Virtual Quasi-Chichibu 34 Kannon Pilgrimage #27 Kozen-ji Temple

 

     Some believe Ennin (794-864) returned to his homeland, Shimotsuke Province, before his death.  On his way back from Kyoto, he visited Takada Village, carved the statue of Shogun Jizo, and left it there.

     What is Shogun Jizo?

     Shogun Jizo was believed to have appeared in front fo En Ozunu (634-701) when he crimbed Mt. Atago with Taicho (682-767).  It is unknown how Shogun Jizo looked like at the time.

     Nichira (?-583) is said to have believed in Shogun Jizo.  Enchin is said to have prayed to Shogun Jizo for the victory of Sakanoue Tamuramaro (758-811) in Kiyomizu-dera Temple.  But no record was kept on how to perform the rite or what Shogun Jizo looked like.

     Principally, Jizo is Ksitigarbha.  In Japan, Ksitigarbha is usually regarded as a guardian of children, and the stone statues usually look somewhat like babies.

     But, on the basis of some sutras' advocating Ksitigarbha would overcome the traitors of earthly desires and the army of Papiyas and that Ksitigarbha would enable you escape danger in a military camp or a battle, some samurais believed in Ksitigarbha as a war god.  Shogun literally means winning army.

     It was believed that, in 1318, Momoi Naotsune (?-1376)  presented the stone washbasin to Kozen-ji Temple.

     In 1318, Hojo Takatoki (1304-1333), the 14th Regent of the Kamakura Shogunate, ordered Nichiro (1245-1320), one of the 6 designated successors to Nichiren (1222-1282), to argue with priests of other Buddhist Schools and sects.  He, however, recognized himself too old and appointed Nichiin (1264-1329) as the acting debater.  Nichiin’s disciple, Nichijo (1298-1369) kept the record.  So is it said, without any official records.

     Naotsune appeared in written records after 1336, fighting for Ahikaga Takauji (1305-1358) at first.  Since then, he fought for that one after another, from Shimotsuke Province, through Kamakura, in Wakasa, Iga, Shinano, and Ecchu Provinces.  Of course, he sometimes fought in Kyoto.  And disappeared from the history without achieving anything.  His son, Tadakazu, had been killed in the Nagasawa Battle on April 12, 1370.

     So, it was when he was filled with brilliant hopes that Naotsune had presented the washbasin to pray to Shogun Jizo .

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