Fushimi 33 Kannon Pilgrimage ---In My Order---

The written record of Fushimi 33 Kannon Pilgrimage dates back to 1841.  The most temples are located within Fushimi Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, but two are in Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture.  As Fushimi was a river port town of Kyoto, Fushimi 33 Kannon Pilgrimage can be clasified into the city-type one.

#10 Choken-ji Temple ---also known as Shima-no-Benten---

Years ago, I was walking around the Fushimi area with my family members, one of whom was a Ryoma freak.  We bumped into a temple with loud flashy red walls and buildings.  That was Choken-ji Temple.  Retrospectively, that was my first encounter with a member temple of Fushimi 33 Kannon Pilgrimage, which I didn't know even the existence of.  They looked very Chinese when many Japanese temples enjoy their beauty through a sense of austerity and antiquity.  There used to be a red-light district in the Chushojima area, and the temple was in the middle of the area.  The main deity was Saraswati, or Benzaiten in Japanese, the goddess of water and music.  The goddess used to be known for her beauty, and thus sometimes be a metaphor of a beautiful female.  Very iconic with pathos.

To be continued