Virtual Koma 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #12 Saiden-ji Temple

 

     Saiden-ji Temple was founded by Priest Honkai (?-1662) in 1653.

     Tokugawa Iemitsu (1604-1651), the third shogun of the Tokugawa Shogunate, dissolved many clans to strengthen the power of the shogunate.  This increased the number of masterless and jobless samurai and destabilized society.  To restabilize the society, he strengthened the danka system.  Every citizen was supposed to belong to a Buddhist temple.  That was a business opportunity for would-be priests.  Honkai took full advantage of the opportunity.

     On May 23, 1868, the Hanno Battle broke out as a part of the Boshin War (1868-1869), the civil war at the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate.  Shibusawa Seiichiro (1838-1912) organized the Shinbu Army 1,500 strong, based it in Nonin-ji Temple (Koma 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #13) and Kodo-ji Temple (Koma 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #15) as well as Chikan-ji Temple, fought against the Meiji Revolutionary Army 3,500 strong, and lost within a couple of hours.  The temples burned down.  Nonin-ji Temple (Koma 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #13) was temporarily moved to Saiden-ji Temple.  After Nonin-ji Temple moved back, Saiden-ji Temple was abolished in 1868, and its Avalokitesvara statue was moved to Nonin-ji Temple.

Address: 698 Hanno, Hanno, Saitama 357-0063