Virtual Modern Edo 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #8 Anraku-ji Temple

 

     Anraku-ji Temple was founded by Priest Iteki at Shitaya-Sakamoto in 1627, and was moved to Shitaya-Kanasugi in 1693 by Chokuo.  Who was Chokuo?  If he was Tamura Chokuo, who lived at the beginning of the Edo Period, he painted falcons and one of his works is kept in Tokai-ji Temple (Address: 3 Chome−11−9 Kitashinagawa, Shinagawa City, Tokyo 140-0001).

     The Arya Avalokitesvara statue is enshrined in Kannon-do Hall in Anraku-ji Temple.  It was carved by Genshin (942-1017).  As he chiseled once, he made 3 prayers.  It used to be enshrined at Shimo-Gamo, Kyoto.  During the Warring States Period, temples in Kyoto were burned down, and some images of Buddhas were kept in the houses of ordinary people.  

     One day, Prince Sonko (1645-1680) was impressed with one of them, and he brought it to Edo and gave it to Anraku-ji Temple.  The prince was the 12th son of Emperor Go-Mizuo (1596-1680), the first emperor under the Tokugawa Shogunate.  In February, 1651, the prince became an adopted son of Tokugawa Iemitsu (1604-1651), the third shogun.  Iemitsu died in April.  After the shogun’s death, the prince visited Edo in 1662.  Was that a political coordination between the shogunate and the Imperial Court? Or a hostage?

     The temple burned down on January 29th, 1842, by an accidental fire by themselves.

     The foundation of the temple was quite modern for Edo people.

     Anraku-ji Temple is also the #5 member temple of the Old Edo 33 Kannon Pilgrimage.

Address: 4 Chome-1-3 Negishi, Taito City, Tokyo 110-0003

Phone: 03-3872-3863