Virtual Quasi-Chichibu 34 Kannon Pilgrimage #1 Shinpuku-ji Temple

     Shinpuku-ji Temple was founded by Priest Kangyu (?-1657), supported by Sugi Kutsuetsu (?-1612).  Its main deity is Cintamanicakra, who usually has 6 arms and holds chintamani (a wish-fulfilling jewel) in one of the six.  the statue was said to have been carved by Ennin (794-864).

     On the hill behind the the main building, there stands Itabi.  The inscription is almost gone, but it tells it was built in 1534.  In 1532, Takeda Nobutora (1494-1574), the father of Shingen (1521-1573), unified Kai Province.  In 1533, Saito Dosan (1494-1556) began to stand out.  In 1534, Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582) was born.  The Warring States Period in Japan was advancing to its climax.

     Shinpuku-ji Temple also enshrines Dairokuten, the 6th plain or layer in the heaven.  Of course, what the temple enshrines are who lives in the 6th plain or layer.  In Buddhism, a devaloka is a dwelling place of the Buddhist devas.  Papiyas, one of the devas, lives in Para-nirmita-vasa-vartin, which is believed to be in the 6th plain or layer of the heaven.

     Papiyas takes great pleasure in people's pleasure.  A charitable god?  No, he is scorned as the enemy of Buddhism.  Why?  In Buddhism, people’s pleasure comes from satisfying their desire or lust, or narcotic.  The more Papiyas strives to please people, the more they go astray.  So is Papiyas despised or sometimes feared in the Western part of Japan at least.

     In the Eastern part of Japan, typically in the Kanto Region, Papjyas or Dairokuten is very popular.  Why?  Do you ask me?  Ask those living around Tokyo.  For your information, Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582) called himself Papjyas, didn’t he?  Or was it Takeda Shingen (1521-1573) who called Nobunaga Papjyas?

     There stands an old itabi on the hill behind the main building of the temple.  It tells the itabi was built in 1534. The precincts must have been much older as a holy place than the temple.

Address: 3 Chome-11-5 Shimodacho, Kohoku Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa 223-0064

Phone: 045-561-4466