Bicchu Province 33 Kannon Pilgrimage

     Yoshioka Akisada (?-1667) worked and fought for the Toyotomi Clan, which was destroyed by the Tokugawa Clan in 1615.  The Toyotomi Clan was besieged in Osaka Castle, and when the castle fell, Akisada escaped west with a gold-guilt bronze statue of Holding-Fish-Cage Avalokitesvar.  Thanks to the statue, he escaped through raging flames in safe.  To show his gratitude, he or his son, Nobumoto (?-1695), offered the statue to Anyo-ji Temple, which is located at 178 Shinga, Kasaoka, Okayama, today.  Nobumoto also organized Bicchu Province 33 Kannon Pilgrimage in 1687.