Virtual Hiki Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #31 Sankaku-do Temple

 

     It is unknown when Sankaku-do Temple was founded in Yoshida, Hiki County, Musashi Province.

      In Ancient Japan, 6 National Histories were compiled: Nihon Shoki, which covered the mythological period through 697, and whose compilation was completed in 720, Shoku Nihongi, which covered the years 697-791, and whose compilation was completed in 797, Nihon Koki, which covered the years 792-833, and whose compilation was completed in 840, Shoku Nihon Koki, whose compilation was finished in 869, and which covered the years 833–850, Nihon Montoku Tenno Jitsuroku, which covered the years 850-858, and whose compilation was completed in 879, and Nihon Sandai Jitsuroku, which covered the years 858-887, and whose compilation was completed in 901.

     According to Nihon Shoki, Emperor Ohatsuse came of age and became fond of judging and punishing sinners.  He knew laws and decrees well, and was at work until the sun went down.  He never failed to discover false accusations.  He examined cases very sensibly and reasonably.  Meanwhile, he did many bad deeds and did not do a single good deed.  He enjoyed watching various capital punishment.  All the people of the country were trembling and terrified.

    Ohatsuse died without his children.  His sister, Tashiaka, married Ohodo (450-531), who became the next Emperor.  However, according to local tradition in Yoshida, Hiki County, Musashi Province, she moved to Yoshida, hating Ohatsuse’s ruling.

     When Ashida Motouji ruled the village, floods hit the village often and he was worried about disasters.  One day, Tashika appeared in front of him, and told him to believe in her.  In the middle of March, 1125, he founded Tashiro Shrine in Yoshida, when the Royal Family and the Fujiwara Clan spent all their time doing political strife.  Presumably, Motouji wanted to show his complaints against central politics with the metaphor of Ohatsuse.  Samurai's days were just half a century away.

Address: 1232 Yoshida, Ranzan, Hiki District, Saitama 355-0202