Settsu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #7 Suma-dera Temple

 

     I stepped out of Suma-dera Station, and found Suma-dera Shopping Mall running from the station toward Suma-dera Temple, which is #7 temple and also the westernmost temple of Settsu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage, and which is also #7 temple of Fukuhara 33 Kannon Pilgrimage.

     The main deity of Suma-dera Temple is Thousand-Armed Sahasrabhuja.

     According to the "Sumadera Temple Brief History and Origins," which Suma-dera Temple keeps, in the early Heian Period, a fisherman pulled up a statue of Arya Avalokitesvara, who is the human-figure prototype of the other 6 metamorphoses, off the coast of Wada Cape.  Hokuho-ji Temple was founded by Imperial decree of Emperor Junna (786-840, reigned 823-833) to enshrine the statue.  Then, in 886, by imperial decree of Emperor Koko (830-887), Priest Monkyo founded Fukusho-ji Temple and moved the Arya Avalokitesvara statue from Hokuho-ji Temple.  Fukusho-ji Temple made the statue its main deity.  However, according to the "Historical Records of Fukusho-ji Temple in Yabe County, Settsu Province" (Hyogo Prefecture-designated Cultural Property), the statue was enshrined by Minamoto Yorimasa (1104-1180) in 1169.  In 1167, Yorimasa had been promoted to Senior Fourth Rank, Lower Grade.  He was promoted to Junior Third Rank in 1178.  His support of Suma-dera Temple might have answered his prayer.

Address: 4 Chome-6-8 Sumaderacho, Suma Ward, Kobe, Hyogo 654-0071

Phone: 078-731-0416