Virtual Saitama City Chichibu 34 Kannon Pilgrimage #26 Shofuku-ji Temple

 

     It is unknown when Shofuku-ji Temple was founded.  The temple enshrines the wooden statue of Eleven-Faced Ekadasamukha, which is 63.8 centimeters tall and 20.5 meters wide, and which was carved by Enku (1632-1695).  Although the statue is categorized as Ekadasamukha, it has 12 small Avalokitesvara.  That means the statue has 13 faces in total.

     Enku was a famous Buddhist monk.  He traveled across Japan and carved pieces of wood into as many as 120 thousand Buddhist images. 

     At the turn of the 19th century, 59 households lived in Hasunuma (namely Lotus Bog) Village, where lotus roots were gathered.  The Buddhist tanka poem of Shofuku-ji Temple states:

Some Lotus Bogs are clear

And others are muddy.

They don't even separate and sort us.

Address: 770 Hasunuma, Minuma Ward, Saitama, 337-0015

Phone: 048-683-0864