Virtual Koma 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #8 Shujo-ji Temple

     Shujo-ji Temple was founded by Priest Ryokei (?-1611), was revived by Priest Hohen (?-1715), and was revived again by Priest Shuden (?-1736).  The temple has the 36-centimeter-tall sitting statue of Arya Avalokitesvara, who is the human-figure prototype of other 6 metamorphoses.  The statue is enshrined in a Kannon-do hall and was said to have been carved by Unkei (1150-1223).  Then, the statue is much older than Shujo-ji Temple.

     In 1600, Tokugawa Ieyasu (1542-1616) won the Battle of Sekigahara, a decisive battle between the Tokugawa and Toyotomi Clans.  Shujo-ji Temple was founded when the Tokugawa Shogunate was laying its foundation.  After the establishment of the shogunate, they enjoyed Pax Tokugawa for over 2 centuries.

     Then, why did Hohen have to revive the temple?  They had earthquakes in 1677, 1703, and 1707, the temple might have been destroyed in one of them.

     What about Shuden’s case?  Although the biggest flood ever hit the Kanto Region in 1742, but it was 6 years after Shuden’s death and probably about a decade after the second revival of the temple.  So, there might have been a fire or an unrecorded disaster sometime before 1736.

Address: 515 Namiyanagi, Hanno, Saitama 357-0021

Phone: 042-972-3511