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