Virtual Koma 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #2 Hozo-ji Temple

 

     Hozo-ji Temple was founded by Kaji Sadatsugu (?-1396).  The Kaji Family belonged to the Tan Corps, one of the Musashi Seven Corps.

     The most part of Musashi Province was plateaus deeply covered with volcanic-ash soil, which was suitable for stock farming, not for rice growing.  In ancient times, many of the naturalized Silla people then were sent to Musashi Province, and engaged in the stock farming.  That stimulated people there, and many stock farms were set up, including 6 imperial stock farms.  The custodians of those farms later formed small-scale samurai families.  By marriage, those samurai families composed 7 corps on the plateaus in the province: the Musashi Seven Corps.

     In the Northern and Southern Courts Period (1336-1392), the Tan Corps fought for the Southern Court, the loser.  Accordingly, the Tan Corps and the Kaji Family weakened, and Hozo-ji Temple declined.

     As the Kaji Family declined, Oishi Nobushige (1336-1424) came to rule the surrounding areas.  His second son, Shigenaka, managed Nakai Village and revived Hozo-ji Temple, which still keeps the Buddhist memorial tablet of Shigenaka.  The tablet tells us that he died at the age of 47.

     Priest Gen’itsu (?-1604) converted the temple to the Soto Chan School.

     The precincts also have an old itabi dated October, 1267.  The unknown builder died 3 months before the Mongol Empire invaded Japan.

Address: 100 Nakai, Hanno, Saitama 357-0002

Phone: 042-974-3115