Virtual Buso 48 Kannon Pilgrimage #8 Shinsho-ji Temple

 

     Shinsho-ji Temple was founded by Priest Koi (?-1036) in the 1010’s, when the Fujiwara Clan was at the height of their prosperity in Kyoto.  They had plenty of manors around the country.  An archeological excavation showed there used to be Shinjihi-ji Temple, which was as big as Senso-ji Temple, in the area around Sekido Village at the time and that there was a big village around the temple.

     The temple declined, and was revived by Raiyu (?-1297), who might have not a priest and who could have sought refuge in religion.

     On April 22, 1293, Taira Yoritsuna (1241-1293), the Butler of the Hojo Clan, was killed by his lord, Hojo Sadatoki (1272-1311), in the chaos caused by the Kamakura Earthquake, which itself killed 23,024 people.  Sadatoki replaced Yoritsuna with Hojo Munekata (1278-1305), who belonged to a branch family of the Hojo Clan.  However, Munekata was suspected of having an ambition to become the Regent of the Kamakura Shogunate and was killed by Sadatoki.  Munekata’s child  was put in a cage and was sank in the sea.

     Priest Zen’i (?-1606) revived the temple again and transferred it to Shingon Sect.

     In 1590, Tokugawa Ieyasu moved to Edo, and he reaized his first major victory over the Toyotomi Clan in the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600.  What did Zen'i have in his mind in the outskirts of the growing new samurai capital?

     In Japan in 1899, there were 91,077 who had dysentery, and 23,189 died of it.  It started from the Kanto Region in June.  There, the number of people infected increased 9.7 times to 7,400 in July.  It further increased 4.5 times to 33,493 in August.  In September, 27,030, in October, 13,770, in November, 7,144, and finally came to an end in December.  The epidemic repeated every summer.  During those days, the Kannon-do Hall was used as an isolation hospital.  In 1902, the epidemic drew to an end, and the building was burned.

     Shinsho-ji Temple is also the #11 temple of the Tama River 34 Kannon Pilgrimage.

Address: 1113 Ochikawa, Hino, Tokyo 191-0034

Phone: 042-591-1687