Slow Walk Illustrated Guide
Zentsu-ji Garan Complex (East Temple)
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Commentary
This is the Dragon King Shrine; it is a registered tangible cultural property. It enshrines the Zennyo Ryūō (virtuous women dragon king), which is a rain-god that lives in the water and is said to have the power to make it rain. Since ancient times, the Sanuki region has had little rainfall and suffered frequent damage to its crops due to the sunlight; so ensuring an abundant harvest became a high-priority issue in the region’s governance. Kobo Daishi (Kukai) was appointed as a chief of reservoir construction project and oversaw the repair of Manno Lake in the Sanuki region for the purpose of facilitating a bumper harvest there. At the same time, shrines and temples were also requested by the local people to pray for rain as another important way to achieve abundant crops; prayers and rituals for rain were frequently performed here until the Edo period.
Designated Section
Registered tangible cultural property
Structure
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Era
Edo Period
Address
3-3-1 Zentsuji-cho, Zentsuji City, Kagawa Prefecture
