Virtual Tama Aqueduct Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #23 Hosho-ji Temple

 

     Saimyo-ji Temple in Kosugi Village, Inage Manor, Tachibana County, Sagami Province, expanded its religous network and had more than 20 branch temples.  Hosho-ji Temple was one of them, and presumably was founded in the first half of the 17th century.  Although it has graves and Buddhist images which were made at the turn of the 18th century, the Great Tenpo Famine damaged its supporting village and their faith.  It became priest-less and its graveyard and documents were managed by Togaku-in Temple nearby.  The temple was unluckily caught in fire in 1886 and lost Hosho-ji Temple’s documents.  So, it is unknown exactly when it was founded and why it became a member temple of the Tama Aqueduct Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage.  Its main deity is Mahavairocana with Acalanatha and Bhaisajyaguru standing on sides.  It also keeps the statues of Kukai (774-835) and Kakuban (1095-1143), but has no Avalokitesvara statue.  Although it used to have a Kannon-do Hall, the hall became independent after World War II and is the #22 member temple of the pilgrimage.  It means Hosho-ji Temple had 2 Avalokitesvara statues under its administration.  Where has #23 deity gone?

Address: 4 Chome-39-32 Funabashi, Setagaya City, Tokyo 156-0055

Phone: 03-3482-8694

Funahashi-Kannon-do Temple

Address: 1 Chome-20-16 Funabashi, Setagaya City, Tokyo 156-0055