Virtual Kodama Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #18 Kosho-ji Temple

 

     It is unknown when Kosho-ji Temple was founded in Anashi Village, Kodama County, Musashi Province.  The village used to have the Jori Zoning.  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 place name Anashi was first documented in November, 1274.  As the temple itself had a Buddhist image dated 774, the area and the temple must be quite old.

     When Mamiya Kotonobu (1777-1841) compiled the New Topography and Chronicle of Musashi Province, Kosho-ji Temple had a Tara Avalokitesvara statue, which was carved in 774.

     According to Lotus Sutra Chapter XXV, Avalokitesvara, to save people, manifest herself/himself/itself: #1 into the form of a Buddha, #2 into the form of a pratyekabuddha, #3 into the form of a sravaka, #4 into the form of Brahma, #5 into the form of Sakra, #6 into the form of isvara, #7 into the form of Mahesvara, #8 into the form of the great commander of the devas, #9 into the form of Vaisravana, #10 into the form of a minor king, #11 into the form of a wealthy man, #12 into the form of a householder, #13 into the form of a state official, #14 into the form of a brahman, #15 into the form of a monk, #16 into the form of a nun, #17 into the form of a layman, #18 into the form of a  laywoman, #19 into the form of a wife of a wealthy man, #20 into the form of a wife of a householder, #21 into the form of a wife of a state official, #22 into the form of a wife of a brahman, #23 into the form of a boy, #24 into the form of tara, #25 into the form of a deva, #26 into the form of naga, #27 into the form of yaksa, #28 into the form of gandharva, #29 into the form of asura, #30 into the form of garuda, #31 into the form of kimnara, #32 into the form of mahoraga, or #33 into the form of Vajrapani.

     Tara Avalokitesvara is #24 manifestations of Avalokitesvara: in the form of a girl.  However, according to the web page of Honjo City, it's the #6 manifestation, Pandara vasini or Ishvara.  It's no surprise that Avalokitesvara manifests herself/himself/itself into various forms according to the person to save, but the transformation of a statue is another problem.  Is it a matter of aesthetics?  Or was the original statue replaced due to a fire or something?

Address: 532 Anashi, Misato, Kodama District, Saitama 367-0103

Phone: 0495-76-0460