Old Edo 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #9 Josen-ji Temple

      Joshin-ji Temple was founded by Hachiya Yoshito (?-1633).  Who was he?

     Hachiya Yoshinari (?-1616) first worked and fought for Hojo Ujinao (1562-1591).  In 1592, he was hired by Tokugawa Ieyasu (1542-1616).  His son, Yoshito, worked for Tokugawa Hidetada (1579-1632).

     Ota Dokan (1432-1486) built an archery training center in Hongo.  The Tokugawa Shogunate had samurais of archery platoons reside in the site.  Yoshito built Josen-ji Temple there, and invited Priest Zuiha (1563-1635) in 1621.  After his death, he was buried in Josen-ji Temple.

     The Avalokitesvara statue was burned down in World War II.

When Edo 33 Kannon Pilgrimage was revived as New Edo 33 Kannon Pilgrimage in 1976, Josen-ji Temple invited another statue from Goshin-ji Temple at Shirako, Suzuka City, Mie Prefecture.

     Why from Mie, or Ise Province at the time?

     After the Honno-ji Incident on June 21, 1582, Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543-1616) escaped from Sakai, Izumi Province, through Iga Province, to Shirako in Ise Province.  From Shirako he sailed back to his home province, Mikawa.  Goshin-ji Temple is believed to have done something in providing Ieyasu with boats.

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