A Fire-Ritual Hall of the Early Muromachi Period
The Ishiteji Temple Goma Hall (石手寺護摩堂) is a three-bay hall for fire rituals of the early Muromachi period in Ishite, Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture, and was designated an Important Cultural Property on March 31, 1953 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records a single-storey hall three bays square under a pyramidal copper roof, designated together with two ridge tags; designation number 01219.
An Early Muromachi Goma Hall
According to the Agency's detailed commentary, Ishiteji is said to have been founded in 728 by Ochi no Tamazumi at the command of Emperor Shomu as Anyoji, and renamed Ishiteji in 892.
The goma hall, for Esoteric fire rituals, dates from the early Muromachi period and is three bays square under a pyramidal copper roof (Agency for Cultural Affairs). Two ridge tags are designated with it.
Why It Is an Important Cultural Property
The Agency record has no commentary; the date, the early Muromachi period, and its form, three bays square with a pyramidal roof, set out what was designated.
What to Look For
Look for the three-bay hall under its pyramidal roof (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Visiting
It is owned by Ishiteji Temple (Agency for Cultural Affairs). According to Matsuyama City, Ishiteji is the 51st temple of the Shikoku pilgrimage and about 25 minutes on foot from Dogo Onsen Honkan. No official information on visiting hours or fees was found. The seven designated structures are introduced together on the Ishiteji Temple page.
Q&A
- When was it built?
- In the early Muromachi period (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- What form does it take?
- Three bays square with a pyramidal copper roof.
- What is designated with it?
- Two ridge tags.
- When was it designated?
- On March 31, 1953.
- When was the Ishiteji Temple Goma Hall designated an Important Cultural Property?
- On March 31, 1953 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Ishiteji Temple Goma Hall (石手寺護摩堂) |
|---|---|
| Location | Ishite 2-chome, Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture |
| Designation | Important Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Designated 1953/03/31 (Showa 28) |
| Quantity | 1 building (with 2 ridge tags) |
| Dimensions | Three bays square, single storey, pyramidal roof, copper |
| Owner | Ishiteji Temple |
| Public Access | About 25 minutes on foot from Dogo Onsen Honkan (Matsuyama City) |
References
- Ishiteji Temple Goma Hall (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/102/3316
- Dogo walking guide (Matsuyama City, Japanese)
- https://www.city.matsuyama.ehime.jp/hodo/h31/202002/dogoinbound.files/course_01jp.pdf
Last verified: 2026.10.24
