Virtual Adachi Bando 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #20 Mitsugon-in Temple

 

     It is unknown when Mitsugon-in Temple was founded in Fujinami Village, Adachi County, Musashi Province.  It belonged to the Shingon School first, but Priest Shukuetsu (?-1535) changed it to the Linji School of Chan sometime between 1492 and 1501, supported by Ota Sukeie (?-1522).  Shukuetsu was an uncle of Sukeie.  The Fujinami Family lived in Fujinami Village.  A letter dated April 5th, 1585, from Hojo Ujimasa (1538-1590) to Fujinami Yogoemon is still kept in the temple.

     Mitsugon-ji Temple enshrines 2 types of Avalokitesvara statues.  One is its main deity, Arya Avalokitesvara, who is the human-figure prototype of the other 6 metamorphoses.  The other is enshrined in a Kannon-do Hall in its precincts: Cintamanicakra, who usually has 6 arms and holds chintamani (a wish-fulfilling jewel) in one of the six.  In 1342, in the midst of the Southern and Northern Courts Period, in the time of upheavals, Shinohara Zusho found a head of Cintamanicakra in a nearby wild field.  He invited a good sculptor of Buddhist images and had him carve a body for the head.  Zusho also built a small hermitage and enshrined the statue in it.

     The Southern and Northern Period (1336-1392) witnessed not only upheavals but also the fundamental changes of Japanese society.  In terms of agriculture, rice yields had risen due to increased usage of fertilizer, the diversification of rice, and the development of irrigation facilities.  In addition, the double cropping that had been introduced in the Kamakura Period (1185-1333) became widespread, resulting in a remarkable increase in productivity.  In this way, food production became sufficient, and it became possible to produce many raw material crops such as ramie (for making thread), cotton, and perilla (for oil).

     In terms of commerce and industry, due to the increased productivity of the raw material crops mentioned above, blinds, straw mats, oil, and somen noodles became available to the public.  In terms of economy, along with the above-mentioned improvements in the commercial and industrial aspects, a monetary economy has spread to the general public.  In addition, the Yuan Dynasty conquered the Southern Song Dynasty in China in the 1270's, and the dynasty spread the usage of kosho (a type of banknote), so a large amount of surplus copper coins which had been made in Song China flooded into Japan.  The circulation of money due to the fall of the Southern Song Dynasty led to the further development of commerce and industry.  In 1200, money was used in less than 20% of land purchases, but in 1250, it exceeded 50%, and in 1320, it exceeded 75%.  The popularization of copper coins also led to the spread of paper-based bills such as tallies.

     Later, the hermitage was moved to Mitsugon-in Temple's precincts, with its place name Nyoirin-bara, namely Chintamani Field, left in its old place.  Even today, a street in Fujinami uses it as a nickname.

     Generations later, Shinoda Kin'emon, who was the head of the village, and who was a safflower maker, started Mochitsuki-Odori, Pounding Rice Cakes Dancing, to halt young villagers from gambling. I don't know if his original intention was realized, but the dancing has been passed down.

https://ageobunkaisan.jp/mukei/10fujinamimochi.html

     Safflower petals contain a red dye.  In coloring textiles, dried safflower flowers are used as a natural dye source for the orange-red pigment.  The dye is suitable for cotton, which takes up the red dye.  In Japan, dyers have long utilized a technique of producing a bright red to orange-red dye from the dried florets of safflower.

Address: 2 Chome−196-1 Fujinami, Ageo, Saitama 362-0061