Virtual Yamanote 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #6 Daiji-ji Temple

 

     Daiji-ji Temple was founded at Otsuka, Koishikawa Village, Toshima County, Musashi Province, in the latter half of the 14th century.  It was revived by Nun Shuncho (1570-1661) in the middle of the 17th century, and was abolished at the turn of the 20th century.

     Due to the Koishikawa Buddhist Federation, the stone monuments Daiji-ji Temple had are displayed in the Otsuka Park.

     Gyobukyo (1570-1661) was born as a daughter of Azai Nagamasa (1545-1573).  She became a wetnurse of Princess Sen (1597-1666), a daughter of Tokugawa Hidetada (1579-1632).  When Princess Sen was married to Toyotomi Hideyori (1593-1613) in 1603, Gyobukyo moved to Osaka Castle with the princess.

     In the Siege of Osaka Castle in 1614 and 1615, Sen fled from the castle on the palanquin prepared by Lady Yodo (1567-1615) with Shuncho and other maids.

     After the death of her husband, Hideyori, Honda Tadatoki (1596-1626) was chosen as a new husband for Sen.  To break the marital relationship with Hideyori, Sen perfunctorily became a Buddhist nun in Mantoku-ji Temple (Address: 382-2 Tokugawacho, Ota City, Gunma Prefecture; Phone: 0276-20-7090).  In reality, it was Gyobukyo who became a nun.  She came to be called with her Buddhist posthumous name, Shuncho.

     Sen gave birth to a girl, Katsu, in 1618, and to a boy, Kochiyo, in 1619.  Her happy days, however, didn’t last long.  Kochiyo died in 1621.  Tadatoki died on May 7th, 1626, and his mother, Kuma, died on June 25th.  People were afraid of Hideyori’s curse, and sent Sen back to Edo.  Gyobukyo or Shuncho joined her at Edo Castle.  The Kan'ei Great Famine broke out in 1640 and lasted into 1643.  In 1644, the Ming Dynasty collapsed in China.  Sen left the castle to keep the curse away from it and the Tokugawa Shogunate, and moved to the Takebashi Palace, which was burned down in the 1657 Great Fire of Meireki.  In 1661, Gyobukyo or Shuncho died.  On February 6th, 1666, Sen passed away.  Was she happy?

Address: 4 Chome−46−9 Otsuka, Bunkyo City Tokyo 112-0012

Otsuka Park

Address: 4 Chome-49 Otsuka, Bunkyo City, Tokyo 112-0012

Phone: 03-5803-1252