Shōgaku-in Temple

Overview

Shōgaku-in is a Tendai-sect Buddhist temple in the town of Iwate, Iwate District, Iwate Prefecture. Its mountain name (sango) is Kitakami-san, and its full formal name is Kitakami-san Shintsūhō-ji Shōgaku-in; locally it is commonly known as 'Midō Kannon.' The temple is counted among the Thirty-three Kannon Pilgrimage Sites of Ōshū, giving it the character of a pilgrimage destination tied to Kannon worship.

Highlights

• ●A Tendai-sect temple with the mountain name Kitakami-san
• ●Formal name: Kitakami-san Shintsūhō-ji Shōgaku-in
• ●Locally known by the nickname 'Midō Kannon'
• ●Counted among the Thirty-three Kannon Pilgrimage Sites of Ōshū

History

Detailed records of the temple's founding are limited, but as a temple carrying on the Tendai tradition, it has long drawn worshippers under the local name 'Midō Kannon.' Its inclusion as one of the Thirty-three Kannon Pilgrimage Sites of Ōshū suggests that it has welcomed pilgrims seeking Kannon worship since early times.

Map

40.0397, 141.2429 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1Bow at the temple entrance and walk the approach in a calm frame of mind
2. 2Pay respects to the Kannon image enshrined in the main hall
3. 3Stroll the grounds while reflecting on the mountain name 'Kitakami-san' and the temple's background
4. 4If time allows, combine the visit with other sites on the Thirty-three Kannon Pilgrimage of Ōshū

Did you know?

💡 The nickname 'Midō Kannon' reflects the depth of devotion to the temple's principal Kannon image. The mountain name 'Kitakami-san,' part of its formal title 'Kitakami-san Shintsūhō-ji Shōgaku-in,' is also an essential part of the temple's identity.

Nearby spots