Virtual Hiki Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #28 Shiga-Kannon-do Temple

 

     It is unknown when Shiga-Kannon-do Temple was founded in Shiga Village, Hiki County, Musashi Province.  Its oldest stone monument dates back to 1688.

     In the declaration dated October 10th, 1687, it was explained that Tokugawa Tsunayoshi (1646-1709) launched a policy of pity for living creatures in order "to help people develop benevolence."  Tsunayoshi, who respected Confucianism, greatly reduced falconry-related rituals and decided not to practice falconry on the grounds of benevolence immediately after he was inaugurated as the 5th Shogun in 1680.

     After the establishment of the Tokugawa Shogunate, the shogunate vermilion-sealed official letters were issued to feudal lords, court nobles, Shinto shrines, and Buddhist temples individually on different occasions.  On March 7th, 1664, the shogunate ordered the feudal lords to return their vermilion-sealed official letters.  On April 5th in the same year, the shogunate issued new vermilion-sealed official letters to the feudal lords at the same time.  On March 1st, 1665, the shogunate ordered the court nobles, Shinto Shrines, and Buddhist temples to return their vermilion-sealed official letters.  After July, new vermilion-sealed official letters were issued to them one by one.  That enabled the shogunate to grasp the source of income of the shogunate's latent and potential enemies.  They also tried to grasp their accurate source of income.  They also carried out land surveys in the territories under the direct control of the Tokugawa Shogunate in eastern provinces in 1665, and in western provinces in 1677.  Through the land surveys, the shogunate also grasp newly developed rice fields and farmers' hidden rice fields.  In 1665, Shiga Village, namely Four's Village, was registered as an independent village while the area had belonged to Sugaya Village at the beginning of the Edo Period (1603-1867).  Was the village developed by 4 families?

     It is unknowable the temple's foundation had something to do with Tsunayoshi's pitiful governance.

Address: 677 Shiga, Ranzan, Hiki District, Saitama 355-0214

Hojo-ji Temple

Address: 1478 Shiga, Ranzan, Hiki District, Saitama 355-0214

Phone: 0493-81-7985