2022/10/04

Kenmyoji Kannon Hisai

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. Buddhist Temples and their Legends .
. Ise Saigoku 33 Kannon 伊勢西国三十三所観音巡礼 Pilgrimage .
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Kenmyoji 賢明寺 Kenmyo-Ji, Hisai
Senryuzan 千手院 Senjuin 賢明寺 Kenmyoji
三重県津市久居元町205 / Tsu city, Hisai town, Motomachi

The Kannon statue is 千手観音菩薩 Senju Kannon.


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Senju-in Kenmyō-ji is a temple number 1 of Ichishi district’s 33 Temples Pilgrimage and is commonly known as Kannon of Senju-in. It is directly connected to Enryaku-ji – the main temple of Sanmon branch of Tendai Buddhist sect.
Senju-in Kenmyō-ji was founded in 730 by 行基 Gyōki (668-749), a famous monk who traveled around Japan to preach to commoners.
The main statue enshrined in the temple is Senju Kannon (Thousand-Armed Kannon) carved by ancient Buddhist image maker Kasuga. This Senju Kannon is honorably called 救世千手大悲観音菩薩 “Most Compassionate Savior”.
The temple flourished for more than 600 years until the battle of 雲出川 Kumozu river in 1338, when all buildings were burned down. In 1366 北畠顕能 Kitabateke Akiyoshi (1326-1383), the provincial governor of Ise, rebuilt the Main Hall and other surrounding buildings as a proof of his deep religious devotion to Goddess Kannon enshrined in this temple. Since then Senju-in Kenmyō-ji became a prayer place for the next generations of Kitabatake clan and thanks to their patronage, the temple’s authority had also been restored.
200 years later during the times of Tenshō period (1573-1592) the temple suffered again. This time the buildings burned down during the fight between the troops of the first “Great Unifier” of Japan daimyo Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582) and local daimyo Kitabatake Tomonori (1528-1576).
Luckily the main statue of the temple was left unharmed.
The complex was restored once again in the years between 1624 and 1644.
The abbot of Senju-in Kenmyō-ji named 実順 Jitsujun rebuilt the burned buildings with donations and offerings received for his religious activity. In 1670 藤堂高通 Tōdō Takamichi (1644-1697) became a daimyo of this land and as a proof of deep devotion to Goddess Kannon of Senju-in Kenmyō-ji, he decided to make this temple a prayer place for Tōdō clan and donate 100 koku (15t) of rice each year.
In 1719 a monk of this temple 智空 Chikū received and imperial order to pray to Goddess Kannon and ask for a child to be born to the Emperor Nakamikado (1702-1737). Chikū prayed eagerly and as a result of his religious practice a Prince (later know as 桜町天皇 Emperor Sakuramachi, 1720-1750) was born on New Year’s Day of the following year.
A transcription of the Heart Sutra and a calligraphy written by Emperor Nakamikado himself were sent to the temple and offered at the altar. Emperor also added a poem:

君がためうつしてうふるくれ竹に 千代もこもれる心地こそすれ
I wish that the bamboo I planted for you will protect you for eternity.

Since that moment Senju-in Kenmyō-ji became a temple connected to the Emperor and was bestowed with a crest.
During the Meiji Restoration in 1868,
which restored the actual power to the Emperor, all temple’s earnings were confiscated and almost all of the buildings including the Imperial Mausoleum, Imperial Quarters for Flower Viewing and Treasure Hall were destroyed.
The temple fell into ruin and was left only with the Main Hall and the Main Gate.
The current Main Hall of Senju-in Kenmyō-ji is a building rebuilt in 1917.
- source : isekannon.jp/otera_list ...

指定文化財 Special treasures of the temple:
石造板五輪塔(三重県指定) 
仁王門(津市指定)
如意輪観音菩薩坐像(津市指定)
銅灯籠(津市指定) Bronze Lantern
- reference source : kenmyozi.com/custom2 ... -


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shuin 朱印 stamp

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- Yearly Festivals 年中行事 -

11月23日 November 23 -  人形供養会 
- reference : kenmyozi.com/custom ... -

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Also on the following pilgrimage :

一志郡三十三カ所 Ichishi district 33 Kannon Temples Pilgrimage - Nr. 1
- reference : nippon-reijo.jimdofree.com -

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- - - - - Homepage of the temple
- source : kenmyozi.com ...
- reference source : isekannon.jp/english ... -
- reference source : nippon-reijo.jimdofree ... -



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This temple is Nr. 13 of the pilgrimage
. Ise Saigoku 33 Kannon 伊勢西国三十三所観音巡礼 Pilgrimage .

. Kannon Bosatsu 観音菩薩 Avalokiteshvara .

. Senju Kannon 千手観音 Kannon with 11 faces and 1000 arms .

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. Temples with legends .

. Japanese Legends - 伝説 民話 昔話 – ABC-List .

. Japan - Shrines and Temples - Index .

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