Virtual Ueno Oji Komagome 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #27 Yofuku-ji Temple

 

     Yofuku-ji Temple was founded by Priest Joren (?-1626) in 1620, and was revived by Mokujiki Giko(?-1718).  Presumably, it was destroyed in the 1707 Hoei Earthquake, which was the second largest earthquake in Japanese history just next to the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake.

     The title Mokujiki was given to those monks who ate only fruits and nuts.  Moku meant a wood and jiki meant to eat.

     The precincts used to have a Kannon-do Hall, which enshrined the statue of Cintamanicakra, Ekadasamukha, and Arya Avalokitesvara.

     The statue of Cintamanicakra, who usually has 6 arms and holds chintamani (a wish-fulfilling jewel) in one of the six, is said to have been carved by Kasuga, a legendary Buddhist sculptor.

     Kasuga is said to have worked in Kawachi Province.  Legend has it that he carved Buddhist images and statues day and night.  One day, the villagers noticed him carving something other than Buddhist images.  It was a big crane statue.  Next morning, the villagers found no one in his house, except a big bird flying to the east in the morning glow, with someone or something on its back.

     It is unknown whether Kasuga carved the statue concerned in Kawachi, which he brought to Musashi Province on the back of the crane, or he carved it in Musashi Province.

     The eleven-faced Ekadasamukha statue was said to have been carved by Kukai (774-835).  The statue of Arya Avalokitesvara, who is the human-figure prototype of the other 6 metamorphoses, was said to have been carved by Ennin (794-864).

     The Kannon-do hall was burned down in World War II.

     Nobody has mentioned about what Yofuku-ji Temple and the Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #27 Enkyo-ji Temple had in common.   Enkyo-ji Temple enshrines the statue of Cintamanicakra, who usually has 6 arms and holds chintamani (a wish-fulfilling jewel) in one of the six.

     Yofuku-ji Temple is also the #28 of the Tokyo 33 Kannon Pilgrimage.

Address: 3 Chome-3-8 Nishinippori, Arakawa City, Tokyo 116-0013

Phone: 03-3821-4209