Virtual Modern Edo 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #27 Eko-in Temple

 

     Eko-in Temple was founded in 1657.  The foundation of the temple was quite modern or even unforgettable for Edo townspeople.

     Arisaema ringens is commonly called cobra lily in English, is native to Japan, and is called Musashi-abumi, namely Musashi (Province) Stirrup, since its cobra-like flower resembles a stirrup made in Musashi Province.  The flower will produce a cluster of red berries in it.  Thus, the plant name was used as a metaphor of one's hidden passion.

As Asai Ryoi (?-1691) started his narrative in 1661 as follows, the narrative was named Musashi-Abumi:  "If I don't tell, I feel pain.  If I tell you, my words would be annoying to you.  It's like musashiabumi.  I've made up my mind never to tell, but as you ask, I will roughly talk about it as if to scatter flowers in a memorial Buddhist service."  However exaggerated partly it might be, Musashiabumi became a first-rate historical document about the 1657 Meireki Great Fire, which burned 60-70 percent of Edo and killed 30-100 thousand people.

     Musashiabumi writes, "They carried charred bodies to Ushi-jima Island along the border between Musashi and Shimousa Provinces by boat.  They dug a 2-acre hole, and buried countless bodies in it.  They built a mound on it, and founded a temple, Eko-in Temple.  Before 57 days passed, priests gathered from many temples, chanted sutras, and consoled the dead's souls.  Eko-in Temple belonged to Pure Land Buddhism.  People of all ages and both sexes flocked together to the temple, chanting Namo Amitabha in loud voices as a memorial service for the dead.  The scene was noble and sacred.  As countless bodies were buried in a hole, nobody could tell where their family had been buried.  They each chose a place as they liked and put up a stupa.  'May their spirits overcome obsession and hesitation immediately.'  They presented flowers and water, recalled the deceased, and chanted Namo Amitabha tearfully.  They looked sorrowful and mournful."

     Even after the organization of the Modern Edo 33 Kannon Pilgrimage, Eko-in Temple updated itself.

     In 1793, Matsudaira Sadanobu (1759-1829), a chief senior councilor of the Tokugawa shogunate from 1787 to 1793, built a mound for aborted, stillborn or miscarried babies in the precincts of Eko-in Temple.  That was the first example of Buddhist services in Japan dedicated to such babies.

     The precincts also have mounds for dogs, cats, seals, and as such.  Why animals?

     The statue of Hayagriva, who has the head of a horse, was made for the temple to pray for the comfort of the favorite horse of Tokugawa Ietsuna (1641-1680), the 4th Shogun.

     Eko-in Temple is also the #26 member temple of the Edo Bando 33 Kannon Pilgrimage.

Address: 2 Chome-8-10 Ryogoku, Sumida City, Tokyo 130-0026

Phone: 03-3634-7776