Virtual Gyotoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #15 Jokan-ji Temple

 

     Jokan-ji Temple was founded in 1626 by Priest Chin'yo.

     Chin'yo wrote to show his gratitude to the acting governor of Gyotoku, Ina Han'ichiro.  Who was Ina Han'ichiro?  He was Ina Tadaharu (1606-1653), whose nickname was Hanjuro.  How can Han'ichiro and Hanjuro be the same man?  Han meant half, ichi was 1, and Ju was 10.  He first nicknamed himself Han'ichiro, an immature man, with modesty.  When he achieved something, he called himself Hanjiro.  As ji meant 2, a half of 2 made 1.  He became mature.  When he achieved another task, he added 1 to his nickname.  Later, he became an expert of river management, and had 5 people's manpower.

     To save Edo from floods, Tadaharu first stopped Aino River, a bypass river of Tone River.  In 1621, he finished digging a canal to make Tone River flow into Watarase River, and started separating Kinu and Kobai Rivers.  In 1629, he made Ara River flow into Iruma River, and New Kinu River started running.  In 1630, New Kobai River started running.  In 1635, he started building New Edo River and finished it in 1641.  Do you follow what I have said?  I wonder how many people understood his ultimate end.  Finally in 1654, 1 year after his death, Tone river ran east directly to the Pacific Ocean.  After the mid 17th century, the floods of Tone River never hit Edo.

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