Virtual Edo Bando 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #3 Enjo-ji Temple

 

     In 1581, Priest En'ei founded Mitsuzo-in Temple in Hongo, Edo, when Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582) was fighting to unite the whole of Japan.  In 1620, 4 years after the death of Tokugawa Ieyasu (1542-1616), who actually united the whole of Japan, Priest Hosen renamed it Enjo-ji, and moved it to its present place in 1631.  Next year, Tokugawa Hidetada (1579-1632), the second shogun, died.

     Enjo-ji Temple's precincts have a grave of Oshichi.  A popular fiction in the Edo Period says as follows:

     Nakamura Kihei retired from the Kaga Domain, became a greengrocer in Komagome, Edo, and renamed himself Tarobei.  Around noon on December 28th, 1683, the Tenna Great Fire broke out from Daien-ji Temple in Komagome.  The fire spread over the downtown of Edo, even crossed the Sumida River, and killed more than 3,500 people.  Tarobei, his wife, and his only daughter, Oshichi, sought shelter in Enjo-ji Temple, where Oshichi fell in love with another refugee, Kobori Samon.  Tarobei rebuilt his house and restarted his business.  Oshichi missed Samon so much that she set fire to the house, wishing the fire would let her see Samon again.  She was arrested as an arsonist, and was burned at the stake in Kozukahara, Senju, on March 28th, 1683.

     The precincts also have a grave of Unno Bisei (1864-1919), who was a famous goldsmith or engraver.  He was good at sculpting humans and animals in the round.  He also learned Japanese painting from Kawanabe Kyosai (1831-1889) in Edo, who belonged to the Kono School, and Imao Keinen (1845-1924) in Kyoto, who belonged to the Shijo School.  He learned the Western sculpture from Ogura Sojiro (1845-1913).

     Enjo-ji Temple is also the #11 member temple of the Old Edo 33 Kannon Pilgrimage. 

Address: 1 Chome-34-6 Hakusan, Bunkyo City, Tokyo 113-0001

Phone: 03-3812-7865