Old Edo 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #5 Anraku-ji Temple

      Anraku-ji Temple was founded by Priest Iteki at Shitaya-Sakamoto in 1627, and moved to Shitaya-Kanasugi in 1693.

     The Arya Avalokitesvara statue is enshrined in Kannon-do Hall in the precincts.  It was carved by Genshin (942-1017).  As he chiseled once, he made 3 prayers.  It used to be enshrined at Shimo-Gamo, Kyoto.  During the Warring States Period, temples in Kyoto were burned down, and some images of Buddhas were kept in the houses of ordinary citizens.  

     One day, Prince Sonko (1645-1680) was impressed with one of them, and he brought it to Edo and gave it to Anraku-ji Temple.  The prince was the 12th son of Emperor Go-Mizuo (1596-1680), the first emperor under the Tokugawa Shogunate.  In February, 1651, the prince became an adopted son of Tokugawa Iemitsu (1604-1651), the third shogun.  Iemitsu died in April.  The prince visited Edo in 1662.  Was that a political coordination between the shogunate and the Imperial Court? Or a hostage?

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