Virtual Modern Edo 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #9 Kiyomizu-Kannon-do Temple

 

     Kiyomizu-Kannon-do Temple was founded by Priest Tenkai (1536-1643) in 1631, and was moved to the present place in 1694.

     After Hatakeyama Yoshitsugu (1552-1585) was killed by Date Masamune (1567-1636), Funaki Kagemitsu, Yoshitugu’s vassal, became subject to Ashina Moriuji (1521-1580), and married a woman of the Ashina Clan, who gave birth to Tenkai in 1536.  He later became one of the brains of Tokugawa Ieyasu (1542-1616).  He was especially influential in shaping the religious policies of the Tokugawa Shogunate.

     Tenkai built some copy temples in Edo of those in Kyoto.  Kiyomizu-Kannon-do Temple was a copy of Kiyomizu-dera Temple in Kyoto.  Its main deity, the thousand-armed Sahasrabhuja statue, is said to have been carved by Genshin (942-1017), and also said to have been moved from Kiyomizu-dera Temple.  The statue has a set of 2 arms with their palms together, another set of 2 arms with their hands in the forms of Dhyana Mudra, and the other 40 arms, which are helping hands to all forms of life in all the Buddhist 3,000 worlds.

     Kiyomizu-Kannon-do Temple was quite modern at the time and is also the #6 member temple of the Old Edo 33 Kannon Pilgrimage.

Address: 1-29 Uenokoen, Taito Ward, Tokyo 110-0007

Phone: 03-3821-4749