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