Virtual Kawabe 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #15 Byakue-Kannon-ji Temple

 

     The eldest son of Araki Murashige (1535-1586), Muratsugu (1561?-1599?), had a wife and a concubine.  The wife was the eldest daughter of Akechi Mitsuhide (1516-1582).  The concubine was from the Usui Family, who were from Eboshigata Fortress in Kawachi Province.

     When Murashige rose in revolt against Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582) in 1578, Muratsugu’s wife returned to her parents' home.  The concubine had no place to return and killed herself in Byakue-Kannon-ji Temple in 1579, presumably after either Arioka Castle or Daibutsu Castle, in which the temple is supposed to have been located, fell.

     Anyway, Byakue-Kannon-ji Temple should have been founded before 1579.

     Byakue-Kannon is #6 manifestation of Avalokitesvar among the 33 manifestations that Tosa Hidenobu listed.

     Tosa Hidenobu published Butsuzo-zui (Illustrated Compendium of Buddhist Images) in 1783.  In the compendium, he listed 33 popular subjects of Buddhism Avalokitesvara drawings and paintings: #1 Holding-Willow-Spray Avalokitesvar, #2 Naga Avalokitesvar, #3 Holding-Buddhism-Scripture Avalokitesvar, #4 Halo Avalokitesvar, #5 Sitting-on-Cloud Avalokitesvar, #6 Pandara Vasini Avalokitesvar, #7 Sitting-on-Lotus-Leaf Avalokitesvar, #8 Looking-at-Cascade Avalokitesvar, #9 Listening-to-Stream Avalokitesvar, #10 Holding-Fish-Cage Avalokitesvar, #11 Brahman (Virtuous-Lord) Avalokitesvar, #12 Looking-at-Reflected-Moon Avalokitesvar, #13 Sitting-on-Leaf Avalokitesvar, #14 Blue-Head Avalokitesvar, #15 Great-Commander Avalokitesvar, #16 Life-Prolonging Avalokitesvar, #17 Relief-from-Ruination Avalokitesvar, #18 In-Cave-with-Venom Avalokitesvar, #19 Wave-Reduction Avalokitesvar, #20 Anavatapta Avalokitesvar, #21 One-Knee-Drawn-Up Avalokitesvar, #22 Leaf-Robe Avalokitesvar, #23 Holding-Lapis-Lazuli-Censer Avalokitesvar, #24 Tara Avalokitesvar, #25 Sit-in-in-Clam Avalokitesvar, #26 Twenty-Four-Hour Avalokitesvar, #27 Universal-Benevolence Avalokitesvar, #28 Celestial Beauty Avalokitesvar, #29 Brahmani Avalokitesvar, who put palms together, #30 Controlling-Thunderbolt Avalokitesvar, #31 Peaceful-Vajrapani Avalokitesvar, #32 Holding-Lotus-Flower Avalokitesvar, and #33 Sprinkling-Purified-Water Avalokitesvar.  Some subjects came directly from Lotus Supra Chapter XXV, some were based on folklore in China, and others were created in Japan.  He put stronger emphasis on the number 33, and might have ramified a couple of subjects to increase the number to 33.  He also might have considered the 33 subjects to be artistically more meaningful manifestations of Avalokitesvara than those from Lotus Sutra, at least in Japan.

     Although #6 Pandara Vasini Avalokitesvar comes from India, the Byakue-style Avalokitesvar was first drawn by Wu Daozi (685–758 or 689–), also known as Wu Daoxuan.  The style was brought to Japan through Goryeo, a Korean state founded in 918.  Muko Manor was first documented on May 18th, 1184.  The style became popular in the 14th century.  You can make a guess when Byakue-Kannon-ji Temple was founded.

Address: 7-chome-27-20 Mukonoso, Amagasaki, Hyogo 661-0035

Phone: 06-6431-9053

Eboshigata Fortress Site (Eboshigata Park)

Address: 725-1 Kitacho, Kawachinagano, Osaka 586-0033

Arioka Castle Ruins

Address: 1 Chome-12 Itami, Hyogo 664-0846

Phone: 072-784-8090

Amagasaki Castle Ruins Park

Address: 27 Kitajonai, Amagasaki, Hyogo 660-0826

Phone: 06-6489-6531