Virtual Ueno Oji Komagome 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #31 Konrei-ji Temple

     Konrei-ji Temple was founded by Priest Tenkai at Kita-Teramachi, Kanda, Edo, in 1640 for smiths and farriers in Edo.  Due to the city planning of Edo, the temple was moved to its present place.  The precincts keep old itabi dated the 1380's, the 1360's, and 1490's.  The area seems to have belonged to the Northern Court while Japan was divided to the Northern and Southern Courts.  The precincts must have been an old holy place even before the foundation of the temple.  The temple used to enshrine the statue of Cintamanicakra, who usually has 6 arms and holds chintamani (a wish-fulfilling jewel) in one of the six.

     The temple claims that it was listed as the #31 of the Ueno Oji Komagome 33 Kannon Pilgrimage because of the Cintamanicakra statue.  The Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #31 Chomei-ji Temple, however, enshrines the statues of thousand-armed Sahasrabhuja, eleven-faced Ekadasamukha, and Arya Avalokitesvara, but not Cintamanicakra.  Chomei literally means longevity.

     A guide book asserts 2 temples have "goeika" tanka poems which share similar meaning.  Goeika is a tanka poem dedicated to a temple.  Chomei-ji's goeika is:

Willow trees in Chomei-ji Temple

Might be signs of longevity

Which is as long as the willow leaves.

The goeika of Konrei-ji Temple hasn't been handed down.

Address: 1 Chome−6−27 Yanaka, Taito Ward, Tokyo 110-0001

Phone: 03-3821-4529