Virtual Saitama City Chichibu 34 Kannon Pilgrimage #20 Honji-do Hall

 

     It is unknown when Honji-do Hall was built in Kizaki Village, Adachi County, Musashi Province.  Its Buddhist tanka poem expresses:

Pine trees blow high

Around Honji-do Hall in Takahana

An oath of mercy rings in any breeze.

     The large area around Kizaki Village used to be called Takahana, which the Takahana Family ruled.

     The first appearance of a family member, Takahana Wataro, in a document dates back to 1189.  The next one was Takahana Morikage in 1451.  He was an estate steward in the Takahana area.  It is unknown, however, whether the foundation of the hall had something to do with the Takahana Family or not.

     Honji means an original Buddhist deity.  The founder of the hall thought of its image of Arya Avalokitesvara, who is the human-figure prototype of the other 6 metamorphoses, as the original deity.  Then, there must have been a local manifestation of Arya Avalokitesvara in her/his idea.  It is unknowable who it was.

Address: 6 Chome-21-9 Kamikizaki, Urawa Ward, Saitama, 330-0071