Virtual Shonai 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #3 Zenko-ji Temple

 

     Zenko-ji Temple was founded in Mikazawa Village, Tagawa County, Dewa Province, in 1688 by Kurita Den'emon (1614~1690).

     Murakami Tamekuni's son, Kankaku, became the chief priest of Kenko-ji Temple, which became Togakushi Srine after the Meiji Restoration, lived in Kurita Village, Mizuuchi County, Shinano Province, and called his family Kurita.  Under the Kamakura Shogunate (1185-1333), they became powerful samurai and also managed Zenko-ji Temple.  Until the Warring States Period (1467-1568), they were subject to the Murakami Family.  In 1553, however, Murakami Yoshikiyo (1501-1573) was defeated by Takeda Harunobu (1521-1573) and fled to Echigo Province.  Kurita Eiju became subject to the Takeda Clan and became the commander of 60 foot soldiers.

     In 1555, Kurita Kankyu (1551-1581) took the main deity of Zenko-ji Temple and moved to Kai Province.  Kai Zenko-ji Temple was founded in 1558 to enshrine the deity.

     In March, 1582, the Takeda Clan was destroyed by Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582), and Kurita Kunitoki (?-1600) fled to Echigo Province and served Uesugi Terutora (1530-1578).

     Terutora's adopted son, Kagekatsu (1556-1623) was transfered to Aizu, Mutsu Province, and Kunitoki also became the lord of Omori Castle in Shinobu County there.  When Tokugawa Ieyasu (1542-1616) came to subjugate Kagekatsu in 1600, Kunitoki insisted on making peace with Ieyasu.  His proposal was not accepted and he left for Shinano Province with his family and other pacifists.  He and his party of over 150 people were killed by Kagekatsu at Fushiogami in Shinobu County.  A branch of the family, however, managed to escape to Dewa Province with the deity, believe it or not.  The Tang Sancai guardian dog that is enshrined in the Kannon-do hall is said to have crossed the sea with the main deity which had been given to Soga Iname (506-570) from Korea.  The Tang Dynasty lasted from 618 to 907.  Those traditions or legends are incompatible.

     Priest Tosui, the organizer of the Shonai 33 Kannon Pilgrimage, composed a Buddhist tanka poem for Zenko-ji Temple:

As I go up the stairs

I pray as good deeds

Buddha will surely answer to them.

Address: Miyata-2 Mikazawa, Shonai, Higashitagawa District, Yamagata 999-6602

Phone: 0234-56-2533

Togakushi Shrine

Address: Chusha-3506 Togakushi, Nagano, 381-4101

Phone: 026-254-2001

Zenko-ji Temple

Address: 491-I, Motoyoshicho Nagano, 380-0851

Phone: 026-234-3591

Kai Zenko-ji Temple

Address: 3 Chome-36-1 Zenkoji, Kofu, Yamanashi 400-0806

Phone: 055-233-7570

Omori Castle Ruines

Address: Honmaru Omori, Fukushima, 960-1101