Virtual Bando 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #10 Shobo-ji Temple

 

     Monk Ikkai built Shobo-an Hermitage sometime between 717 and 724.  Sakanoue Tamuramaro (758-811) stopped over in the hermitage when he invaded the North-Eastern Region from 791 to 802.  Fujiwara Toshihito also called at the hermitage when he became the Provincial Governor of provinces in the Kanto Region in the 910's.  Dazai Osamu (1909-1948) depicted Toshihito in his short novel Imogayu, or Yam Porridge, as a powerful nobleman.

     Tamuramaro and Toshihiro were 2 of 4 well-known ancient generals, along with Fujiwara Yasumasa (958-1036) and Minamoto Yorimitsu (948-1021), who were the model for medieval samurai.  No wonder Minamoto Yoritomo (1147-1199) included the temple in the Bando 33 Kannon Pilgrimage without any special foundation legend.

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