Virtual Buso 48 Kannon Pilgrimage #14 Eisen-ji Temple

     Eisen-an Hermitage was founded in 1555 by Nagano Izumi (?-1559).  Who was Nagano Izumi?

     Takeda Harunobu (1521-1573) banished his father, Nobutora (1494-1574), in 1541.  He invaded Shinano Province castle by castle, and made battles every year.  In 1553, he drove out Murakami Yoshikiyo (1501-1573) from the northern part of Shinano Province.  Now, he was facing Nagao Kagetora (1530-1578) in Echigo Province and Saito Toshimasa (1494-1556) in Mino Province.

     Nagano Izumi was sick of endless battles, and flew from Kai Province to Yarimizu Village in Musashi Province.  He brought a family heirloom, an Arya Avalokitesvara statue, and became a monk under the guidance of the priest in Eirin-ji Temple, the Buso 48 Kannon Pilgrimage #41.

     In 1571, Hojo Ujiteru (1542-1590) started constructing Hachioji Castle.  Priest Giken of Eirin-ji Temple changed the hermitage to a temple in 1573 and named it Eisen-ji.

     Its main hall burned down in 1885.  Yagishita Yoemon, a silk merchant, presented his house to the temple, with its sericulture room remodeled and with its thatched roof tiled.

Address: 80 Yarimizu, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0375

Phone: 042-676-8104