Virtual Iruhi Bando 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #16 Toko-ji Temple

 

     It is unknown when Toko-ji Temple was founded in Takemoto Village, Hiki County, Musashi Province.  It was a shrine temple of Kuroishi Shrine in the village.  The surrounding area has 3 more Kuroishi Shrines in Sue, Kumai, and Ohashi Villages.  The one in Ohashi Village was founded in 1790, but the others are supposed to have been founded in the 12th or 13th century, or older.  Kuroishi literally means Black Stone. 

     What are Kuroishi Shrines?

     The South Hiki Kiln Sites are a group of large-scale Sue pottery kilns located in the South Hiki Hills area, centering on Hatoyama Town, Hiki District, Saitama Prefecture, the southern part of Arashiyama Town, and the eastern part of Tokigawa Town.  More than 57 subgroups of kilns have been excavated, with hundreds of kilns.  Sue pottery originated from Korea.

The earliest groups are said to have begun operating in the early 8th century.  Their ceramics were used when Kokubun-ji Temple in Musashi Province was founded in 741.

     During the Nara Period (710-794), the Sue pottery was supplied to as far as Sagami and Shimousa Provinces.  In Iruma and Hiki Counties, the Hajiki pottery, the domestic type of pottery, was driven out.

     50 kiln sites, 150 pit building sites of craftsmen with potter's wheel pits, and 561 clay mining pits were discovered in the central area of Hatoyama Town.  A craftsmen village consisted of 2-3 houses connected to a kiln.  It is estimated that there were 7-8 groups contemporaneously in the heyday.

     The kilns in Hiki County started declining in the 9th century.  When Kuroishi Shrines were first founded, the kilns were no more than remains with charcoal gray broken pieces of Sue pottery.  Was that the origin of the shrine's name?

     Priest Kyochi (?-1760) transfered Toko-ji Temple to the Shingon Sect.

Address: 807 Takemoto, Hatoyama, Hiki District, Saitama 350-0306