Virtual Kozukue 33 Kannon Pilgrimage in Yokohama

     Kozukue 33 Kannon Pilgrimage was organized in 1732, far before Yokohama City was born.  Those days, Tsurumi River flooded almost every year.  To memorialize the flood victims and to pray against the flood, Takino Aisho wanted to organize a 33 Kannon pilgrimage, consulted Priest Soun in Hosho-ji Temple, #33 temple of Kozukue 33 Kannon Pilgrimage today.  The priest, with his colleague priest Choan, visited Priest Tenyo in Senkoku-ji Temple, #1 temple today.  The three reached an agreement, and visited proper and suitable temples in the Kozukue Domain, encouraging them to join their attempt.  They succeeded in organizing 33 temples, and applied to the Tokugawa Shogunate government for the foundation of a new 33 Kannon pilgrimage.

     In 1756, 24 years after the foundation, the member temples displayed their Avalokitesvara statues.  Since then, the member temples have displayed their Avalokitesvara statues every 12 years, in the Year of Rat.  And the pilgrimage came to be also called Zodical Rat Year 33 Kannon Pilgrimage.  2020 is the Year of Rat.

     288 years have passed.  The centuries have witnessed the title of #9 was handed over from Urashima-dera Temple to Tokuon-ji Temple; #11 from Jigen-ji Temple to Shoin-ji Temple; and #23 from Mannen-ji Temple to Tokuon-ji Temple.  In #33 Hosho-ji Temple, there still stands the stone monument which teaches us the list of original 33 member temples.