Virtual Settsu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #3 Kanno-ji Temple

 

     The Genko Shakusho is the first history book in Japanese Buddhist history.  It was written in Classical Chinese by Kokan Shiren (1278–1346), a Linchi Chan monk.  Shiren was shamed when Yishan Yining (1247–1317), a Chinese Buddhist monk who traveled to Japan, expressed his surprise that Japanese Buddhism has no history book.  He wrote Genko Shakusho in 1322.  The book was first published between 1346–1377.  It covers a span of seven hundred years in Japanese Buddhist history and biographies from the introduction of Buddhism into Japan in the 6th century until the late Kamakura Period (1185-1333).

     Genko Shakusho's biographies have an entry for Nun Nyoi (803-835).  According to the entry, Kanno-ji Temple was founded by the fourth wife, who was later known as Nun Nyoi, of the 53rd Emperor Junna (786-840, reigned 823-833).  As I have written about her on Heirin-ji Temple, if she was the 4th, the number should have been her ranking about the wives of the emperor.

     According to Genko Shakusho, Emperor Junna's 4th wife, Lady Manai, had a strong faith in Cintamanicakra, who usually has 6 arms and holds chintamani (a wish-fulfilling jewel) in one of the six.  In 828, in order to fulfill her wish to become a nun, she secretly left the Imperial Palace and practiced at Choho-ji Temple.  She then went to Hama-nan-gu Shrine (today's  Nishinomiya Shrine), then to Hirota Shrine, and to Kanno-ji Temple, where she practiced Buddhism for 3 full years.

     In 830, a huge cherry tree on the mountaintop was carved into a Cintamanicakra statue, which was the size of Manai's body.  With the statue as the principal image, the main hall was completed on October 18th, 831.  On the same day, Manai shaved her head and took the Buddhist name Nyoi.  In Japanese, Cintamanicakra is called Nyoirin Kannon.

     The 2 women who became nuns together with Nyoi, were Nyoitsu and Nyoen, who were granddaughters of Wake Kiyomaro(733-799).  Kiyomaro's 5th son was Matsuna (783-846).  That doesn't contradict the tradition in Heirin-ji Temple, that Nyoitsu was a daughter of Matsuna, but that does not necessarily mean Nyoen was a daughter of Matsuna as Kiyomaro had 3 daughters and 6 sons.

     On the other hand, the Teio Hennnnenki, Literally Emperors' Chronicles, states that, in 827, Empress Seishi of Emperor Junna ordered Tachibana Ujikimi (783-848) and Mihara Harukami (774-845) to build a Buddhist temple which belonged to Shingon Sect.  Some argue Nun Nyoi was invented on the basis of what Seishi did.  Seishi’s brother later succeeded Junna and became Emperor Ninmyo.  Their mother was Tachibana Chikako (786-850), who was the first and last empress from the Tachibana Clan.

     A local tradition in Kago Village, Yosa County, Tango Province, says that, when Emperor Junna was still Crown Prince, he met a girl from Kago Village, Yosa County, Tango Province, at Choho-ji Temple (Rokkaku-do Hall) in Kyoto.  He took her as his 4th wife.  Her childhood name was Kohagi, and Fukuju-ji Temple used to enshrine Kohagi Kannon, modeled after Kohagi, or Lady Manai.

     All in all, Manai could have been “presented” to the crown prince by a local powerful family.  Nyoitsu and Nyoen also could have been presented to the crown prince by the Wake Family, who were not only central aristocrats but also a local powerful family in Wake County, Bizen Province.  Chikako’s success to be an empress might have aroused local powerful families to their promotion through their daughters’ success.  For some reason or other, the 3 women didn’t like their imperial life and escaped from the palace to seclude themselves in shrines and temples.  Their choice proved right.

     In 833, Emperor Junna abdicated the throne to Emperor Ninmyo (810-850).  At the same time, Junna and Seishi's 1st son, Prince Tsunesada (825-884), became the Crown Prince.  So far, things went as scheduled.  In 840, Junna died.  So far, within the range of their assumption.  However, the Jowa Incident broke out in 842.

     On July 17th, Emperor Ninmyo arrested Tomo Kowamine, Tachibana Hayanari (782-842), and those believed to be Crown Prince Tsunesada's associates.  Ninmyo also ordered the Guards to tighten security in Kyoto.  On the 23rd, Fujiwara Yoshimi (813-867), the Left Major General of the Guards, led guardsmen and surrounded the Crown Prince's residence.  Yoshimi also captured Fujiwara Chikanari (788-843), Fujiwara Yoshino (786-846), and Fun'ya Akitsu (787-843), who were just in attendance.  Ninmyo issued an imperial decree declaring Kowamine, Hayanari, and others to be traitors, and Tsunesada, although he claimed he had nothing to do with the incident, was deposed as Crown Prince to make him take responsibility.  Chikanari was banished from Kyoto, Yoshino was demoted to a regional officer in Kyushu, Akitsu was demoted to an provincial officer in Izumo Province.  Kowamine was demoted to Oki Province and later demoted to Izumo Province, and Hayanari was exiled to Izu Province as principal offenders.  Hayanari mysteriously died in Itatsuki, Totomi Province, under escort.  In addition, many officials of the Crown Prince Office who served Tsunesada, including Harusumi Yoshitada (797-870), were punished.  After the incident, Prince Michiyasu (827-858), who was the 1st son of Ninmyo, was appointed Crown Prince.

     Seishi suspected that her mother, Chikako, rather supported Seishi's brother, Ninmyo.  Seishi was angry at and bore a grudge against Chikako, heavily crying.

     Nyoi, Nyoitsu, and Nyoen evaded such tragedies.  Besides the political disputes, the Royal Family members preferred intermarriage.  Chikako was exceptional.  In other words, they had formed an inner circle on marriage and having posterity.  Outsiders either endured discriminatory work (life?) practices or asked for the salvation of their souls.   

     Over a millennium later, on May 27th, 1911, Princess Bunsu (1844-1926), the last princess nun, stayed overnight in Kanno-ji Temple.  Bunshu became a nun in 1851 at the age of 7.  As the Meiji Restoration Government was establishing Shinto as the state religion, she returned secular on August 13th, 1873.  Later, she became a nun again and stayed in Ensho-ji Temple.  Thereafter, no empress nor princess became a Buddhist nun.

Address: 25-1 Kabutoyamacho, Nishinomiya, Hyogo 662-0001

Phone: 0798-72-1172

Choho-ji Temple (Rokkaku-do Hall) 

Address: 248 Donomaecho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto 604-8134

Phone: 075-221-2686

Nishinomiya Shrine

Address: 1-17 Shakecho, Nishinomiya, Hyogo 662-0974

Phone: 0798-33-0321

Hirota Shrine

Address: 7-7 Taishacho, Nishinomiya, Hyogo 662-0867

Phone: 0798-74-3489

Fukuju-ji Temple

Address: 2447 Ishikawa, Yosano, Yoza District, Kyoto 629-2303

Phone: 0772-42-3463

Ensho-ji Temple

Address: 1312 Yamacho, Nara, 630-8434

Phone: 0742-61-7600