Virtual Saitama City Chichibu 34 Kannon Pilgrimage #30 Jigan-in Temple

 

     It is unknown when Shinmei Shrine was founded in Nakashima Hamlet, Kofukakusa Village, Adachi County, Musashi Province.  Approximately there are about 18 thousand Shinmei Shrines in Japan and they enshrine Amaterasu, the Japanese solar deity, and their head shrine is Ise Grand Shrine.  Ise Grand Shrine published the Ise Calendar in 1632, which recorded dates for agricultural activities.  Accordingly, Amaterasu was also regarded as a guardian deity of agriculture, and Shinmei Shrines were invited to newly developed villages during the Edo Period (1603-1867).

     Kofukasaku Village adjoined the south of Fukakusa Village.  As Fuka meant deep and Saku meant a crack, the Omiya Plateau had a larger deep crack and smaller deep crack in the area.  As Nakashima means an isle in a river, Nakashima Hamlet might have been an islet in a smaller crack.

     Jigan-ji Temple was founded as the shrine temple of Shinmei Shrine, enshrining Arya Avalokitesvara, who is the human-figure prototype of the other 6 metamorphoses, and was abolished soon after the Meiji Restoration.  The Arya Avalokitesvara statue is enshrined in a hall in the precincts of Shinmei Shrine.  The hall is also used as a community center.

Shinmei Shrine

Address: 604 Kofukasaku, Minuma Ward, Saitama, 337-0005