Virtual Chichibu 34 Kannon Pilgrimage #10 Daiji-ji Temple

 

     It seems a statue of Arya Avalokitesvara, who is the human-figure prototype of the other 6 metamorphoses, was enshrined at the foot of Mt. Hinata (340 Ashigakubo, Yokoze, Chichibu District, Saitama 368-0071).

     A man became down and out in Settsu Province.  He sought refuge in Chichibu, and stayed in Yokoze Village.  He brought the statue to its present place in 1490.  Priest Toyu changed it to Daiji-ji Temple in 1493.

     After the Onin War (1467-1477), the authority of the Ashikaga Shogunate declined greatly and inferiors started overpowering superiors. Ashikaga Yoshihisa (1465-1489) tried hard to reestablish the power of the shogunate, and, in order to subjugate Rokkaku Takayori (?-1520), the guardian samurai of Omi Province, who had seized the territories of nobles, temples, and shrines, led an army of 20,000 and marched to Omi Province on September 12th, 1487.  Chokyo-Entoku War started.  Takayori abandoned Kannonji Castle and fled to Koga County, but continued guerrilla fighting.  Yoshihisa was held in Magari, Kurita County, Omi Province for one year and five months until his death.

     The man in Settsu Province might have been overpowered by his inferiors, but he was rather lucky.  He was lucky enough to bring large enough fortune to be called a millionaire.  Even when Mamiya Kotonobu (1777-1841) compiled the New Topography and Chronology of Musashi Province at the beginning of the 19th century, there was a place name Choja-yashiki, namely Millionaire Residence.  He was also lucky enough to drift to such a religious area as Chichibu with his Buddhist knowledge and images.

Address: 5151 Yokoze, Chichibu District, Saitama 368-0072

Phone: 0494-23-4124