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Virtual Bando 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #9 Jiko-ji Temple

 

     According to tradition, in 673, Jikun (691-777), a priest of Kofuku-ji Temple, enshrined Thousand-Armed Sahasrabhuja, and later, in 770, Priest Dochu founded Jiko-ji Temple.  Dochu studied under Jianchen (688-763), who came to Japan from Tang China, and visited eastern provinces to preach what he had learned from Jianchen.

Address: 386 Nishidaira, Tokigawa, Hiki District, Saitama 355-0364

Phone: 0493-67-0040

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Virtual Bando 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #8 Shokoku-ji Temple

 

     A well used to be in a hill where Zama Yatotama Park is located.  Even in daylight, stars twinkles at the bottom of the well.  People called the hollow of the hill Hoshinoya, namely Stars' Valley.  Arya Avalokitesvara, who is the human-figure prototype of the other 6 metamorphoses, was enshrined near the well.

     Later, Shokoku-ji Temple, namely, Star Valley Temple, was founded at the western foot of the hill.  The original hall for the Arya Avalokitesvara was burned down sometime between 1185 and 1333, and the image was moved to Shokuku-ji Temple.

Address: 3 Chome−12 Iriya, Zama, Kanagawa 252-0029

Phone: 046-251-2266

Zama Yatoyama Park

Address: 1 Chome 6-1 Iriyahigashi, Zama, Kanagawa 252-0028

Phone: 046-257-8388

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Virtual Bando 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #7 Komyo-ji Temple

 

     According to Tazoe Hidenori, who was a vassal of Matsudaira Munetoshi, the lord of Hamamatsu castle, a fisher in Koiso, Yorogi County, Sagami Province, found an image of Arya Avalokitesvara, who is the human-figure prototype of the other 6 metamorphoses.  He enshrined the image at home.  Several years later, Priest Dogi changed the home into a temple and named it Komyo-ji.  The original image was about 20 centimeters tall.  Gyoki (668-749) was said to have carved a cover statue of Arya Avalokitesvara for the image.  The cover statue is about 180 centimeters tall.  Then, Unkei made (?-1223) a display statue of Arya Avalokitesvara, which is about 1 meter tall.

Address: 896 Minamikaname, Hiratsuka, Kanagawa 259-1201

Phone: 0463-58-0127

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Virtual Bando 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #6 Chokoku-ji Temple

     There was a spring in Iiyama Village, Aiko County, Sagami Province.  An image of Eleven-Faced Ekadasamukha made of Jambunada-suvarna appeared from the spring in the 720's.  A hut was built to enshrine the image.  In 807, the hut was changed into a temple.

     Tradition says, Minamoto Yoritomo (1147-1199) ordered Adachi Yoshikage (1210-1253) to revive the temple.  However, as you see, if it had been Yoritomo that ordered, he must have ordered Yoshikage's father, Kagemori (?-1248).  If it had been Yoshikage who was ordered, it must have been the third Shogun, Sanetomo (1192-1219), who ordered.

Address: 5605 Iiyama, Atsugi Kanagawa 243-0213

Phone: 046-241-1635

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Virtual Bando 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #5 Shofuku-ji Temple

 

     Dokyo (700-772) was born in Wakae County, Kawachi Province, in 700.  When he was young, he became a disciple of Gien (643-728), a high priest of the Hosso Sect, and learned Sanskrit from Roben (689-774).

     In 761, when the capital was temporarily moved to Hora in Omi Province for the renovation of the Heijo Palace, he attended and nursed the sick retired Empress Koken (718-770).  Thereafter, he received her favor.  As he was favored by the Empress, there have been views that he had an affair with the Empress and that he had a big cock.  However, these views came to be made after the 9th century, and we have no reliable contemporary documents.

     Emperor Junnin (733-765) criticized Koken on this matter, Koken and Junnin became incompatible.

     In 764, Fujiwara Nakamaro (704-764), the Prime Minister, was killed when he staged a military coup against the Empress and Dokyo.  As a result, Dokyo was appointed the Prime Minister.  The following year, he became pope and promoted policies based on Buddhist ideals.

     After the death of Koken, Dokyo was appointed as the priest of Yakushi-ji Temple in Shimotsuke Province on August 21st, 770.  Actually, he was shunted to the remote province.  On his way to the province, he left the Eleven-Faced Ekadasamukha statue, which had been given to him by Koken, in Chiyo Village, Ashigara County, Sagami Province.  He died in Shimotsuke Province in 722.

     In 830, the statue was moved to its present place, where Shofuku-ji Temple was founded after the 14th century.  The temple was supported by the Later Hojo Clan in the 16th century.

Address: 1161 Iizumi, Odawara, Kanagawa 250-0863

Phone: 0465-47-3413

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Virtual Bando 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #4 Hase-dera Temple

 

     Fujiwara Fuhito (659-720) had 4 sons: Muchimaro (680-737), who became the Prime Minister, Fusasaki (681-737), Umakai (694-737), and Maro (695-737), who all became ministers. 

     Fusasaki's political ability was the best among his brothers.  In 703, when he was in his early twenties, he became a regional inspector for the first time after the enforcement of the Ritsuryo Code in 701, and conducted administrative inspection of the Tokaido Region.  In September, 709, he was appointed as a regional inspector of both Tokai and Tozan Regions, and was again in charge of the regional patrol duty.  In 736, he invited Priest Tokudo and founded Hase-dera Temple in Kamakura, enshrining the statue of Eleven-Faced Ekadasamukha.  According to a legend, Tokudo carved 2 Ekadasamukha statues out of a camphor tree in Yamato Province.  He enshrined one of the two in Hase-dera Temple in the province, and brought the other to Kamakura.

Address: 3 Chome-11-2 Hase, Kamakura, Kanagawa 248-0016

Phone: 0467-22-6300

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Virtual Bando 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #3 An'yo-in Temple

 

     Tashiro-ji Temple was founded by Tashiro Nobutsuna in Hikigayatsu in 1192.  It enshrined the #3 deity of the Bando 33 Kannon Pilgirmage, the Thousand-Armed Sahasrabhuja statue.

On February 16th, 1220, a big fire broke out in Kamakura.  It burned from the beach in the south to the residence of Hojo Yasutoki (1183-1242) in the north.  After the fire, commercial areas were confined to Omachi (namely Big Town), Komachi (literally Small Town), and the other 5 minor districts.

     Priest Sonkan founded Zendo-ji Temple in Omachi.  Meanwhile, Choraku-ji Temple was founded by Hojo Masako (1157-1225) to pray for the comfort of her late husband, Minamoto Yoritomo (1147-1199), in the other world in 1225 in Hasesasamegayatsu.  Choraku-ji Temple was burned down in 1333, when Nitta Yoshisada (1301-1338) invaded Kamakura and destroyed the Kamakura Shogunate, and was merged to Zendo-ji Temple, which was renamed An'yo-in.  In the Edo Period (1603-1867), Tashiro-ji Temple was merged to An'yo-in Temple.

Address: 3 Chome-1-22 Omachi, Kamakura, Kanagawa 248-0007

Phone: 0467-22-0806

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Virtual Bando 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #2 Ganden-ji Temple

 

     When Priest Tokudo (656-735) visited a hill in Kamakura, he found a cave in it.  A ray of the sun beamed into the cave, and he saw Eleven-Faced Ekadasamukha on its rock wall. 

Later, Gyoki (668-749) visited the cave and engraved Eleven-Faced Ekadasamukha on the wall. 

     It is believed Emperor Kazan (968-1008), who organized the Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage, visited the cave on March 17th, 990, after his retirement in 986.  Emperor Go-Shirakawa (1127-1192), who organized the Rakuyo 33 Kannon Pilgrimage, is also believed to have visited the cave on April 18th, 1174.  As he left Kyoto on March 16th to visit Itsukushima Shrine in Aki Province and also visited Engyo-ji Temple in Harima Province on April 3rd on his way back to Kyoto, it's totally impossible, considering the transportation conditions in those days.  Someone might have wanted to show off Ganden-ji Temple itself or the Bando 33 Kannon Pilgrimage at large.

     It is unknown when Ganden-ji Temple, namely Rock Hall Temple, was founded.

Address: 5 Chome-7-11 Hisagi, Zushi, Kanagawa 249-0001

Phone: 046-871-2268

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Virtual Bando 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #1 Sugimoto-dera Temple

 

     In 734, Empress Asukabe (701-760) heard an oracle from Avalokitesvara, “The central rule hasn’t spread to eastern provinces yet.  I wish you to contribute treasure to save  people.”  To establish public order in eastern provinces, she ordered Fujiwara Fusasaki (681-737), who was her brother and a minister, and Gyoki (668-749) to build temples there.  Gyoki enshrined an eleven-faced Ekadasamukha statue in Kamakura.  Its hall came to be called Okura Kannon-do Hall.

     On November 23rd, 1189, the temple burned down, but Monk Jodai rescued the Ekadasamukha statue from the fire and saved it under a Japanese cedar tree.  Thereafter, the temple came to be called Sugimoto-dera, namely, Under Ceder Temple.  In 1191, Minamoto Yoritomo (1147-1199) visited the ruins of the fire, and donated repair expenses.

     Kitabatake Akiie (1318-1338) was appointed to be a chief of the Mutsu Province on August 5th, 1333, and moved there with his expeditionary force on October 10th in the same year. He managed to bring the region under his control by the end of the next year.  He carried out 2 campaigns from the province to Kyoto to restore Imperial rule.

     Ashikaga Takauji (1305-1358) appointed Ashikaga Ienaga (1321-1338) as the General of Mutsu Province in 1335 to contain Akiie.  Ienaga moved to Shiba County in the province and then called his family Shiba.

     On December 22nd, Akiie left Mutsu Province with a 50,000-strong army to Kyoto to fight against Takauji.  On January 2nd, 1336, Akiie attacked Kamakura, defeated the forces of Ashikaga Yoshiakira (1330-1367), the 3rd son of Takauji, and Momoi Naotsune (?-1376), and occupied Kamakura.  The next day, Akiie left Kamakura and continued to advance to Kyoto.  On January 6th he reached Totomi Province, and, on January 12th, he reached Aichi River in Omi Province.  Akiie's army moved an average of about 40 kilometers a day, running a long distance of 600 kilometers in just half a month.  That was the fastest march in Japan.  Akiie's army crossed Lake Biwa in a day and had an audience with Emperor Godaigo in Sakamoto.  Finally, on January 30th, he defeated Takauji and succeeded in forcing him to leave Kyoto.

     On March 24th, Akiie left Kyoto to return to Mutsu Province.  Ienaga obstructed Akiie but couldn't stop him.

     In his second advance to Kyoto from Mutsu Province, Akiie invaded Kamakura again, and Ienaga, the Regent of the Kamakura Office of the Ashikaga Shogunate, lost to Akiie and killed himself in Sugimoto-dera Temple.

     What happened to Akiie?

     Akiie was, officially speaking, killed by the Northern Court army led by Ko Moronao (?-1351) at the bank of Ishizu River on May 22nd, 1338.  Tradition says Akiie was killed in Abeno on the 16th. Some suggest he was fatally injured in Abeno on the 16th and died somewhere between Abeno and Ishizu by the 22nd.  At least Kitabatake's soldiers retreated to Wada in today's Izumi City temporarily and advanced back to Ishizu on the 22nd.

     In the Abeno area, Kitabatake Park, which has 4 memorial monuments for Akiie, is just a 10-minute walk from Abeno Shrine, which promotes Akiie to attract visitors.  You can find a tiny shallow valley running north-south between the park and the shrine, or between the hills they stand on. The two hills must have been within a battlefield.  Akiie might have occupied either hill top to command a view of the battlefield, Moronao the other. If Akiie had been killed in the Battle of Abeno, he must have been killed somewhere between the hills.

     It was certain Nambu Moroyuki (?-1338), Akiie's right hand, was killed in the Battle of Ishizu on the 22nd.

     Sugimoto-dera Temple is also the #1 member temple of the New Kamakura 33 Kannon Pilgrimage.

Address: 903 Nikaido, Kamakura, Kanagawa 248-0002

Phone: 0467-22-3463

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Bando 33 Kannon Pilgrimage

 

     After Emperor Go-Shirakawa (1127-1192) organized Rakuyo 33 Kannon Pilgrimage, the first copy of Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage, the second copy was planned by Minamoto Yoritomo (1147-1199), the first Shogun of the Kamakura Shogunate and the political rival against Emperor Go-Shirakawa, and was actually organized by Minamoto Sanetomo (1192-1219), the third Shogun, who was unluckily assassinated by his nephew.

     The Bando 33 Kannon Pilgrimage is a series of 33 Buddhist temples in Kanto Region, sacred to Avalokitesvara.  Bando is the old name for what is now the Kanto Region.  The 33 member temples are all in Kanagawa, Saitama, Tokyo, Gunma, Ibaraki, Tochigi and Chiba Prefectures.

     In 1192, when Yoritomo performed the 49th-day Buddhist memorial service for Emperor Go-Shirakawa (1127-1192) at Minami-mido Hall in Kamakura, 100 priests were invited from Musashi and Sagami Provinces.  21 of them were from Sugimoto-ji Temple, Iwadono-ji Temple, Shofuku-ji Temple, Komyo-ji Temple, Jiko-ji Temple, and Senso-ji Temple, which later became member temples of the Bando 33 Kannon Pilgrimage.  At this time, there might have been talks about the establishment of the pilgrimage.  It is believed that Priest Jodaibo of Sugimoto-ji Temple, Priest Gan’yo of Jiko-ji Temple, and Choei of Gumyo-ji Temple actively cooperated for the realization of the idea.

     It is believed Minamoto Yoritomo (1147-1199) decided to organize the pilgrimage and his son, Sanetomo (1192-1219), actually did.  As Yoritomo was the first Shogun of the Kamakura Shogunate, the first samurai administration in Japan, and Sanetomowas the third, they might have wanted to compete with the Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage, which had been organized around Kyoto.

     A document about the the construction of the Avalokitesvara statue Todokobetsu Shrine in Yatsuki Village, Higashishirakawa County, Fukushima Prefecture, tells us that, just 15 years after the death of Sanetomo, Monk Joben actually visited the Bando 33 Kannon Pilgrimage, stayed in the Bando 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #21 Yamizo Kannon-do Hall in Hitachi Province, and carved the statue for the shrine.

     Why 33?

     According to Lotus Sutra Chapter XXV, Avalokitesvara, to save people, manifest herself/himself/itself: #1 into the form of a buddha, #2 into the form of a pratyekabuddha, #3 into the form of a sravaka, #4 into the form of Brahma, #5 into the form of Sakra, #6 into the form of isvara, #7 into the form of Mahesvara, #8 into the form of the great commander of the devas, #9 into the form of Vaisravana, #10 into the form of a minor king, #11 into the form of a wealthy man, #12 into the form of a householder, #13 into the form of a state official, #14 into the form of a brahman, #15 into the form of a monk, #16 into the form of a nun, #17 into the form of a layman, #18 into the form of a  laywoman, #19 into the form of a wife of a wealthy man, #20 into the form of a wife of a householder, #21 into the form of a wife of a state official, #22 into the form of a wife of a brahman, #23 into the form of a boy, #24 into the form of a girl, #25 into the form of a deva, #26 into the form of naga, #27 into the form of yaksa, #28 into the form of gandharva, #29 into the form of asura, #30 into the form of garuda, #31 into the form of kimnara, #32 into the form of mahoraga, or #33 into the form of Vajrapani. 

     Many of the forms, or manifestations, are an enumeration of occupations at the time of Buddha.  Thus most of the 33 manifestations haven't been carved into Buddhism statues or painted in Buddhism pictures in Japan.  Instead, the number 33 became significant to Avalokitesvara believers in Japan.

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Virtual Chichibu 34 Kannon Pilgrimage #34 Suisen-ji Temple

 

     A volcanic island in the south around today's Hawaii ceased its activity and was eroded and covered with coral reefs. The seamount, laden with coral-formed limestone, was pushed north by plate movements and dragged deep into a trench. It was pressed against the continental plate, was peeled off from the ocean plate, and eventually rose and appeared on the surface of the earth. It formed a mountain, Mt. Buko. The Hinozawa area has a limestone cave with a brook running in it. People went through the cave and washed their bodies with the water to purify themselves. Eventually, a temple was founded in front of the cave, and it was named Suisen-ji, namely Going-underwater Temple.

Address: 3522 Shimohinozawa, Minano, Chichibu District, Saitama 369-1625

Phone: 0494-62-3999 

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Virtual Chichibu 34 Kannon Pilgrimage #33 Chofuku-ji Temple

 

     Eight robbers once settled in the nearby Hachinin Pass. One day, a Buddhist monk passed by. The robbers tried to rob the monk of all that he had, but were paralyzed by the Buddhist power of the monk. They suffered a torment, and finally apologized to the monk. The monk explained their faults, saying, "If you continue your evil deeds, you will surely fall into hell. The suffering in hell is far more painful than the suffering this time." The monk gave them the Avalokitesvara statue and left. After that, they changed their minds, put the Avalokitesvara statue in a hut, and lived a normal life.

     In the 1560's, Nagao Kagetora (1530-1578) in Echigo Province and Takeda Harunobu (1521-1573) invaded the Kanto Region to solve their domestic starvation. In September, 1569, the Takeda army invaded Musashi Province. The Takeda Clan, who actively attempted to advance into the Kanto Region, mainly used the Usui Pass between Shinano and Kozuke Provinces, but their troops also used Karisaka Pass between Kai Province and Chichibu County. In the battles, the hut was completely burned down. Then, the Avalokitesvara statue was moved to a nearby hermitage called Chofuku-an. In 1592, Priest Kendo (?-1615) made it the temple and named it Chofuku-ji.

Address: 1104 Shimoyoshida, Chichibu, Saitama 369-1503

Phone: 0494-77-0233

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Virtual Chichibu 34 Kannon Pilgrimage #32 Hosho-ji Temple

 

     Behind the Kannon-do of Hosho-ji Temple, there is a large rock cave with many honeycomb-like holes inside.  The honeycomb structure was formed as the salts in the rock seeped out to the surface, the salt water evaporated, salt crystals grew, and the growth broke down the surface of the rock.  For its strange look, it must have been a holy or mysterious place since prehistoric times.

     There is also a huge sandstone cliff called Ofuneiwa, namely Ship Rock, that protrudes like the bow of a ship.  At the edge of the rock, there is an Avalokitesvar statue pulling on a paddle.

     Legend has it that Avalokitesvara arrived at Chichibu on a boat.

     Did prehistoric mountain people know of a ship?  No way!  Did ancient mountain people know of a ship?  Possibly not.  It could have been newcomers that invented the legend.

     According to tradition, Hosho-ji Temple was founded in the 8th century.  It was documented that the temple was revived by Priest Gensatsu in 1232.

Address: 2661 Hannya, Ogano, Chichibu District, Saitama 368-0103

Phone: 0494-75-3200

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Virtual Chichibu 34 Kannon Pilgrimage #31 Kannon-in Temple

      About 17 million years ago, or in the Miocene epoch in Neogene period, Chichibu Basin subsided and the sea began to enter, sandstone piled up on the seabed.  The rock face surrounding Kannon-in Temple is the lowest stratum in the Chichibu Basin and is made of sandstone mixed with quartz and feldspar pebbles. It was deposited when the Chichibu Basin sank and the sea began to enter.  You can also see a thin foliage-like layer that shows the traces of water flow on the seabed during deposition.  Stone Buddhas are enshrined in rock caves here and there, and you can feel that the Chichibu 34 Kannon Pilgrimage originated from mountain asceticism.

     Hatakeyama Shigetada (1164-1205) found an image of Arya Avalokitesvara, who is the human-figure prototype of the other 6 metamorphoses, in the nest of a hawk.  He enshrined the image in front of the rock face.  Kannon-ji Temple is the westernmost temple among the Chichibu 34 Kannon Pilgrimage and is the most difficult to reach.  The Kannon-do Hall is located halfway up Mt.Kannon, which is about 700 meters above sea level.  There are 296 steps leading up to the temple gate.  From there, you will find the Kannon-doHall, which is housed in a cave.

Address: 2211 Iida, Ogano, Chichibu District, Saitama 368-0111

Phone: 0494-75-3300

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Virtual Chichibu 34 Kannon Pilgrimage #30 Houn-ji Temple

 

     An Lushan rebelled against the Tang Dynasty in winter 755, and quickly reached and captured Luoyang.  An's forces advanced on Chang'an, the capital, on July 14th, 756.  Emperor Xuanzong (685-762) fled with Consort Yang Guifei (719-756).  The following day, the imperial guards accompanying the emperor forced the emperor to kill Consort Yang.  After her death, according to a legend, the emperor carved an image of Cintamanicakra, who usually has 6 arms and holds chintamani (a wish-fulfilling jewel) in one of the six.  The 40 centimeters tall image crossed the East China Sea somehow sometime, and arrived at a cave in Chichibu.  About half a millennium later, Houn-ji Temple was founded in front of the cave.  The temple claims it also keeps Yang Guifei's mirror.  The Rakuyo 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #20 Yokihi Kannon-do Hall also has the legendary statue of Arya Avalokitesvara, who is the human-figure prototype of the other 6 metamorphoses, which is said to have been carved modeling Yang Guifei.

Address: 432 Arakawashiroku, Chichibu, Saitama 369-1912

Phone: 0494-54-0108

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Virtual Chichibu 34 Kannon Pilgrimage #29 Chosen-in Temple

 

     Locals noticed a light was lit in a cave every night.  They wondered what was going on there, and visited the cave one day, to find an image of Arya Avalokitesvara, who is the human-figure prototype of the other 6 metamorphoses.

     On August 8th, 989, a comet appeared.  They founded Chosen-in Temple at the foot of the cave in 990.

     It was a priest-less Avalokitesvara hall, but was changed into a temple in 1571.

     In the 1560's, Nagao Kagetora (1530-1578) in Echigo Province and Takeda Harunobu (1521-1573) invaded the Kanto Region to solve their domestic starvation.  In September 1569, the Takeda army invaded Musashi Province.  The Takeda Clan, who actively attempted to advance into the Kanto Region, mainly used the Usui Pass between Shinano and Kozuke Provinces, but their troops also used Karisaka Pass between Kai Province and Chichibu County.  To counter the Takeda army, Hojo Ujikuni (1548-1597) held Hachigata Fortress and Hojo Ujiteru (1542-1590) held Takiyama Fortress.  The Takeda army neglected the 2 fortresses and continued southwards, and besieged Odawara Castle on October 1st.  Hojo Ujiyasu (1515-1571) firmly held the castle.  The Takeda army besieged the castle just four days, they set fire to the castle town, and withdrew.  The Takeda army's strategic purpose of the invasion became clear after 3 years.  On October 3rd, 1572, Harunobu departed from Kai Province in response to the call of the Shogun, Ashikaga Yoshiaki (1537-1597), to subjugate Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582), wha had militarily supported Yoshiaki and even sent him back to Kyoto.

     Priest Shoku (910-1007), Priest Tokudo at the beginning of the 8th century, Emperor Kazan (968-1008), Emperor Shirakawa (1053-1129), Priest Ryochu (1199-1287), Priest Tsukan, Yama-raja in India, Sahadeva in India, Bhaisajyaguru, Amitabha in Zenko-ji Temple, Sudrsti (the Buddhist deification of the North Star), Zao Gongen (the manifestation of all the Buddhas and Gods), and Kumano Gongen (the manifestation in Kumano) were believed to have established the Chichibu 34 Kannon Pilgrimage.  When the 13 saints visited the pilgrimage in 1234, they presented a stone card to Chosen-in Temple instead of sticking a paper card as usual.

Address: 557-557 Arakawakamitano, Chichibu, Saitama 369-1802

Phone: 0494-54-1106

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Virtual Chichibu 34 Kannon Pilgrimage #28 Hashidate-ji Temple

 

     A volcanic island in the south around today's Hawaii ceased its activity and was eroded and covered with coral reefs.  The seamount, laden with coral-formed limestone, was pushed north by plate movements and dragged deep into a trench.  It was pressed against the continental plate, was peeled off from the ocean plate, and eventually rose and appeared on the surface of the earth.  It was called Mt. Buko.  The western end of the mountain has a 75-meters-high limestone rock face.  Through the cracks and crevices of the rock face, rainwater infiltrated into the rocks, dissolved the limestone, and formed a limestone cave with various forms of stalactites.

     In the Incipient Jomon Period (13,750-8,500 BCE), people lived in the cave.  The cave was used as a domicile till the end of the Kofun Period (250-538).

     The Iwakage Ruins are characteristic of the Chichibu region, which is a mountainous region even in Saitama Prefecture, and is able to withstand even heavy rain and wind.

Excavations at the Hashidate Iwakage Ruins unearthed the oldest types of Jomon pottery, stoneware, Yayoi pottery, and Haji pottery.  In particular, this site has played a major role in promoting research on the Jomon period in Saitama Prefecture.

     After the arrival of Buddhism, people recognized the cave as a holy place.

     Mamiya Kotonobu (1777-1841) compiled the New Topography and Chronology of Musashi Province in 1830.  In it, he depicted the cave:

"There is a cave on the west side of Mt. Buko, and the Pilgrimage into the cave is called 'entering a womb'.  People enter the cave from its west entrance, and exit from the east exit.  Both are extremely narrow.  It's dark inside.  It doesn't let in the light of the sun or moon.  It doesn't let in the sound of wind or thunder.  It's dark everywhere, and it's often dripping water.  As you enter, the descent of the hole is gradually deepened.  Some parts of the cave are high and wide; other parts are low and narrow.  There are 5 precipices with ladders.  There are quite a few places to cross bridges.  During the tour, you can find the shapes of Buddhist images and tools which are actually natural stones.  According to a local guide, after 30 steps from the entrance, you find lotus flowers spread like cloud waves.  There are unnamed stalactites.  The cave forks into 2.  The left branch cave is about 150 meters long.  In it, you can find an old woman who strips clothes by the Sanzu River.  God Shirahige, God Ebisu in Nishinomita, cows and horses, the god of fire, the hearth and the kitchen, Nieh-ching-t'ai (also known as the Mirror of the Wicked, the Mirror of Retribution, and the Mirror of Past Existences), Mahakala, Sarasvati, and the 15 children who serve Sarasvati (Yinyao, Guandai, Biyan, Jincai, Daoni, Jisheng, Fangui, Yishang, Canyang, Jiuquan, Aijing, Shengming, Congzhe, Niuma, and Chuanche) appears one after another.  As you arrive at the end of the branch cave, you go back to the fork.  You take the right branch cave, and climb the ladder.  You go through the Buddhist worlds of Trayastrimsa, Yama, Tusita, Caturmaharaja, Nirmannarati, Para-nirmita-vasa-vartin, and Trayastrimsa.  On your way, you also find flying celestial nymphs and Maitreya-natha.  You climb another ladder.  There is a place called a five-colored waterfall on the left.  You see Brahma, Thousand-Armed Sahasrabhuja, Five Tathagatas, and the crowd of 5 gods: Acalanatha, Trailokyavijaya, Amrta-kundalin, Yamantaka, and Vajrayaksa.  You find a rising dragon and a bottomless valley.  A stalactite wall is called the Lotus Curtain.  Another looks like a canopy of a Buddhist altar.  Climb another ladder, and you will find stalactites which look like rosaries and columns of a Buddhis altar.  500 Arhat.  Kukai's Goma Altar.  Sixteen Dharmapala.  Buddhas in the past, in the present, and in the future.  A Pike of Izanagi and Izanami.  Vajra.  Eight Avalokitesvara.  etc. etc.  You climb another ladder.  The east exit is so narrow that you have to crawl to get out of the cave.  They are the mystery of natural creation, and they show a miraculous Buddhist world."

     The cave used to be a domicile in prehistoric times, and the was a holy place in ancient times.  In medieval times, Hashidate-do Hall was built at the foot of the cave.  In the Edo Period (1603-1867), Hashidatye-ji Temple was founded.

Address: 675 Kamikagemori, Chichibu, Saitama 369-1872

Phone: 0494-24-5399

Virtual Chichibu 34 Kannon Pilgrimage #27 Daien-ji Temple

 

     A man had trouble with his legs.  He drifted and arrived at a forest on the western side of Mt. Buko in Chichibu County.  The forest was always shady and was called Kagemori, namely Shade Forest.  He built a hermitage in the forest, stayed in it, and chanted sutras all day long.  One day, a priest visited him, and gave him a Buddhist name, Homyo, and an image of Arya Avalokitesvara, who is the human-figure prototype of the other 6 metamorphoses.

     At the beginning of the Edo Period (1603-1867), Priest Kendo (?-1616) came from Seisen-ji Temple in Yoshida Village, and changed the hermitage into a temple and named it Daien-ji.

Address: 411 Kamikagemori, Chichibu, Saitama 369-1872

Phone: 0494-22-5259

Seisen-ji Temple

Address: 7570 Shimoyoshida, Chichibu, Saitama 369-1503

Phone: 0494-77-0107

Trees In the Town

Virtual Chichibu 34 Kannon Pilgrimage #26 En'yu-ji Temple

 

     En'yu-ji Temple was founded by Priest Shuyu Taiko (?-1508).

     There is a cave about 1.5 kilometers south-south-east of En'yu-ji Temple.  The cave was a holy place in the 9th century at the latest.  Tradition says Kukai (774-835) built a homa-mandala or fire altar in the cave.  Priest Ken'nichi (1241-1316), who was the second son of Emperor Go-Saga (1220-1272), practiced zazen in the cave.

     Chichibu Shigehiro built a hall in front of the cave and enshrined the statue of Arya Avalokitesvara, who is the human-figure prototype of the other 6 metamorphoses.  Shigehiro belonged to a branch family of the Chichibu Clan.  Shigehiro’s 1st son, Shigeyoshi, lived in Hatakeyama and started calling his family Hatakeyama.  Shigeyoshi and his son, Shigetada (1164-1205) supported the hall.  On June 19th, 1205, however, Shigetada left his hometown in Obusuma County, Musashi Province, with 130-strong cavalry to answer the emergency call from Kamakura.  When he arrived at Futamata River, what he faced was an army of tens of thousands strong.  He realized he was trapped.  Instead of retreating, he made up his mind to die with a good grace.  It was his old friend, Adachi Kagemori (?-1248), who charged at him first.

     The Arya Avalokitesvara statue has been moved to En'yu-ji Temple.

Address: 348 Shimokagemori, Chichibu, Saitama 369-1871

Phone: 0494-23-8838

Trees In the Town

Virtual Chichibu 34 Kannon Pilgrimage #25 Kyusho-ji Temple

 

     Once upon a time, a woman immorally became pregnant.  Villagers drove her away into a gorge of Kuna.  She gave birth to a baby girl in a cave there.  She lived in the cave with her daughter and died when the girl was 15 years old.  The daughter lamented her mother's sin, and hoped to found an Avalokitesvara hall so that her mother wouldn't be tortured in the other world.  The villagers were moved by her kindness and ashamed of what they had done to the mother and child, and founded a hall with a statue of Arya Avalokitesvara, who is the human-figure prototype of the other 6 metamorphoses.

     His secular name was Yoshiyuki Tachibana. Born in Kyoto. He is also called a calligrapher.

     When he was 36, he entered the priesthood, studying and training under Ryogen (912-985).  After training in Mt. Kirishima in Hyuga Province and Mt. Sefuri in Chikuzen Province, he entered Mt. Shosha in Harima Province in 966.  He was supported by the provincial governor, Fujiwara Suetaka, and founded Engyo-ji Temple, one of the Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage.  From his early Buddhist stages on, he always carried the Lotus Sutra with him, and inclined toward mountain asceticism.  He was said to have shown many miraculous powers during his lifetime.

     One day, Emperor Kazan (968-1008) was shutting himself up in Mt. Nachi, Kishu Province, after his abdication in 986.  The god of Kumano appeared in his dream, and advised him to revive the pilgrimage Priest Tokudo had organized.  The emperor found the 33 seals in Nakayama-dera Temple, and asked Priest Shoku (910-1007) in Engyo-ji Temple to cooperate.  The priest recommended Priest Butsugen in Eifuku-ji Temple instead.  With Butsugen’s guide, the retired emperor went on the pilgrimage to the 33 holy places, and even composed a tanka poem for each one.  That was the start of go-eika, Japanese tanka poem chants for pilgrims.  The 33 precincts were called the Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage.

     In Chichibu, Shoku was believed to have visited its Kannon Pilgrimage.  In Kyusho-ji Temple, he met Yamaraja in his dream and was given a stone pass with which anyone can go through Yamaraja's office without accusations.  Shoku left the pass in the temple.  Did the pass make it for the mother's judgement day in Yamaraja's office?

Address: 2315 Kuna, Chichibu, Saitama 368-0053

Phone: 0494-23-7309

Trees In the Town

Virtual Chichibu 34 Kannon Pilgrimage #24 Hosen-ji Temple

 

     Taicho (682-767) was born in Asozu (namely Aso Port) in Echizen Province as the second son of Mikami Yasuzumi, the head of a local powerful family. The Mikami Family ran the water transportation along the Hino River.  Taicho-ji Temple in Fukui still has a well whose water is said to have been used for Taicho's first bath.  Taicho became a Buddhist monk at the age of 14, with his first Buddhist name Hocho.  He climbed Mt. Ochi and trained by praying to Eleven-Faced Ekadasamukha.  In 702, he was appointed by Emperor Karu (683-707) as a priest of the protection of the nation, and founded Toyohara-ji Temple in Sakai County, Echizen Province.  After that, He climbed Mt. Haku in Kaga Province in 717 and sensed Bodhisattva there.  He is said to be the first person to reach the top of Mt. Haku, and was the pioneer of mountain asceticism there.  In the same year, he founded Heisen-ji Temple in Ono County, Echizen Province.  In 719, he left Echizen Province and carried out Buddhist missionary work in various provinces presumably to spread mountain asceticism by organizing spontaneous local mountain worship.  He is believed to have visited Chichibu and founded Hosen-ji Temple.

     In 722, he prayed for the recovery from illness of Empress Hidaka (680748). It is said that, due to his success in resolving the epidemic of smallpox in 737, he was given an archbishop title, and changed his name to Taicho.

     When Taicho stayed in Chichibu, a goddess appeared to him one night.  She cut a dead tree and divided it into 3.  She carved an image of Arya Avalokitesvara, who is the human-figure prototype of the other 6 metamorphoses, with the center of the dead tree, and carved 2 local mountain gods out of the end and bottom of the tree.  She called herself the sun god.

     A merciful prostitute in Koigakubo, Musashi Province, had a deep faith in the Arya Avalokitesvara statue of this temple, and she never forgot to give charity to its pilgrims.  When she happened to have pain in her mouth, she received a toothbrush made of a willow twig from a pilgrim.  As she rinsed her mouth with it, the pain was gone.  The temple sells toothpicks as talismans that will take away the pain.

Address: 1586 Bessho, Chichibu, Saitama 368-0054

Phone: 0494-23-0943

Koigakubo Station

Address: 1 Chome Tokura, Kokubunji, Tokyo 185-0003

Phone: 042-321-1341

Clouds Over the Town

Virtual Chichibu 34 Kannon Pilgrimage #23 Ongaku-ji Temple

 

     Priest Shoku (910-1007), Priest Tokudo at the beginning of the 8th century, Emperor Kazan (968-1008), Emperor Shirakawa (1053-1129), Priest Ryochu (1199-1287), Priest Tsukan, Yama-raja in India, Sahadeva in India, Bhaisajyaguru, Amitabha in Zenko-ji Temple, Sudrsti (the Buddhist deification of the North Star), Zao Gongen (the manifestation of all the Buddhas and Gods), and Kumano Gongen (the manifestation in Kumano) were believed to have established the Chichibu 34 Kannon Pilgrimage.  When the 13 saints visited halfway down the Ogasaka Pass (going beyond time and/or space?), the winds through pine trees sounded as if they had been played by Bodhisattva.  When a temple was founded there, it was named Ongaku-ji, namely Music Temple.

Address: 3773 Terao, Chichibu, Saitama 368-0056

Phone: 0494-25-3018

Trees In the Town

Virtual Chichibu 34 Kannon Pilgrimage #22 Doji-do Temple

 

     Emperor Yamabe (737-806) had more than 26 sons.  He and his first son, Ote (774-824), were on bad terms while he and his 4th son, Iyo (?-807), were on good terms.  Ote became the Crown Prince on November 25th, 785.  He asked Fujiwara Tadanushi (760-817) for his engagement to Tadanushi's young daughter.  It was the greatest pleasure for Tadanushi.  Ote, however, had another intention.  As Tadanushi's daughter was too young, his wife, Kusuko (?-810), accompanied their daughter.  Ote was in his 30's. Ote and Kusuko had an illicit relationship.  Yamabe died on March 17th, 806, and Ote came to the throne on that day.  Tadanushi was shunted to Dazaifu, Kyushu, in the year.  In October, 807, Prince Iyo was suspected of treason.  He and his mother, Fujiwara Yoshiko (?-807), were confined to Kawara-dera Temple in Yamato Province and forbidden from having food.  They finally killed themselves by taking poison on November 12th.

     A hut was built in Shimizudani (namely Pure Water Gorge), Maita Village, Chichibu County, Musashi Province, in the same year, with an image of Arya Avalokitesvara, who is the human-figure prototype of the other 6 metamorphoses, to pray for the comfort of Iyo in the other world.  Presumably, someone was drawn into the incident and was banished to Chichibu.

     Later, Priest Henjo (816-890), a famous Japanese tanka poet, asked the local powerful family to change the hut into a temple.

     In 915, smallpox spread among young children.  People prayed to the Avalokitesvara image and washed their children with the pure water near the temple.  The epidemic ceased.  People brought the image down from the gorge to Fuzaka, Maita, and the temple came to be called Doji-do, namely Children Temple.

     In 1910, the temple was merged to Eifuku-ji Temple, and moved to its present place.

Address: 3600 Terao, Chichibu, Saitama 368-0056

Phone: 0494-23-9989