Virtual Adachi Bando 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #27 Senko-ji Temple

 

     Oya Village was first documented in the Southern and Northern Courts Period (1336-1392).  It might have been developed in the Kamakura Period (1185-1333).

     It is unknown when Senko-ji Temple was founded.  Its precincts had Tenno-sha Shrine, but it is unknown whether Senko-ji Temple was main or Tenno-sha Shrine was main.  Senko-ji Temple's main deity was Amitabha, and its precincts had a Kannon-do Hall which enshrined Eleven-Faced Ekadasamukha, which was the #27 deity of the Adachi Bando 33 Kannon Pilgrimage.  Senko-ji Temple was merged by Nichijo-in Temple in 1888, with Tenno-sha Shrine and Kannon-do Hall left.  Tenno-sha Shrine became Kumano-Yakumo Shrine.  What are Tenno and Yakumo?

     The Japanese word Gion comes from Jetavana, which was one of the 5 most famous Buddhist monasteries or viharas in India. The five are believed to have already existed while the Buddha still lived. Gion Shrine enshrines the guardian god of Jetavana, who was called Gozu in Japan. The root or the source of the guardian god of Jetavana was Bhaisajyaguru, who chose to be born as a son of Mudang as a part of the syncretism of Buddhism. The son had a bull head, and grew up to find no bride to get married with. One day, he set out on a journey to find a bride. In brief, at last, he got married to a daughter of Naga, who lived in the ocean. Gozu might have had the power to control water as a natural process.

     Gozu was first enshrined at Hiromine Shrine in today’s Himeji. He was invited to today’s Kyoto when the Kamo River flooded and plague spread, they wished for the healing and anti-flood power of Gozu. He was made the main deity of Gion Shrine, or Yasaka Shrine today, in Kyoto.  He was further invited to many parts of Japan, as we had many floods and epidemics, and he is enshrined in more than 2,300 shrines.

     Some Gozu shrines, especially the branches of Tsushima Shrine, are called Tenno-sha.

When the Meiji Restoration Government issued the Gods and Buddhas Separation Order in 1868, they also prohibited the usage of names Gozu and Tenno as they have smells of syncretism.  Tenno-sha Shrine in Oyahongo came to be called Yakumo Shrine, after Susano's tanka poem: Yakumo, layered clouds, stand in Izumo, where the god of marriage resides.  Like the clouds, we stand fences in layers around our love nest.  Jetavana is believed to have appeared as Susano in Japan.  It seems they also merged Kumano Shrine sometime.

     It is unknown when Kumano Shrine was invited to Oyahongo Village.  After the Meiji Restoration, Shinto shrines in one village were supposed to be merged to form a village shrine.  The Kumano Shrine, however, missed being merged.  After World War II, Shinto shrines were supposed to be registered as religious corporations.  The Kumano Shrine failed to be registered.  And .....?

Address: Oyahongo, Ageo, Saitama 362-0044

Kumano-Yakumo Shrine

Address: Oyahongo, Ageo, Saitama 362-0044

Phone: 048-725-2069

Nichijo-in Temple

Address: 3 Chome-6-2 Kashiwaza, Ageo, Saitama 362-0075

Phone: 048-771-2448