Akigawa 34 Kannon Pilgrimage

 

     On December 23rd, the 1854 Tokai Earthquake broke out.  It caused a damaging tsunami.  More than 10,000 buildings were destroyed and at least 2,000 were killed.

On December 24th, the 1854 Nankai Earthquake occurred.  It also caused a damaging tsunami.  More than 30,000 buildings were destroyed and at least 3,000 were killed.

     In February, 1855, Priest Kaigen organized the Akigawa 34 Kannon Pilgrimage firstly to give locals the sense of peace and security and secondly to financially support their member temples by increasing the number of their visitors, copying the Chichibu 34 Kannon Pilgrimage.

     However, on November 11th, 1855, the Ansei Edo Earthquake struck Edo and caused 6,641 deaths inside the city alone.  Much of the city was destroyed by fire, leading many people to stay in rural inns and temples including those of the Akigawa 34 Kannon Pilgrimage.  The incident might have left the effectiveness of organizing the pilgrimage questionable.  The pilgrimage didn't become popular, and some member temples were even abolished after the collapse of the Tokugawa Shogunate.  The collapse might have been hastened by the earthquakes and their aftermath.