Virtual Honjo Domain 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #27 Choan-ji Temple

 

     Choan-ji Temple should have been located somewhere between 86 Hikijimachi and 73 Hikijimachi.

     Sudo Zen'ichiro (1863-1937) first learned how to read and write in the private elementary school of Choan-ji Temple.  As usually under-13 children go to such elementary schools, Choan-ji Temple could have been in business till the 1870's.  As the Meiji Restoration took place in 1868, the temple might have been abolished after the Meiji Restoration Government issued the Gods and Buddhas Separation Order in 1868 or due to the movement to abolish Buddhism and to destroy Buddhist images at the beginning of the Meiji Period.  Choan-ji Temple could have had something to do with the mountain asceticism which contained the syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism.

     In the middle of the 17th century, the danka system was established by the Tokugawa Shogunate.  Under the system, the shogunate made the affiliation with an official Buddhist temple compulsory to all citizens.

     Shugendo or the Japanese mountain asceticism was not regarded as a school or a sect of the official Buddhism by the shogunate.  Those who believed Shugendo were supposed to belong to an official Buddhist temple.  In the middle of the Edo Period (1603-1867), some domain governments started to handle Shugendo believers' funerals in a flexible manner.  In the Honjo Domain, for example, a Japanese mountain ascetic was allowed to hold his funeral in the Shugendo style although his family were not allowed to do so.  If family members died suddenly and their funerals were held in the Shugendo manner, that should be reported to the authorities.  In Kodaki Village (today’s Kisakatamachi Kodaki, Nikaho, Akita 018-0153), which belonged to Yashima Domain, however, the funerals of all the family members of 5 families were performed in Shugendo style.  It is unknown whether the difference came from the power balance between Shugendo believers and other Buddhist temples in the areas concerned, or from the patriarchy of Shugendo believers in the areas concerned other than in Kodaki Village.

      Several historical documents relevant to Shugendo-style funerals have been found.  In the documents, Choan-ji Temple is mentioned along with other Shugendo temples.  Of those temples, only the 3 followings are left:

Ryuzan-ji Temple (Kinbo Shrine's shrine temple)

Address: Nasosawa-1 Kisakatamachi Kodaki, Nikaho, Akita 018-0153

Phone: 0184-43-2346

Genko-ji Temple Site

Address: Yanomoto Chokaimachi Shimokawauchi, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0502

Ryugen-ji Temple

Address: Tayanoshita-26 Yashimamachi Jonai, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0411

Phone: 0184-55-2233

Shugendo believers seem to have tried to improve their situations by becoming the branches of the following 2 powerful Shugendo temples in Kyoto:

Daigo-ji Sambo-in Temple

Address: 22 Daigohigashiojicho, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, 601-1325

Phone: 075-571-0002

Hokaku-ji Temple

Address: 90 Torisumi, Kurotaki, Yoshino District, Nara 638-0203

Phone: 0747-62-2622

     The following 4 temples provided funeral services to the family members of Shugendo believers:

Fukuo-ji Temple (Shingon Scool)

Address: Tayanoshita-54, Yashimamachi Jonai, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0411

Phone: 0184-56-2393

Taihaku-in Temple (Caodong Chan School)

Address: Muranoue−85 Kisakatamachiseki, Nikaho, Akita 018-0133

Phone: 0184-43-2453

Shoju-ji Temple (Caodong Chan School, Yashima Domain 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #32)

Address: Maenosawa-108-1 Chokaimachi Nakahitane, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0514

Phone: 0184-58-2012

Zenrin-ji Temple (Caodong Chan School)

Address: Jomae-75 Innai, Nikaho, Akita 018-0411

Phone: 0184-36-2577

     It isn't clear whether Choan-ji Temple provided funeral services to the temple's supporters or not.