Virtual Chichibu 34 Kannon Pilgrimage #16 Saiko-ji Temple

 

     A solitary old woman was living alone and dying alone.  She visited Nun En and asked the nun to be present at her death and to pray for the comfort of her in the other world in exchange for her thousand-armed Sahasrabhuja image.  The nun accepted her proposal.

It is unknown when Saiko-ji Temple was founded, but it was largely reorganized after the Tenmei eruption in 1783.  The eruption of Mt. Asama killed about 1,500–1,624 people and destroyed almost all the crops in Shinano and Kozuke Provinces.  Volcanic ashes even covered Edo.  Chichibu County must have been damaged largely. 

     Presumably, the Thousand-Armed Sahasrabhuja statue was brought to the temple then.

Address: 4 Chome-8-21 Nakamuramachi,  Chichibu, Saitama 368-0051

Phone: 0494-22-4444