Kyushu 108 Pilgrimage Temple 89 Kongochoin

Kongochoin is temple number 89 on the Shingon Kyushu Pilgrimage. It is not far from Temple 9, Myooin, just a little bit higher up Mount Wakasugi. Like Myooin it has a lot of Fudo Myo statues that I posted recently.

According to the legend Kobo Daishi visited the mountain in 806 on his return from China.

Apparently it was quite a large temple complex that at its peak had 108 monks residing here.

In 1347 the whole conplex was destroyed during a battle. The current. much smaller buildings date from 1942

The honzon (main enshrined deity) is a seated Dainichi Nyorai, Great Sun Buddha.

There is also a Kannon Hall and an Awashima Shrine.