Virtual Sayama 33 Kannon Pilgrimag #9 Baigan-ji Temple

 

     Kannon-ji Temple was founded in Yako in 1398, when the second Kanto Deputy Shogun, Ashikaga Ujimitsu (1359-1398) died at the age of 39.

     In 1379, infighting within the central shogunate broke out.  Ujimitsu had an ambition to become a central shogun and tried to advance to Kyoto.  Uesugi Noriharu (?-1379), the Regent of the Kanto Deputy Shogunate, tried to persuade him not to, and finally killed himself to stop him on March 7th.  Ujimitsu still appointed Noriharu's brother, Norimasa (1335-1394), as the general of the Kanto Deputy Shogunate Army on March 21st.  Norimasa left Kamakura but stopped in Izu Province.  Ujimitsu finally gave up his ambition for the time being.  Norimasa became the next Regent on April 15th, and returned to Kamakura on the 28th of the same month.  The relationship among the central shogunate, the deputy shogunate, and its regent became delicate.

The temple and its main deity, the Arya Avalokitesvara statue, burned down in the Warring States Period, and was revived by Priest Donken (?-1652) at the beginning of the Tokugawa Period.  Presumably, the temple was renamed Baigan-ji at the time.

     After the Meiji Restoration, the temple merged the Sayama 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #10 Ryukoku-ji Temple.

Address: 5 Chome−２４−6 Kumegawacho, Higashimurayama, Tokyo 189-0003

Phone: 042-391-0230