Virtual Yamanote 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #26 Kensho-ji Temple

 

     Kensho-ji Temple was founded by Priest Kenshu (?-1653) in 1611 around where the Ushigome Gate of Edo Castle was later built.  When the outer moat was expanded and the gate was built, the temple was moved to its present place.

     In February, 1653, the Tokugawa Shogunate issued a restriction on leaving home for 5 to 7 days when winds blew and ordered townspeople to be careful with fire.  In the month, however, a fire broke out in Aoyama, and spread to the area around Kensho-ji Temple.

     The temple treasures a chopping board which was presented by a supporting member of the temple.  Kukai (774-835) practiced religious austerities around Shikoku in his 20’s.  Later, his footprints there were organized as the Shikoku Pilgrimage.  Anyway, when he visited Takaoka County, Tosa Province, he stayed at a private house.  He inscribed Namo'mitabhaya Buddhaya on their chopping board for letting him stay at their house.  Centuries later, their offspring moved to Osaka after the Meiji Restoration, and then to Tokyo.  They could hardly make a living, and mortgaged the chopping board to borrow some money from a restaurant.  Decades later, the owner’s descendant, who was the mother of Kokontei Imasuke (1898-1976), a famous comic storyteller, presented the board to the temple in 1934 to commemorate the 1,100th death anniversary of Kukai.

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