Virtual Saitama City Chichibu 34 Kannon Pilgrimage #17 Chokaku-in Temple

 

     Ennin (794-864) is believed to have visited Adachi County, Musashi Province, and built a hermitage there.  The locals kept the hermitage as a Buddhist temple to erase their sins.  The area became Ryoke Village, presumably after Shitaji-Chubun was enforced.

     Minamoto Yoritomo (1147-1199) dispatched his samurai to the manors in the whole country.  At first, the samurai snatched land taxes from manors.  Later, lands themselves were divided between the original manor owners and the samurai.  Chubun meant to divide and Shitaji meant land.  The original owners' land came to be called Ryoke, namely Owner. 

     Ennin was born into the Mibu Family in Shimotsuke Province, which was located just north of Musashi Province.  As many of the displaced Silla people had been moved to the Kanto Region, he might have some connection not only with them but also with those in their homeland through them.  When Ennin made his study trip to Tang China from 838 to 847, support from Silla people, including those who were related with Jang Bogo (787-846), was enormous. For example, Ennin was helped by Silla people living in Chishan to keep staying in Tang, half-illegally though. He stayed in Chishan Fahua Temple, which had been founded by Jang Bogo. Ennin had trouble coming back to Japan too, but, somehow or other, got into Silla trader’s ship.

     It is largely believed Ennin visited the Kanto and Tohoku Regions.  209 temples are believed to have been founded in the Kanto Region, and 331 in the Tohoku Region by him.  A few even believe he visited Hokkaido.

     Chokaku-in Temple enshrines the statue of Arya Avalokitesvara, who is the human-figure prototype of the other 6 metamorphoses.  The statue is believed to have been carved by Eshin (942-1017).

Address: 4 Chome-20-3 Ryoke, Urawa Ward, Saitama, 330-0072

Phone: 048-832-2586

Usu-Zenko-ji Temple

Address: 124 Usucho, Date, Hokkaido 059-0151

Phone: 0142-38-2007