Virtual Kodama Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #28 Komyo-ji Temple

 

     It is unknown when Komyo-ji Temple was founded.  Its main deity, the Amitabha statue, was presented to the temple by Niizato Yaba in 1295.  In the Muromachi Period (1336-1573), Niizato Mitsuaki had faith in the statue.

     In ancient times, there used to be the Musashi Seven Corps. The most part of Musashi Province was plateaus deeply covered with volcanic-ash soil, which was suitable for stock farming, not for rice growing.  In ancient times, many of the naturalized Silla people then were sent to Musashi Province, and engaged in the stock farming.  That stimulated people there, and many stock farms were set up, including 6 imperial stock farms.  The custodians of those farms later formed small-scale samurai families.  By marriage, those samurai families composed corps on the plateaus in the province: Yokoyama, Inomata, Murayama, Noyo, Tan, and Nishi Corps.

     In the 8th century, rice fields were rezoned by the unit of 11,881 square meters.  Horizontal 6 units were called Jo, and vertical 6 units were called Ri.  Accordingly, the rezoning system was called the Jori system.

     The Tan Corps advanced to the Jori-system rice fields.  It means they tried to embezzle old rice fields.  The stock farms and the rice fields made the Tan Corps powerful.

     Tan Motofusa's second son, Tsunefusa ruled the Niizato area, and called his family Niizato presumably in the latter half of the Heian Period (794-1185).  All in all, Komyo-ji Temple could have been founded in the 13th century at the latest.

     Komyo-ji Temple's main deity is Amitabha.  It also enshrines Arya Avalokitesvara, who is the human-figure prototype of the other 6 metamorphoses.

Address: 1828-1 Niisato, Kamikawa, Kodama District, Saitama 367-0232

Phone: 0495-77-4786