Virtual Tama Aqueduct Chichibu 34 Kannon Pilgrimage #6 Joen-ji Temple

 

     It is unknown when and by whom Joen-ji Temple was founded.  The Priest Ryoken (?-1679) revived it.

     Under the Tokugawa Shogunate, all the domain governments were to register their people.  In 1664, the shogunate further ordered to add information on people's religions.  The registration system was completed in 1671.

     Tightening control over people’s religions meant an opportunity for authorized Buddhist sects and schools to increase the number of their branch temples.  Ryoken took the opportunity and revived Joen-ji Temple on one of those days.

     The Vajrapani statue is enshrined in the precincts.  The statue was brought from Kannonkyo-ji Temple (Address: 298 Shibayama, Sambu District, Chiba 289-1619, Phone: 0479-77-0004), and is said to have been carved by Visvakarman, who is a craftsman deity and the divine architect of the devas in contemporary Hinduism.

     The precincts also have the statue of Monk Tansho (1810-?), who was born in Utsunomiya and advocated for Kosho-nenbutsu in the area.  In Kosho-nenbutsu, they loudly chant a prayer to Buddha, striking a Buddhist wooden drum.   When they strike a drum, they raise a stick over their head, and strike the drum with all their might.  They keep chanting for an hour.  Kosho-nenbutsu’s center is Shinsho-ji Temple at Misaki, Isumi County, Chiba Prefecture.  The performance was first propagated to Shindai-ji Temple in Chofu City today.

     Joen-ji Temple is also the #17 member temple of the Tama River 34 Kannon Pilgrimage.

Address: 1 Chome−52−4 Shimoishiwara, Chofu, Tokyo 182-0034

Phone: 042-482-3611