Virtual Western Edo 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #29 Sho’nen-ji Temple

     Sho'nen-ji Temple was founded as a hermitage with its name Sesshu-in, namely Ingestion Hermitage, in 1615, and was changed into a temple in 1652 by Priest Ryoko.

     Early in the afternoon on February 29th, 1772, Monk Shinshu set fire to Daien-ji Temple (Address: 1 Chome-8-5 Shimomeguro, Meguro City, Tokyo 153-0064).  The fire was fueled by the strong south-western winds, and spread to Azabu, Kyobashi, and Nihonbashi.  The fire burned169 daimyo residences, 170 bridges, and 382 temples.  14,700 people were killed and 4,000 went missing in the fire which was later named the Meiwa Great Fire.  Sho’nen-ji Temple was burnt down in the fire, and the details of its foundation was missed.

     Shinshu was arrested by Hasagawa Nobuo (1719-1773), who was the chief of Hitsuke-Tozoku-Aratame-kata, the police specialized in arresting arsonists and robbers.  The institution is much well known with his son, Nobutame (1745-1795), who is the main character in 135 stories titled Onihei-Hanka-cho written by Ikenami Shotaro (1923-1990).  After his arrest in April, Shinshu was burned at the stake in Kozukahara on June 21st.

     After the fire, the temple was revived by Priest Jissei (?-1774).

     The precincts of Sho'nen-ji Temple have a Kannon-do Hall which enshrines the statue of Arya Avalokitesvara, who is the human-figure prototype of the other 6 metamorphoses.

Address: 3 Chome-9 Minamiazabu, Minato City, Tokyo 106-0047