Virtual Tama Aqueduct Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #28 Jotoku-in Temple

 

     The Tama Aqueduct Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #28 Jotoku-in Temple was founded in 1489 in Funasaka Village, Tama County, Musashi Province, to pray for the comfort of the late 9th Shogun, Ashikaga Yoshihisa (1465-1489), by Priest Eiken (?-1494), supported by the Utsumi and Suzuki Families in the village.  They were both half-samurai and half-farmer.

Kira Shigetaka moved Jotoku-ji Temple to Miyasaka Village in the same county to religiously guard Setagaya Fortress, preferring its relationship with the Ashikaga Clan.  Although Shigetaka moved the temple-ship of Jotoku-ji, he left its statue of Arya Avalokitesvara, who is the human-figure prototype of the other 6 metamorphoses, in Funasaka Village for the Utsumi and Suzuki Families.  Instead, he enshrined an Eleven-Faced Ekadasamukha statue  which had been carved by Ennin (794-864).

     Who was Kira Shigetaka?

     Although Ashikaga Osauji (1211-1290) was the eldest son of Yoshiuji (1189-1255), as his mother was a maidservant, he became subject to the family.  After 1241, he left Kamakura and moved to Kira Manor in Mikawa Province to become the guardian samurai of the manor.  Since then, he called his family Kira.  In 1345, Kira Sadaie moved to Mutsu to fight for the Northern Court against the Kitabatake Family.  In 1553, he finally occupied Taga Castle in Mutsu.  His second son, Haruie, lost in infighting of the family and ran away to Akima Village, Usui County, Kozuke Province.  He was picked by Ashikaga Motouji (1340-1367), the first Kando Deputy Shogun.  Haruie's offspring, Shigetaka, settled in Setagaya Fortress, Ebara County, Musashi Province.

     Kira Ujitomo (1543-1603) presented some rice fields to the temple in 1573.  He was sent to the Kira Family by the Later Hojo Clan to take over the family and their territory.

Address: 2 Chome-1-11 Miyasaka, Setagaya City, Tokyo 156-0051

Phone: 03-3420-1015