Virtual Okitama 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #33 Sen'yo-in Temple

 

      Priest Tokuitsu studied Yogacara doctrine first at Kofuku-ji Temple, and then at Todai-ji Temple.  He left the capital at the age of 20, and lived in the eastern provinces, it is certain that he lived in Chuzen-ji Temple in Hitachi Province and En'ichi-ji Temple in Mutsu Province.  In those days, he founded Sen'yo-in Temple in Ideha Province in 807.

     Kukai (774-835) came back to Japan from China, his new esoteric teachings and literature drew scrutiny from noted priests of the time: Tokuitsu in Aizu, Dewa Province, Kochi and Kitoku in Shimotsuke Province.  They traded letters back and forth in 815 asking for clarification. The dialogues between them proved constructive and Kukai dispatched his disciples to those provinces and let the priests there copy the scriptures Kukai had brought back from China.  Tokuitsu, who belonged to the Nara Schools at the time, took greater interest in esoteric practice.

     Mt. Totsuka stands between Mogami and Tenno Rivers and is 356 meters high and 6 kilometers in circumference.  There are over 200 burial mounds in the mountain.  The mountain should have been a holy place since the 5th century.  On the top of the mountain, there are 3 burial mounds.  In one of the 3, a queen is buried.  Sen'yo-in Temple used to be located at the top of the mountain, but was moved to its present place in 1986 for convenience.

Address: 2220 Asagawa, Yonezawa, Yamagata 992-0112

Phone: 0238-28-1706