Virtual Ika 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #25 Zencho- ji Temple

     In 1469, Priest Zencho opened a Pure Land Sect Buddhism temple in Ikehara Village with an Amitabha statue as the main deity.  He called the temple Zencho-bo after his Buddhist name.

     There used to be Manpuku-ji Temple nearby, whose main deity was Hayagriva , who has the head of a horse.  The Hayagriva statue has either a furious look, unlike the other types of Avalokitesvar statues, or a mild look, like the other types of Avalokitesvar statues, with 2 or more arms.  The main deity of Manpuku-ji Temple had a furious look with 6 arms.  The temple was burnt down during the Warring States Period, and was reconstructed together with the Hayagriva statue at the turn of the 17th century.  The temple, however, became out of business in the Meiji Era, and the statue was moved to Zencho-ji Temple.

Zencho-ji Temple also has a statue for the Menju brothers.

     In May, 1583, the Battle of Shizugatake broke out between Shibata Katsuie (1522-1583) and Toyotomi Hideyoshi  (1536-1598).  Menju Shosuke (1558-1583) was fighting for Katsuie, who lost to Hideyoshi at the end of the day.

When the odds became against Katsuie, he was trying to make a suicide attack against the main body of Hideyoshi’s army.  Shosuke stopped him, advising to retreat to Kitanosho Castle, their stronghold, and to pull their forces together.  With the words, he picked up Katsuie’s armor and charged the enemy with his elder brother, to get all killed.

     In spite of their brave fight, Kitanosho Castle fell, and Katsuie committed suicide with his wife, leaving their 3 daughters to Hideyoshi.

After all the battles, Hideyoshi praised the brothers highly, and gave their heads back to their mother.

     What did the mother feel?  Even Avalokitesvar does not always give a mild look.