Monjudō Hall and Shōkū’s Miraculous Encounter

This small hall on Mt. Shosha marks the spot where, according to temple records, the monk Shoku encountered an old man in 966 who revealed himself as the Bodhisattva Monju before vanishing. The encounter led Shoku to establish Engyoji Temple on the mountain. The current building replaced the original after a fire in 1987. In front of the hall, small stone figures representing Jizo in red bibs are a common sight throughout Japan, but particularly poignant here: they are often donated by parents mourning children who died young, offered as a prayer for their protection. The figures wear handmade bibs from grieving families.