Virtual Ueno Oji Komagome 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #19 Josen-ji Temple

     Josen-ji Temple was founded by Hachiya Yoshito (?-1633).

     Hachiya Yoshinari (?-1616) first worked and fought for Hojo Ujinao (1562-1591).  After the fall of the Later Hojo Clan in 1590, he was hired by Tokugawa Ieyasu (1542-1616) in 1592.  His son, Yoshito, worked for Tokugawa Hidetada (1579-1632).

     Ota Dokan (1432-1486) built an archery training center in Hongo.  The Tokugawa Shogunate had samurai of archery platoons reside in the site.  Yoshito built Josen-ji Temple there, and invited Priest Zuiha (1563-1635) in 1621.  After his death, Yoshito was buried in Josen-ji Temple.

     The Avalokitesvara statue was burned down in World War II.

     When Edo 33 Kannon Pilgrimage was revived as New Edo 33 Kannon Pilgrimage in 1976, Josen-ji Temple invited another statue from Goshin-ji Temple at Shirako, Suzuka City, Mie Prefecture.

     Why from Mie, or Ise Province at the time?

     After the Honno-ji Incident on June 21, 1582, Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543-1616) escaped from Sakai, Izumi Province, through Iga Province, to Shirako in Ise Province.  From Shirako, he sailed back to his home province, Mikawa.  Goshin-ji Temple is believed to have done something in providing Ieyasu with boats.

     A tanka poem dedicated to Josen-ji Temple was: 

The spring sun shines over Josen-ji.

In Komagome Village,

It's fine but slightly cloudy.

     The Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #19 Gyogan-ji Temple was founded in 1004 by Priest Gyoen, who was known as a "leather" saint.  Gyoen used to make a living by hunting.  One day, he shot a pregnant deer.  The dying female deer gave birth to a fawn.  He became aware that killing was wrong, and became a Buddhist priest.  He was always wearing the female deer's leather, and was called a "leather" saint.  Gyogan-ji was also called Leather Hall.  A tanka poem dedicated to the temple was:

Seeing cherry blossoms in Gyogan-ji

My pledge has become leathery

With its garden plants full of energy. 

     The dedicated tanka poems of the 2 temples both praised the spring season, in which the organizers of the Ueno Oji Komagome 33 Kannon Pilgrimage found similarity. We should remember the pilgrimage's second purpose was to go on an outing.

Address: 1 Chome-7-12 Honkomagome, Bunkyo City, Tokyo 113-0021

Phone: 03-3941-7063