Virtual Chichibu 34 Kannon Pilgrimage #14 Imamiya-bo Lodge

 

     People around Lake Suwa believed in a water god.  Some of them moved to Chichibu at the turn of the second century, and worshiped a spring in Mt. Buko, regarding it as their water god.  They accepted God Izanagi, He-who-invites, and Goddess Izanami, She-who-invites, as the power of the Yamato Imperial Court expanded eastward.  When Prince Oama fought for the throne against Prince Otomo in 672, Chichibu people took the side of Oama as many in eastern land did. In the course of the power struggle, they accepted 8 Naga as Buddhist icons; Ananda, Upananda, Sagara, Vasuki, Taksaka, Anavatapta, Manasvin, and Utpalaka.  Later the 8 syncretized with the 7 Shinto gods and 1 goddess; Kamimusubi, Takamimusubi, Ikumusubi, Tarumusubi, Omiyanome, Mitsuke, and Kotoshironushi.  In 825, they accepted esoteric Buddhism.  In 984, Manko-ji Temple was founded in Omiya.  In 1038, Kongo-ji Temple was founded there.  When a plague spread in 1535, they invited God Susano from Imamiya Shrine in Kyoto.  In the course of syncretism, they owned an Avalokitesvara Lodge.  After the Meiji Restoration Government issued the Gods and Buddhas Separation Order in 1868, their Shinto institutions and Buddhist institutions were separated.  The Shinto institutions became the Imamiya Shrine.  The Avalokitesvara Lodge became Imamiya-bo Lodge, and the other Buddhist institutions became independent.

Address: 25-12 Nakamachi, Chichibu, Saitama 368-0043

Phone: 0494-22-4772

Chichibu Imamiya Shrine

Address: 16-10 Nakamachi, Chichibu, Saitama 368-0043

Phone: 0494-22-3386