Virtual Hachioji 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #13 Ryusen-ji Temple

 

     Ryusen-ji Temple was founded by Priest Raikyu, who was the heir of Priest Gyushu (1524-1605).

Hojo Ujiteru (1540-1590) composed 8 tanka poems for the Eight Views of Hachioji, which included Ryusen-ji Temple. Choosing 8 most beautiful scenes in a certain area originated from the Eight Views of Xiaoxiang during the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127).  Xiaoxiang was in Hunan Province, China.  That is to say, Ujiteru was highly cultured, or well-educated in Chinese classics.  The Eight Views of Hachioji were as follows:

The Autumn Moon in Hachioji Castle

The Spring Storm in Hachioji Village

The Mist in Mt. Takao

The Landing Wild Geese in Koon-ji Temple

The Night Rain in Ryusen-ji Temple

The Returning Fishers in Asa River

The Twilight Snow in Todori Village

The Night Bell in Oto Kannon-do Temple

     After Ujiteru was forced to kill himself in 1590, Gyushu performed “fujumon” convention for 10 days every year.  12 years after the foundation, the temple burned down, and was revived by Priest Kakushu in 1742.

     In 1742, a super-typhoon made landfall at Osaka and hit Edo.  It started raining on August 26, and the storm hit the provinces between Osaka and Edo, causing many rivers to flood.  Along Chikuma River alone, more than 200 tons of water was estimated to have flooded.  On the 30th, the typhoon hit Edo.  After the eye of the typhoon passed through Edo, a strong south wind raged after 22:00 and brought storm surge of 2.5 meters deep to Edo Bay including the estuary of Tama River especially at 6 next morning, when the tide was high.  After 8, the tide was going out, and people felt relieved.  The real disaster, however, struck estuaries including that of Tama River later.  The rain in the upper reaches at night rushed down, and not only downtowns but even samurai mansions on the heights were flooded.  On September 1, Tone, Ara, and Tama Rivers flooded.  On the 6th, another typhoon hit the Kanto Region, and it kept flooding till the 8th.  The watermark reached 3 meters.  The shogunate government distributed cooked rice to 6,000 victims on August 29, 10,000 on September 1, and 7,000 on the 9th.

     Kakushu might have revived the temple to commemorate those who died in the natural disaster.

Address: 16 Nagabusamachi, Hachioji, Tokyo 193-0824

Phone: 042-664-0865