Virtual Quasi-Saigoku Inage 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #2 Kannon-ji Temple

 

     A Japanese mountain ascetic hermit Bankyu, who was from Mino Province, first stayed in Kamakura, Sagami Province, then lived in Gotanda Village, Inage Manor, Musashi Province, built a hermitage, and named it Fukuju-in.  Bankyu had brought an Acalanatha statue and a conch shell used for religious purposes, which are both still kept in the temple.  It is unknown when Bankyu died.

     Monk Ryoei, following an oracle in his dream, brought the Ksitigarbha statue, which was said to have been carved by Kukai (774-835), and which is about 0.3 meter tall, on his back from the Shikoku Island, stayed in the hermitage, and died on April 13, 1599.  What had drove Ryoei to travel for 700 kilometers?

     All the 34 wives of Toyotomi Hidetsugu (1568-1595) were killed with their children by Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1537-1598), the uncle of Hidetsugu, on August 2, 1595.  In 1596, Japan Median Tectonic Line caused great earthquakes one after another.  First, in Iyo Province, Shikoku Island, on September 1, an earthquake caused many temples collapse.  Second, in Bungo Province, Kyushu Island, on September 4, another earthquake caused 2 small islands to sink and killed more than 800 people.  Third, in Fushimi, Kyoto, on September 5, another earthquake destroyed many temples and even a castle and killed more than 1,000 people.  Either human-made  or natural disasters might have driven him east. 

     Priest Keishu also stayed in the hermitage and died on May 25, 1632.  Later, Priest Kenzui (?-1723) turned it to a temple and named it Kannon-ji.  So, the full name of the temple became Bankyu-san Fukuju-in Kannon-ji.

     It is unknown when the Arya Avalokitesvara statue, which is believed to have been carved by Enchin (814-891) out of Indian sandalwood, was brought.

     The precincts has old itabi dated August 23, 1396.

Address: 17 Shota, Tama Ward, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 214-0038itigarbha