Virtual Hiki Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #27 Senju-in Temple

 

     The reign of Emperor Murakami (926-967) was known as the Tenryaku Reign, which was idealized as a good example of a direct Imperial rule although his actual administration was often disturbed by his mother, Fujiwara Yasuko (885-944), her brother, Tadahira (880-949), and Tadahira’s sons, Saneyori (900-970) and Morosuke (909-960).  The Emperor devoted himself to cultural projects, and laid the foundation for the so-called Heian Culture.

     According to local tradition, the Emperor carved a Thousand-Armed Sahasrabhuja image by himself, and Ryogen (912-985) brought the image to Tsuki Mountain Stream in 962.  Just less than 1 kilometer downstream, there is the Gyojimen site, whose remains date back to the Jomon Period, the ancient times, and the Kamakura Period (1185-1333).  The place name with -men was usually given to the places where something was exempted, but what Gyoji meant here is unknown and unknowable.  Anyway, the place could have been special from prehistoric days.

     Taira Masakado (903-940)was born in Shimousa Province: specifically and presumably either in Toyoda or Sashima County, which were both along the Kinu River.  Later, he left for Kyoto at the age of either 15 or 16 to be hired by Fujiwara Tadahira (880-949), who was the 2nd Prime Minister at the time and who became the Prime Minister in 924, to climb up the social ladder.  After 12 years or so, he returned to the Kanto Region, without achieving anything in the central political circles.  In 939, Masakado tried to be independent from Japan in the Kanto Region.  His revolt was suppressed by Tawara Tota (891-958).

     If the local tradition was true, Emperor Murakami wanted to express his pity, regret, or shame to someone very important in Hiki County, Musashi Province in the Kanto Region, and that royal relationship might have enabled the locals to enjoy the exemption.

     Centuries later, Priest Iho (?-1546) founded Senju-in Temple, literally Thousand-Armed Temple, for the Buddhist image.

Address: 759 Senjudo, Ranzan, Hiki District, Saitama 355-0227

Phone: 0493-62-3282