2022/10/21

Renkoji Kannon Anoda

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. Japan - Shrines and Temples - Index .
. 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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Renkooji 蓮光寺 Renko-Ji, Anoda
新宮山 Shingūzan 蓮光寺 Renkoji
亀山市阿野田町2246 / Mie Prefecture, Kameyama city, Anoda town 2246

The Kannon statue is 十一面観音 Juichimen Kannon.
Jūichimen Kannon statue of Renkō-ji is designated as Kameyama city’s Cultural Property.

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According to the legend Jūichimen Kannon (Eleven-Faced Kannon) enshrined in the Kannon Hall of Renkō-ji temple
was carved by 源信 Genshin (also known as 恵心僧都 Eshin Sōzu, 942-1017).
The statue was originally worshiped in 安養寺 Anyō-ji temple, which belonged to Jōdo sect of Buddhism.
During the Keichō period (1596-1615) Anyō-ji lost its buildings in a fire,
but fortunately Jūichimen Kannon was taken out in time and saved from burning.
Since then it was protected by the local people.
Since 1669, after 板倉重常 Itakura Shigetsune (1643-1688) became a new Lord of the Kameyama Castle,
all the following Lords of the castle and their wives were devoted believers.
They would frequently offer donations for flowers, incense and candles.
Shigetsune’s main wife 照光院 Shōkōin (secular name 筆子 Fudeko) was especially devoted believer of Goddess Kannon.
In 1695 she moved the temple to nowadays Tenjin area in Kameyama city
and changed its name to 慈眼寺 Jigen-ji.
The temple became a branch temple of 照光寺 Shōkō-ji from Nomura area in Kameyama
and changed its affiliation to Nichiren sect of Buddhism.
After the Meiji Restoration in the middle of the 19th Century,
Jigen-ji not having an abbot and supporters was closed.
Its buildings were torn down and two statues were moved to other temples.
The first Jūichimen Kannon, together with other Buddhist statues and ritual utensils, was moved to Shōkō-ji.
The second Jūichimen Kannon was moved to Renkō-ji and enshrined in a newly built 観音堂 Kannon Hall.
This Kannon Hall wore off with time and had to be rebuilt.
Thanks to the donations from the local community,
the new Kannon Hall made from hinoki cypress was finished
and the official celebration ceremony was held on March 17th 1982.
To commemorate this event a stone pagoda with a text:
Temple Number 19 of Ise 33 Temples Pilgrimage
was also erected.
- source : renkoji ...

. Genshin 恵心僧都原信 Eshin Sozu Genshin (942 - 1017) .


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shuin 朱印 stamp

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- - - - - Reference of the temple
- reference source : isekannon.jp/english Renkō-ji ... -
- reference source : nippon-reijo.jimdofree ... -



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This temple is former Nr. 19 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 .

. Juichimen Kannon 十一面観音 Senju Kannon 千手観音 Kannon with 11 faces and 1000 arms .

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


....................................................................... Kanagawa 神奈川県 
高座郡 Koza district

mochiage Jizo 持上げ地蔵 lifting the Jizo statue
If someone can lift the statue of Jizo Bosatsu at 蓮光寺 the Temple Renko-Ji
and it feels very light, his wish will be fullfilled.
. Legends about Jizo Bosatsu .




....................................................................... Miyagi 宮城県 
仙台市 Sendai 泉区 Izumi ward

oiwake Nyorai 笈分如来 Nyorai at the crossroads
The Ajari priest Kakumei 覚明阿闍梨 from 慈恩寺 the Temple Jion-Ji
at 出羽国寒河 Samukawa in Dewa no Kuni had a visionary dream
to ask 安阿弥快慶 the statue carver Kaikei from Kyoto to make a statue of Amida Nyorai.
Kaikei found his statue so wonderful, he did not want to hand it to Kakumei and told him it was not yet finished.
When Kakumei came back a year later, Kaikei said he would go with him to 近江の草津 Kusatsu in Omi.
In parting they found that there were two statues and they could not find out
which was the real one and with was a fake.
So each took one statue and they left for home.
This is why the statues are called "at the crossroad" or
"miwake no Nyorai" 身分け如来 Nyorai of two bodies.
Kakumei went down South downriver, had a dream of of a place where he planted a large tree.
So he moved to this place with the statue.
The other statue came to 蓮光寺 the Temple Renko-Ji in Kyoto.

Look at the photo here:
- 木造阿弥陀如来立像 - Mokuzo Amidanyorai Ryuzo -

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- reference : Nichibun Yokai Database -

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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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