Virtual North Settsu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #20 Hoen-ji Temple

 

     Hoen-ji Temple was founded at the beginning of the 15th century.  It was revived by Priest Eko, who also founded Hoon-ji Temple, whose temple name has the same Chinese character notation as Hoen-ji.

     The temple has the statue of Arya Avalokitesvara, who is the human-figure prototype of the other 6 metamorphoses, which is said to have been made by Genshin (942-1017).

     Genshin's father was Urabe Masachika.  The Urabe Clan had been living in Katsuragi County, had been serving the god of Katsuragi, and had been working for the Imperial Court as fortune-tellers.Fortune-telling is "uranai" in Japanese.  Genshin was born in 942.  His mother was said to have belonged to the Kiyohara Clan.  She must have been one or two generations older than Sei Shonagon (966-1025), who was also said to have belonged to the same clan.  Genshin could be said to have come from a line of intellectuals.

     In 948, Genshin’s father died.  In 950, he entered Mt. Hiei to study samatha-vipasyana and vajrayana under the strong influence of his mother, who was very religious.  In 955, he entered the Buddhist priesthood.  In 956, he made a lecture on the Shorter Sukhavativyuha Sutra for Emperor Murakami.  The emperor praised him, and gave him fabrics and textiles, which he presented to his mother.  She, however, sent them back with a tanka poem,

     “Wished you’d make it in the next world.

     "Sorry to know you make it in the world."

To answer the admonition, Genshin secluded himself in Eshin-in Temple, Yokokawa, Kyoto.

     In 985, he finished writing The Essentials of Rebirth in the Pure Land. In 1017, he passed away, or was reborn in the Pure Land.

     It is unknown why and how the statue was brought to Hoen-ji Temple.

Address: 3-1 Tateishicho, Ikeda, Osaka 563-0053

Phone: 072-751-3623

Hoon-ji Temple

Address: 5 Teramachi, Amagasaki, Hyogo 660-0867

Phone: 06-6411-6108