Virtual Western Edo 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #13 Hoon-ji Temple

     Hoon-ji Temple was founded as a pilgrims’ lodging of Saio-ji Temple (Address: 2 Chome-25-6 Shiba, Minato City, Tokyo 105-0014) in 1480 by Priest Suzan (?-1483).

     In 1476, Nagao Kageharu (1443-1514) started his rebellion against his master, Uesugi Akisada (1454-1510), who was the head of the Yamanouchi-Uesugi Family and who was the Regent of the Kanto Deputy Shogunate.  Kageharu was a pioneer of overpowering superiors in the Kanto Region.  His allies included Toshima Yasutsune, who was based in Nerima and Shakujii Castles, and Yano Hyogo, who was based in Kozukue Castle.  On the other hand, Ota Sukekiyo (1411-1488), who was based in Edo Castle, fought for the Regent and was surrounded by Yasutsune and Hyogo.  Sukekiyo gave up single-combat tactics, which were fashionable in those days, and picked up footsoldier tactics, which would be trendy in the Warring-States Period.  Sukekiyo gradually turned the tables and secured the route to Kawagoe Castle, where the Regent was based.

     In 1480, Kageharu lost his last foothold, Hino Castle in Chichibu County, Musashi Province, to Sukekiyo, and went into exile in Koga, Shimousa Province, where Ashikaga Shigeuji (1438-1497), the 5th Kanto Deputy Shogun, was based.  Sukekiyo was best credited with the victory of the Uesugi Family.  The most distinguished vassal was the most dangerous vassale.  He was assassinated by Uesugi Sadamasa (1443-1494), who was the head of the Ogigayatsu-Uesugi Family, on July 26th, 1486.  The assassination, however, drove Sadamasa’s vassals to the Yamanouchi-Uesugi Family, and disturbed the ballance of power between the 2 Uesugi Families, who fought the Chokyo War against each other from 1487 to 1505.

     Hoon-ji Temple was no more than a small hermitage when it was founded under the patronage and protection of Sukekiyo.  When the tide was high, the waves almost lapped the gate.  In the Warring-States Period, the temple was utilized to station samurai along with other temples along the Tokaido Highway.

     In 1590, Tokugawa Ieyasu (1542-1616) moved into Edo, and the Pax Tokugawa was realized.  The population of Edo increased, and Shiba became one of the most important suppliers of seafood to Edo.  The number of fishers increased.  Sea people loved Avalokitesvara and filled the temple with Avalokiteshvara statues.  The main deity of Hoon-ji Temple was an Amitabha Triad; an image of Amitabha flanked by Avalokiteshvara and Mahasthamaprapta.  The precincts also had a Kannon-do Hall with a thousand-armed Sahasrabhuja statue as its deity.  The hall had 8 more Avalokiteshvara statues.  In World War II, everything was reduced to ashes.  It was in 1980 that its main hall was rebuilt.

Address: 4 Chome-6-17 Shiba, Minato City, Tokyo 108-0014

Phone: 03-3451-0016