Virtual Western Edo 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #14 Shurin-ji Temple

 

     It is unknown when Shunrin-ji Temple was founded and when it was abolished.

     The New Edition of Musashi Edo Map was published in Kyoto in 1663 by Kono Michikiyo, who was the publisher of Musashiabumi.

     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 painful.  If I tell, I might sound annoying.  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  However exaggerated partly it might be, Musashiabumi became a first-rate historical document about the 1657 Meireki Great Fire, which burned 60-70 percent of Edo and killed 30-100 thousand people.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 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."

     After all, Michikiyo wanted to let the whole nation know what happened in the 1657 Meireki Great Fire, and how Edo recovered.

     According to the New Edition of Musashi Edo Map, Mita was an urban district, and Shunrin-ji Temple was located at the south corner of Mita 4 Chome.

Address: 4 Chome-1 Mita, Minato City, Tokyo 108-0073