Virtual Ueno Oji Komagome 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #5 Shorin-ji Temple

     It is unknown when Fudarakuju-in Hermitage was founded. It was more or less abandoned, but was revived in 1401 by the mother of Ashikaga Mochiuji (1398-1439), the 4th Kanto Deputy Shogun. She was said to have belonged to the Isshiki Clan, which had been started by Kimifuka (?-1330), who became the lord of the Isshiki Manor in Mikawa Province. The Isshiki Clan held prominent offices in the bureaucracy of the Ashikaga Shogunate, and were one of four clans with the right to be head of the Board of Retainers, whose role was to guard the shogunate, to give judgment on criminals in peacetime, and to take the leadership of vassals of the shogunate in wartime.

     In 1525, Priest Shusai (?-1544) revived the hermitage and renamed it Shorin-ji Temple.

     It is unknown why Shorin-ji Temple was identified with the Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #5 Fujii-dera Temple. A guide book said that the goeika tanka poem of Shorin-ji Temple resembled that of Fujii-dera Temple:

More I visit Fujii-dera Temple

More I count on it.

Violet clouds trail over its lotus stage.

Address: 3 Chome-12-6 Nishigahara, Kita City, Tokyo 114-0024

Phone: 03-3910-2645