Virtual Old Kamakura 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #14 Tamon-in Temple

 

     There used to be Okano-Kannon-do Temple at the foot of Mt. Rokkokuken-zan.

     Fujiwara Kamatari (614-669) was the founder of the Fujiwara Clan.  The Ancient Japan was under their thumb.  By the 8th century, the Fujiwara Clan founded Kashima and Katori Shrines in Kanto to accelerate the invasion of the Northeast part of Honshu Island.

     Someya Tokitada was the fourth descendant of Kamatari.  The clan members of the same generation included Fujiwara Uchimaro (756-812), who was in control of the Imperial Court.  Tokitada was commanding the Imperial armies in the 8 provinces of Kanto; Kozuke, Shimotsuke, Hitachi, Musashi, Kazusa, Shimosa, Awa, and Sagami.  He was based in Yuhi, Kamakura, Sagami.

     One day, his 3-year-old daughter was kidnapped for vengeance or power struggles.  She was torn to bits.  He built 7 towers in Kamakura where her bits were found.  Her main part was found at the southern foot of Mt. Rokkokuken-zan (literally means 6 Provinces View Mountain), from which 6 provinces(Musashi, Kazusa, Shimosa, Awa, Sagami, and Izu) could be seen, a very profound and significant place to abandon the little body.  The reported suspects shared some features with medieval tengu.  That might mean they were the ancient ancestors of tengu or mountain people.  The tragedy also reminds me of what broke out around Komatsu-ji Temple, #26 of Old Awa 33 Kannon Pilgrimage, in medieval days.

     At the foot of Mt. Rokkokuken-zan, Tokitada enshrined the statue of Ekadasamukha, who has 11 faces, with her bones in it.  Later, it came to be called Okano-Kannon-do Temple.

     After the Meiji Restoration, because of the movement to abolish Buddhism and destroy Siddhartha images, the temple was abolished and the statue was moved to Tamon-in Temple.

     Among the 7 stone towers, only one is left at 5-1 Sasamecho, Kamakura.  More than 12 centuries have passed.  How long the sorrow of losing beloved daughter has lingered!

Address: 2035 Ofuna, Kamakura, Kanagawa 247-0056

Phone: 0467-46-3591