Virtual Musashino 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #33 Hachio-ji Temple

 

     It is unknown when Hachio-ji Temple was founded.  It is the only branch of Tenryu-ji Temple.  It doesn't necessarily mean Tenryu-ji Temple is older than Hachio-ji Temple.  Tenryu-ji Temple could have enlightened Hachio-ji Temple in the course of establishing a new independent religion.

     Hachio-ji Temple's main deity is Gozu. 

     The Japanese word Gion comes from Jetavana, which was one of the 5 most famous Buddhist monasteries or viharas in India. The five are believed to have already existed while the Buddha still lived. Gion Shrine enshrines the guardian god of Jetavana, who was called Gozu in Japan. Gozu chose to be born as a son of Mudang as a part of the syncretism of Buddhism. The son had a bull head, and grew up to find no bride to get married with. One day, he set out on a journey to find a bride. In brief, at last, he got married to a daughter of Naga, who lived in the ocean. Gozu might have had the power to control water as a natural process.

    Gozu was first enshrined at Hiromine Shrine in today’s Himeji. He was invited to today’s Kyoto when the Kamo River flooded and plague spread, they wished for the healing and anti-flood power of Gozu. He was made the main deity of Gion Shrine, or Yasaka Shrine today, in Kyoto.  He was further invited to many parts of Japan, as we had many floods and epidemics, and he is enshrined in more than 2,300 shrines.

     Gozu had 7 sons and 1 daughter.  Hachioji means 8 children of the king.  The temple enshrines the 45-centimeters tall wooden sitting statue of Gozu, and 8 24-centimeters tall wooden statues of children.

     Hachio-ji Temple also enshrines Arya Avalokitesvara, who is the human-figure prototype of the other 6 metamorphoses.

Address: 704 Minami, Hanno, Saitama 357-0214

Phone: 042-977-0108