Virtual Old Awa 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #27 Sumiyoshi-dera Temple

 

     The hill on which Sumiyoshi-dera Temple is located used to be an isle, Nakajima Isle.  Worshippers had to sail across the sea.  On December 31, 1703, the Genroku Great Earthquake hit the Kanto area.  As the isle was near the epicenter, the seabed upheaved and the isle became a hill.  Even today, there is still a post to which they used to moor a boat at the foot of the hill to the temple.

     Another unique point of the temple is that it enshrines the mahasthamaprapta statue which was netted by a fisherman in the 19th century.  The modern capture of a Buddhist image demonstrated the ancient emergence of Buddhist images from the sea was not groundless.

     The statue is called Nintosanya-son.  Nintosanya literally means the 23rd night of the month on the lunar calendar.  It used to be believed that all your sins ceased to exist if you worship mahasthamaprapta on the night.

Address: 1353 Chikuracho Minamiasai, Minamiboso, Chiba 295-0012

Phone: 0470-44-1865