Virtual Quasi-Chichibu 34 Kannon Pilgrimage #21 Kofuku-ji Temple

 

     Kofuku-ji Temple keeps the records of the dead with the name of Priest Ben’i, who died on February 21, 1602.  The temple might have been founded around his generation.

     Yet, the precincts has a broken itabi, which was dated 1466.  The temple grounds could have been much older than the temple itself as a holy place.

     Kofuku-ji Temple is known for performing Kosho-nenbutsu, loudly chanting a prayer to Buddha, striking a Buddhist wooden drum.   When they strike a drum, they raise a stick over their head, and strike the drum with all their might.  They keep chanting for an hour.  Kosho-nenbutsu’s center was Shinsho-ji Temple at Misaki, Isumi County, Kazusa Province.  From there, the performance was first propagated to Shindai-ji Temple in Chofu City today.  As the temple had many branch temples in Kawasaki, it spread in the area.

 

Address: 2-27 Miyamotocho, Kawasaki Ward, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 210-0004

Phone: 044-222-4566