Virtual Quasi-Saigoku Inage 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #28 Shiboku-do Temple

 

     Shiboku-do Temple has the 11-faced Ekadasamukha statue enshrined in it.  The temple was located at the northeast quarter of the residence of the Yamane Family.  The northeast quarter has been believed to be the entrance gate of demons in Japanese folklore, so the family ancestors might have built the temple to guard them.

     Family oral tradition says that the statue had been carved by Gyoki (668-749), and was presented by the Fujiwara Family to Shinzaimonjo in 1550, when he became independent from the head family and started calling his branch family Yamane.

     It is unknown whether the Fujiwara Family mentioned above had something to do with the Fujiwara Clan in Kyoto or not.  From ancient times to medieval days, the political power had shifted away from the Fujiwara Clan in Kyoto to samurai in the countryside. However, the Fujiwara Clan provided some shogun to the Kamakura Shogunate, and remained close advisers, regents and ministers to the emperors until 19th century. As such, some samurai tried to connect their family trees to the Fujiwara Clan, especially when their rival samurai families belonged to either the Taira Clan or the Minamoto Clan.

Address: 2 Chome-11-21 Shibokuhoncho, Miyamae Ward, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 216-0031