Virtual Arima County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #32 Seiryu-ji Temple

 

     According to the Wakan Sansai Zue, or the Illustrated Sino-Japanese Encyclopedia, which was published in 1712, Seiryu-ji Temple was founded by Gyoki (668-749) as one of the 49 temples founded by him in the Kinai Region.  Some people argue that all the 49 temples were located in Yamato, Yamashiro, Settsu, Kawachi, and Izumi Provinces, excluding Seiryu-ji Temple, but some others in other provinces claim their temples were members of the 49 temples.

     Seiryu-ji Temple was located in Fukushima Village, which was first documented on October 22nd, 1377, when the village was transferred from the Katayama Family to Jisho-in Temple, which used to be a sub-temple of Nanzen-ji Temple.

     Seiryu-ji Temple's main deity is the wooden seated statue of Cintamanicakra, who usually has 6 arms and holds chintamani (a wish-fulfilling jewel) in one of the six, which was brought from Toko-zan Josho-ji Temple, which has been abolished.

     The statue has 1 face and 6 arms and is 21 centimeters tall.  It is meticulously crafted down to the smallest details.  The face is plump, and the right hand is lightly resting against the cheek in a pensive pose.  The jewel held in the hand on the chest and the prayer beads in the other hand hanging down are both missing.  The hand pointed above the left hand holds Dharmacakra, and the lotus flower held in the hand with the arm bent is missing.

     The statue is seated in the Rinnoza Style, with the right knee raised and the left one folded in front of the body.  The statue's soles of the feet are placed together unusually.  Arabesque patterns are raised on the silk ground, and traces of gold paint remaining in the recesses of the carvings suggest the original splendor.  The halo is said to have been added later.

     It is unknown why Josho-ji Temple was abolished, but as the area has Toko-zan Bodai-ji Temple, Josho-ji Temple could have been Bodai-ji Temple's sub-temple.

     As the statue is the #33 deity of the Arima County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage, some say Josho-ji Temple was the #33 member temple of the pilgrimage.

Address: 767-1 Fukushima, Sanda, Hyogo 669-1313

Phone: 079-567-0432

Toko-zan Bodai-ji Temple

Address: 352 Ninji, Sanda, Hyogo 669-1505

Phone: 079-566-0125

Nanzen-ji Temple

Address: 86 Nanzenji Fukuchicho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, 606-8435

Phone: 075-771-0365