Virtual Settsu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #27 Soji-ji Temple

 

     Soji-ji Temple was founded by Fujiwara Yamakage (824-888) in 879, when Ex-Emperor Seiwa (850-881) entered the Buddhist priesthood.

     Fujiwara Akirakeiko (829-900) worried whether her child could become an emperor, going over the heads of 2 elder brothers, Princes Koretaka and Koreeda, who were born of Ki Shizuko (?-866).  Shizuko gave birth to 2 boys and 3 girls, while Akirakeiko a boy and a girl.  

     Neither the seniority nor the numerical value didn’t matter.  The Ki Clan used to be powerful in Ancient Japan, but was getting overpowered by the Fujiwara Clan at the time.  Emperor Seiwa (850-881) reigned from 858 to 876, but Fujiwara Yoshifusa (804-872) had the executive power of the Imperial Court until his death.  After his death, Yamakage's promotion started.  That is, Yamakge had a good reason to build a temple or 2 for Seiwa.

     For your information, there is a tradition recorded in the Konjaku Monogatarishu or the Anthology of Tales from the Past and in the Genpei Seisuiki, which is an extended version of the Heike Monogatari or the Tale of the Heike:

     Fujiwara Yamakage's father, Takafusa (795-852), was on his way to Dazaifu in Chikuzen Province.  As he sailed down the Yodo River he saw a large turtle caught.  He bought the turtle and set it free in the river, saying, "Today, the 18th, is Avalokiteshvara's festival day."

     That night, Yamakage was thrown into the river by his stepmother's trickery.  Takafusa was saddened by this and prayed to Avalokitesvara.  Then, the turtle he had saved appeared before him with Yamakage on its shell.  Takafusa was grateful to Avalokiteshvara for this and made a wish to create a statue of Avalokiteshvara, but he died before he could do it.

     After Takafusa's death, Yamakage followed his father's wishes and had a Thousand-Armed Sahasrabhuja statue built.  He founded Soji-ji Temple and enshrined the statue in it.

     Soji-ji Temple is also the #22 member temple of the Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage, which is the oldest 33 Kannon Pilgrimage.

Address: 1 Chome-6-1 Sojiji, Ibaraki, Osaka 567-0801

Phone: 072-622-3209