Virtual Shinobu Chichibu 34 Kannon Pilgrimage #25 Chokei-ji Temple

 

     Emperor Osazaki, who is believed to have reigned over Japan sometime between the end of the 4th century and the first half of the 5th century, divided Keno Province into Kozuke and Shimotsuke Provinces, and dispatched Narawake to Shimotsuke Province as a kind of ancient governor.  After his mission, Narawake didn't return to the central part of Japan and stayed in Obananohara, Musashi Province.  He developed rice fields in Obananohara, which was called Nara after him.  Nara Shrine is said to have been founded after his death.  The shrine contributed to the central government.

     The Taiho Code was an administrative re-organisation enacted in 703 in Japan.  Like many other developments in the country at the time, it was largely an adaptation of the governmental system of China's Tang Dynasty.  Under the code, Japanese society was centralized and expanded to the north and the south.  Local young men were assembled in the north of Musashi Province, and were sent to Taga Castle in Mutsu Province, the foothold in the north-eastern region.  The rice from Hara County was also sent to the castle.  Their contribution raised the status of the area and the shrine.  Nara Shrine was nationally authorized in 850 due to its contribution against the rebellion of the northern foreigners in 705.  It was listed in the Engishiki, literally Procedures of the Engi Era, which is an ancient record about laws and customs compiled from 905 to 927.

     The reorganization, however, preyed on farmers.  The flaws of the tax system made the reproduction of labor power impossible.  Famines lasted from 703 to 707.   Even Imperial orders complained that the Royal Family members and aristocrats trespass mountains, rivers, bushes, and swamps.  It took almost half a millennium for local people armed themselves as samurai to knock over the ancien regime.

     The medieval days, however, meant a hard time for Nara Shrine.  It lost its raison de-tre as well as its income.  In those days, the Narita Family took the Nara Family over and ruled Nara Village.  They had an ambition of climbing up the social ladder in the Warring States Period, although they were subject to the Later Hojo Clan.  The family knew the importance of information.  They made use of their newly won resources and invited a Kumano ascetic as an agent.  Kumano worship, or fusion of esoteric Buddhism and Japanese indigenous religion was popular and it had over 3,000 Kumano Shrines nationwide.  Ascetics not only performed incantations and prayers for healing illness, but also functioned as agents, making good use of their network.  The Narita Family ordered people in Kisai and Hara Counties, their newly occupied territories, to support Enzobo in Nara Shrine.  Eventually, the shrine came to be called Kumano Shrine.

     The Narita Family was subject to the Later Hojo Clan, who hired ninja called Fuma, whose heads used the same name, Kotaro.  Fuma is said to have been composed of 4 groups: bandits, pirates, robbers, and thieves.  The Narita Family wanted to have their own intelligence agents.

     As Narita Ujinaga (1542-1596) was subject to the Later Hojo Clan, he was exiled from Oshi Castle after the fall of the clan in 1590.  He was pardoned and became the lord of Karasuyama Castle in Nasu County, Shimotsuke Province.  Enzobo followed Ujinaga.

It is uncertain whether Enzobo was a person's name or the name of a practice hall of esoteric Buddhism.  Locals complained about Enzobo for his (their?) lack of religiousness.  They even asked Shogo-in Temple, the headquarters of another esoteric Buddhism, in Kyoto for help.  In 1598, the site was given to Genkubo.  In 1609, Genkubo's ownership over the site of Enzobo was confirmed.  Under the Tokugawa Shogunate, every family was supposed to belong to an official Buddhist temple.  Locals needed an official Buddhist temple rather than incantations and prayers.  Genkubo moved out to Hanzawa County, Musashi Province.  Priest Chokei (?-1676) was invited.  He changed the site into a Buddhist temple with Acalanatha as its main deity and named it Chokei-ji, which belonged to the Shingon Sect.  The locals weren't particular about the principle of restoration and kept calling the shrine Kumano.

     The last days of the Tokugawa Shogunate came.  The restoration of the Imperial Court was advocated.  The shrine name was restored to Nara.  Kumano Shrine used to enshrine 3 Buddhist images: Mahavairocana in the center and with Acalanatha and Avalokitesvara on either side.  After the Meiji Restoration, the 3 images were moved to Chokei-ji Temple.  Chokei-ji Temple enshrines Cintamanicakra, who usually has 6 arms and holds chintamani (a wish-fulfilling jewel) in one of the six, as the #25 deity of the Shinobu Chichibu 34 Kannon Pilgrimage.  It is unknown where the Cintamanicakra image comes from.  Whose religious wishes have been fulfilled with the chintamani?

Address: 1995 Nakanara, Kumagaya, Saitama 360-0801