Virtual Edo Bando 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #20 Kuhon-in Temple

 

     Kuhon-in Temple was founded by Priest Shukaku (?-1610) as a branch temple of Seigan-ji Temple, which alone was moved to the suburb of Tokyo (1 Chome 14-4 Momijigaoka, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-0004) after the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake.  Kuhon-in Temple was moved to its present place along with the other 10 branch temples after the earthquake, merging another branch temple, Saikei-in.

     Kuhon-in Temple used to have a Kannon-do Hall, but the Avalokitesvara statue you can find in its main hall isn't what used to be enshrined in the hall.  The Kuriyama Family, the head of the supporting members of Kuhon-in Temple, got the statue in the North-Eastern Region of China during World War II.  After the war, the family presented the statue to the temple in 1954.  Examination revealed that it was made in the Liu-chao Period  (222-589) in the southern part of China.  I wonder what the statue has witnessed for nearly 2 millennia.

     Saikei-in Temple was founded also in 1599 by Priest Rinseki (?-1606).  The temple enshrined a stone Ksitigarbha statue, which had been dug out in Odawara and which was presented by Matsuki Doki.

     "Ah, it was delicious. A treat."

     The monk politely thanked the soba noodle shopkeeper many times and went out through the shop curtain. Oh, well ...

     The monk seems to be a soba lover to come out so late at night. The shop was called Owariya.  As the owner was devout, he was happy to welcome the monk late every night.

     But wait ..., a wonder occurred to the master, while seeing off the monk leaving in the darkness. A month has passed, and when bells ring at 11 o'clock every night, I see him soon. He has such a refined appearance, and has such a gentle demeanor.  He must be someone quite special. Where on earth is he from? Let's ask him tomorrow.

     The next day, the owner asked the monk quietly,

     "Excuse me for asking this impolite question, but where are you from?"

     When the monk heard the question, he looked embarrassed, blushed shyly.  As the owner repeated the question again, the monk answered finally,

     "From a temple in Tajima-cho..."

     He said in a whisper, and gave the owner a look that said, "Don't ask me anymore," and left the shop in a hurry. How can I help it?  The owner was worried that a soba-loving fox or raccoon dog may be disguising itself. Alright, employees said furiously, we'll see who he is next time.  The owner calmed them down.

     Next day, the monk finished eating soba as if nothing had happened, and he thanked the owner and left. The owner, who was prepared, secretly tailed the monk. Whether he knew it or not, the monk walked slowly along the quiet night street. The black shadow of his with his Buddhist priest's sash went through the gate of Tajima-yama Seigan-ji Temple and entered the precincts of Saikei-in Branch Temple. Ah, I'm sorry he was a real monk. What a pity! The owner worshiped the monk from behind with his palms put together behind the temple gate.

     He suddenly took a breath. The monk disappeared in the Jizo-do Hall. And a faint halo appeared on the Ksitigarbha statue. The owner sat down on the spot and stared at the hall in a daze for a while. He didn't even know where or how he ran. The owner finally arrived at the shop, did not listen to the questions the employees asked, and just repeated, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Please forgive me ...".

     That night, he was still dozing with excitement, and he heard a solemn announcement at his bedside. "I am the Ksitigarbha of Saikei-in Temple. I am thankful to receive soba Buddhist services from you every night. In return, I will dispel the troubles of your family and especially protect you all from the plague."

     The owner kept offering soba to Ksitigarbha of Saikei-in Temple, and prayed to the statue. In April, 1837, an epidemic broke out in Edo.  Countless people died, and funeral processions lined up for temples. Despite the sorrow of the other people, the family of the soba shop were all in good health.

     The Great Tempo Famine hit Japan from 1833 to 1837.  That caused 200 to 300 people either to starve to death or to die of  epidemics.  In 1833, the estimated population of Japan was 3.198 million, while that in 1838 shrank to 3,073 million.  Even in Edo, the Tokugawa Shogunate built 21 relief houses, and more than 700 thousand people were said to have visited the houses.  Soba was one of the well-known famine foods.

Address: 4 Chome-25-1 Nerima, Nerima City, Tokyo 176-0001

Phone: 03-3991-0310