Virtual Koma 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #7 Chotoku-ji Temple

 

     Chotoku-ji Temple was founded by Priest Sonken (?-1457), and was revived by Priest Keitetsu (?-1629).  Its main deity, the 21-centimeter-tall sitting statue of Arya Avalokitesvara, who is the human-figure prototype of other 6 metamorphoses, was said to have been carved by Gyoki (668-749).

     In 1455, the Kyotoku War broke out.

The Kyotoku War lasted for 28 years from 1454 to 1482.  During the war, Ashikaga Shigeuji (1438-1497), the Kanto Deputy Shogun in Kamakura, relinquished Kamakura and moved to Koga in 1457.  In 1458, the Muromachi Shogunate in Kyoto sent out another deputy shogun, Ashikaga Masatomo (1435-1491), from Kyoto for Kamakura, but he couldn’t enter Kamakura and stayed in Horikoshi, Izu Province.  From then on, there were Koga Kanto Deputy Shogun and Horikoshi Kanto Deputy Shogun in the Kanto Region.  On October 14, 1459, the 2 camps had a big battle in Ota Manor, Musashi Province. That was the start of the Warring States Period in the region.

     Sonken founded Chotoku-ji Temple on one of those days.

     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.  Keitetsu took full advantage of the opportunity.

     The foundation and the revitalization of Chotoku-ji Temple seem to have been supported by samurai who didn’t feel stable and sought emotional support in the temple.

Address: 607 Noda, Iruma, Saitama 358-0054

Phone: 04-2932-0516