Virtrual Shinobu Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #30 Jutoku-ji Temple

 

     Jutoku-ji Temple was founded in 807 by Priest Shodo (735-817), when the surrounding area was covered with marshes and swamps.

     Emperor Mimaki dispatched his son, Toyoki, to the eastern part of Honshu, to bring people there under control.  Toyoki's nephew, Ikohaya, followed him, lost his eye, gave up returning to the capital, and settled in Muronoyashima, Shimotsuke Province.  His offspring became the Iwata Family, according to tradition.

     Shodo (735-817) was born to Iwata Takato and Yoshida Azu on April 21st, 735, in Haga County, Shimotsuke Province.  He practiced mountain asceticism from his childhood.  He studied under Nyoi Sozu of Yakushi-ji Temple in Shimotsuke in 762.  It isn't clear what Shodo's Buddhism was like.  In the Kanto Region at the time, some priests belonged to Tiantai Sect, some others were affiliated with Ganjin (688-763), and some people from Korea were moved to the region with the Huayan or Flower Garland teachings.

     In early April of 767, he attempted his first ascent of Mt. Nikko, but failed.  In early April, 781, he attempted to climb again, but failed.  In March, 782, after chanting sutras for 17 days at the foot of the mountain, and after vowing to offer the three treasures to the summit, to worship the divine spirits of Mt. Nikko, and to reach the state of Bodhi at the top of the mountain, he finally succeeded in reaching the summit.  Shodo worshiped the divine spirit of Mt. Nikko for 37 days at the top of it, just as he had vowed.

      Jutoku-ji's ju and Azu's zu share the same Chinese character, and toku means virtue.  The precincts have a hokyointo, a Japanese pagoda made in stone, which is dated 1378.

Address: 1282 Ueuchi, Kuki, Saitama 340-0211

Phone: 0480-58-8458