Virtual Kesen 33 Kannon Pigrimage #24 Kumano-do Hall

 

     Hojo Tokiyori (1227-1263) was a very popular statesman who built a welfare-warfare shogunate.  He shortened regal proceedings and ensured fairness.  Ordinary samurai were to guard either Kyoto or Kamakura for half a year, but he shortened the term to 3 months.  He also protected ordinary people’s livelihood.  He invited Priest Lanxi Daolong (1213-1278) from Yuan China.  Daolang was born in Shu Province (present-day Sichuan Province), China. Due to the Mongol Conquest of the Song Dynasty in China in 1246, he sailed to Japan to preach Chan Buddhism, and founded Kencho-ji Temple in Kamakura in 1253.  Tokiyori also invited Wuan Puning (1197-1276).  Wuan is pronounced “gottan” in Japanese.  He made such difficult lectures that they were troublesome for his students.  We came to use the Japanese phrase “gotagota” for something troublesome after Wuan’s troublesome lectures.

     Tokiyori admired Chan Buddhism so much that he transferred Enpuku-ji Temple in Matsushima, which later became Zuigan-ji Temple, to Caodong Chan Buddhism from Tiantai Sect.  Some Tiantai Buddhists fled and arrived at Okura Isle in Massaki, Kesen County, sometime between 1264 and 1275 and founded Kumano Kannon-do Hall and Kumano Shrine, whose waniguchi gong is engraved to show it is Matsushima's Equipment.

Kumano Shrine

Address: Nakamori-17 Massakicho, Ofunato, Iwate 022-0001

Phone: 0192-29-3492

Zuigan-ji Temple

Address: Chonai-91 Matsushima, Miyagi District, Miyagi 981-0213

Phone: 022-354-2023