Virtual Kodama Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #26 Shinto-ji Temple

 

     Kibe Village in Kodama County, Musashi Province, had 2 Nandikesvara Shrines: the west one was taken care of by Shinto-ji Temple and the east one was taken care of by the villagers.  It is unknown whether Shinto-ji Temple was the West Nandikesvara Shrine's shrine temple or not.  Later, Suwa Shrine, which has been renamed Matsuhisa Shrine, was invited to be a guardian shrine of the temple.  It is also unknown whether Suwa Shrine was invited to make the temple its shrine temple or not.  It is unknown when Shinto-ji Temple was founded, but it was changed from the Daigo Sect of Shingon Buddhism to Chizan Sect of Shingon Buddhism.  Shinto-ji Temple's main deity used to be Amitabha.  The temple and the statue burned down due to Mt. Asama's eruption in 1783.  Instead, the temple got Ksitigarbha as its new main deity.  It's up to you whether you evaluate the situation as syncretism or contamination.  All in all, the temple seems very unique even today.  How?  Seeing is believing.

Address: 546-1 Kibe, Misato, Kodama District, Saitama 367-0112

Phone: 0495-76-1770

Matsuhisa Shrine

Address: 549 Kibe, Misato, Kodama District, Saitama 367-0112