Virtual Modern Edo 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #22 Tofuku-ji Temple

 

     When Minamoto Tsunemoto (?-961) made a campaign to hunt down Taira Masakado (?-940), he built a fort in the Yamori Manor. When Minamoto Yoshiie (1039- 1106) carried out a campaign to hunt down Kiyohara Tskehira (?-1087), he stayed in the manor. Chichibu Taketsuna, who ruled the Chichibu Stock Farm, and his son, Shigetsuna, joined Yoshiie's army at the manor. After the triumph against Kiyohira in Mutsu Province, Yoshiie gave the manor to the Chichibu Family. The family founded Hachiman-gu Shrine and its shrine temple, Shin'o-in, literally Prince Temple, since Yoshiie's ancestor Mototsune was a former prince. Shigetuna's son, Shigekuni, came to live in the Yamori Manor and changed the temple's name to Ensho-ji. Later, he came to call his family Shibuya. The temple enshrines a thousand-armed Sahasrabhuja statue which is said to have been given from Yoshiie to Taketsuna.

     The Bhaisajyaguru statue Tofuku-ji Temple enshrines is said to have come from Dragon King's Palace. Lady Tokiwa (1138-1180) gave it to her son, Minamoto Yoritomo (1147-1199). He then granted it to Tosanobo Shoshun (1141-1185). In 1185, Yoritomo made up his mind to kill his brother, Yoshitsune (1159-1189), and dispatched Shoshun to Kyoto. Shoshun left Kamakura on October 9th. He attacked the residence of Yoshitsune on 17th unsuccessfully, and took refuge in Kurama-dera Temple. Before he was captured by Yoshitsune and his head was cut off and exposed to the public in the Rokujo Riverbank, he left the statue enshrined in the temple. In 1200, Shibuya Takashige (?-1213), the son of Shigekuni, was dispatched to Omi Province by the Kamakura Shogunate to kill Kashiwabara Tamenaga (?-1201). Takashige brought the statue back to the Kanto Region, and enshrined it in Ensho-ji Temple.

     The temple keeps an iron clasp with a gourd inlay which is said to have been owned by Mototsune, and a sword which is said to have been owned by Taketsuna.

     It is unknown when Ensho-ji became Tofuku-ji, and why the organizer of the Modern Edo 33 Kannon Pilgrimage regarded it as modern.

Address: 3 Chome-5-8 Shibuya, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-0002

Phone: 03-3409-7913