Virtual Tama Aqueduct Chichibu 34 Kannon Pilgrimage #27 Io-ji Temple

 

     After Kukai (774-835) came back to Japan from China, his new esoteric teachings and literature drew scrutiny from noted priests of the time: Tokuitsu in Aizu, Dewa Province, Kochi and Kitoku in Shimotsuke Province.  Kukai and the priests traded letters back and forth in 815, clarifying their concerned ideas. The dialogues between them proved constructive and Kukai dispatched his disciples to those provinces and let the priests there copy the scriptures Kukai had brought back from China.  The priests in the Eastern Provinces, who belonged to the Nara Schools at the time, took greater interest in esoteric practice.

     On their way to the Eastern Provinces, one of Kukai's disciples carved a  Bhaisajyaguru image in Mt. Hakone.  In 832, Kukai retreated into Mt. Koya, stopped having grain and cereals, and preferred practicing Zen.  In 834, Priest Kaisei got the Bhaisajyaguru image, built a hermitage, and enshrined the image in it where it was later called Takaido.  The neighborhood became a holy place.  Its graveyard has an old itabi dates back to 1356 and another that dates back to 1400.

     The hermitage was turned into a temple by Priest Son'yu (?-1628) and was named Io-ji.

Address: 1 Chome-27-15 Kamitakaido, Suginami City, Tokyo 168-0074

Phone: 03-3302-5867