Virtual Hiki Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #23 Fukusho-ji Temple

 

     On the right bank of the midstream of the Ichino River, a burial mound was built in the 6th century.  In 709, the locals invited the god of Hikawa Shrine in Omiya and enshrined it on the top of the mound.  Fukusho-ji Temple was founded as its shrine temple by Priest Kazan.

     Kujo Kanezane (1149-1207) built a mountain villa in the hill between Tofuku-ji Temple and Sen'yu-ji Temple in Kyoto, and called it Tsukinowa-dono Residence.  After his wife's death on December 10th, 1201, he left the city center and lived in the residence.  Tsukinowadono became his nickname.

     Kanezane got a manor in the 1190's around the above-mentioned burial mound with Hikawa Shrine on it, and the manor came to be called Tsukinowa.

     According to local tradition, Kanezane visited the manor in the 1990's.  He was appointed to be regent in the Imperial Court on May 12th, 1186.  He tried to keep cooperative relations with the Kamakura Shogunate.  On July 12th, 1192, he succeeded in having Minamoto Yoritomo (1147-1199) appointed shogun by Emperor Go-Toba (1180-1239).  Because of his cooperative policy, he was forced to step down from his position as regent in November, 1196.  Did he proudly visit the Kanto Region?  Or did he visit the region in despair?  Anyway, his visit to the region was too big a political event not to be officially recorded.  So, it is doubtful that he visited the Tsukinowa Manor.  However, he supported the shrine and temple.  He was said to have built a hall for the temple in 1196 to enshrine Mahasthamaprapta, which was believed to be a Buddhist guardian for those who were born in the year of Horse though he was born in the year of Snake and his guardian Buddhist image should be Samantabhadra.

Address: 454 Tsukinowa, Namegawa, Hiki District, Saitama 355-0813

Phone: 0493-62-2279