Virtual Quasi-Chichibu 34 Kannon Pilgrimage #23 Ishikannon-do Temple

 

     Ishikannon-do Temple was founded by Priest Ben’yu in 1665.  The main deity is the stone statue of Cintamanicakra, who usually has 6 arms and holds chintamani (a wish-fulfilling jewel) in one of the six.  Cintamanicakra is one of the 6 metamorphoses of Avalokitesvara.  Avalokitesvara is described Kannon in Japanese, so Ishikannon literally means Stone Avalokitesvara.

     According to oral tradition, there was the statue first, and then they started building a small hall for it in the middle of the 18th century.  Why?

     In 1733, they were having poor catches through the year.  One day, a fisher was returning after having another poor catch.  Suddenly, his boat stopped.  As he saw under the boat, he found a big stone just suitable to make a washbasin for the temple.  He tried to raise it, but he couldn’t.  Just then, a coupe of turtles appeared and helped the fisher.  He brought the stone back, made a washbasin, and presented it to the temple.  At last, poor catches mysteriously ended.  The villagers showed their gratitude to Cintamanicakra by building a shelter for the stone statue.

     They have a temple festival monthly on 18 even today.  And you can wash your hands in the stone washbasin even today.

Address: 2 Chome-16-3 Kannon, Kawasaki Ward, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 210-0831