Virtual Mogami 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #16 Chonen-ji Temple

 

     Tradition says that Priest Shinzei (800-860) founded Soji-ji Temple at the foot of Mt. Nagaoka sometime between 859 and 877.  As he retired in 858 and died February 25th, 860, it isn't impossible he visited Ideha Province in 859 but very doubtful.  After the Meiji Restoration, Soji-ji Temple was abolished and its Eleven-Faced Ekadasamukha statue was moved to Chonen-ji Temple.  As Sagae-Hachiman-gu Shrine is also at the foot of Mt. Nagaoka, Soji-ji Temple could have been its shrine temple and was abolished due to the Gods and Buddhas Separation Order in 1868.

     Chonen-ji Temple was founded by Oe Chikahiro (?-1242) in Sagae Fortress, where the Oe Family, the lords of the Sagae Manor, lived and based.  Accordingly, although Soji-ji Temple was the largest and most important in the manor, Chonen-ji Temple functioned somewhat like the Secretariat of the Buddhist temples there.

 

Address: 2 Chome-4-19 Marunouchi, Sagae, Yamagata 991-0023

Phone: 0237-86-0016

Sagae-Hachiman-gu Shrine

Address: 5-70 Yawatamachi, Sagae, Yamagata 991-0025

Phone: 0237-86-6258