treasures of Japan, while the Main Hall, Niō Gate, and many other ancient structures have also been recognized as Important Cultural Properties of Japan.

In addition to attracting visitors with its tranquil environment and traditional architecture, Dojoji Temple is also the setting of the ancient Japanese folktale “Anchin and Kiyohime.” According to the legend, in 929, a woman named Kiyohime fell in love with a monk named Anchin, who broke his promise to meet her again and fled. Enraged, Kiyohime transformed into a giant serpent, chased Anchin, and ultimately burned him along with the temple’s bell where he had hidden. The bell mentioned in the story is now housed at Myomanji Temple in Kyoto, and this widely told tale has been adapted into Kabuki and Noh (a unique form of Japanese theatrical art) performances. Visitors to Dojoji Temple can also view scrolls depicting this legend.

Dōjō-ji

Why visit: One of the oldest temples in Wakayama Prefecture

Continent: Asia【Asia】

Country/Region: Japan[Japan]

Province/State: Wakayama Prefecture [Wakayama Prefecture]

City: Hidaka District [Hidaka District]