. 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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Kannonji 観音寺 Kannon-Ji, Rokuromi
勅願院 Chokugan-In 観音寺 Kannonji
The Kannon statue is Nyoirin Kannon 如意輪観音 Wishfulfilling Kannon
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The history of this temple starts year 727, with miraculous arrival of Goddess Kannon
at 小野の湊 the Ono harbor (currently a part of 大浜町 Ōhama district).
Kannon reveled herself as Nyoirin Kannon (Omnipotent Kannon) sitting on a mystical bird
with four legs and eight heads.
When Emperor Shōmu (701-756) learned about this miracle in 737,
he decided to build a hall at 登城山 Mount Tōjō to enshrine her
and named it 補陀洛山観音寺 Fudarakuzan Kannon-ji (Kannon temple at sacred Mount Potalaka).
The temple was expanded to complete seven-structured compound in 864
by the 3rd Head of the Tendai sect of Buddhism – monk 智証大師 Enchin (814-891).
After his visit the temple was officially acknowledged
as one of 72 practice grounds that pray for safety of the Country.
In 1248 the 3rd Head of the Jōdo sect of Buddhism 良忠 Ryōchū (1199-1287) visited Kannon-ji
on his way to the eastern parts of Japan. He made the temple a Main Temple of Ise province
which role was to teach the prayer to Buddha Amida (Buddha of Infinite Light).
Ryōchū converted four elders of the nearby village to Jōdō sect and gave them Buddhist names.
They were: 観阿弥 Kanami (the founder of Hacchō clan), 道阿弥 Dōami (founder of Shimizu clan),
専阿弥 Senami (founder of Hinaga Ryōshō-ji temple), 誉阿弥 Yoami (founder of Tabika Kuhon-ji temple
and Kuwana Jūnen-ji temple).
The wooden statue of Ryōchū, which according to the legend was made by him,
is enshrined in the Chokuganin Kannon-ji and is designated as Jōdō sect’s treasure.
The prayer, which he taught in the temple, was also passed down through generations of monks
for more than 700 years.
Every year for three days during Obon (Festival of the Dead) the prayer is chanted in front of the statue of Ryōchū.
The temple moved to the current place originally called Rokuromi village in 1522
after the abbot saw Goddess Kannon in a dream two nights in a row.
The name of the village probably comes from a word rokuro, which means lathe
– a machine used to rotate wood while shaping and cutting.
It is believed that the Japanese technique using lathe to create wooden bowls
was created and promoted by Prince Koretaka (844-897), a half-brother of Emperor Seiwa (850-881).
Woodturners (kijiya) that were using this technique probably came to this land
from Watarai area and started to live at the bottom of 鈴鹿山 Mount Suzuka.
On the 19th of December 1543 by the Emperor’s command the temple became an official praying place
for 後奈良天皇 Emperor Gonara (1497-1557).
It was also presented with 6.93ha (17.12ac) of land. The official document written by Emperor Gonara
was treasured by the monks for generations and it is still in the temple’s possession.
The next two emperors: Emperor Ogimachi (1517-1593) and Emperor Goyōzei (1571-1617)
also treated this place as their praying place.
On the 2nd day of the New Year 600 scrolls of Great Perfection of Wisdom Sutra were chanted in the name of the Emperor,
wishing for his long and healthy life and praying for stability of the Country.
Chokugan-in Kannon-ji also sent tea, which was grown in its precinct, to the Imperial Palace.
In 1594 as a result of nationwide land survey ordered by the second “Great Unifier” of Japan
Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1537-1598), the temple’s land was confiscated.
It started to fall into decay but when the third “Great Unifier” of Japan and founder of 250 years
lasting Togukawa shogunate shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543-1616) learned that Chokugan-in Kannon-ji
was a former Imperial praying place, he donated 1.9ha (4.6ac) of land on the 15th of February 1605.
The temple was also officially given a rank of the Main Jōdō Temple in the province
and was allowed to use the “triple hollyhock” crest of Tokugawa clan.
Since then abbots of Chokugan-in Kannon-ji would visit Edo Castle on the 2nd of January every year
and present the temple’s tea to the shogun.
At the same time 600 scrolls of Great Perfection of Wisdom Sutra would be chanted at the temple
wishing for peace and tranquility in the Country.
Since then Tokugawa clan devoted themselves to Goddess Kannon worshiped at this temple.
In 1699 Keishōin, a concubine of the 3rd shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu (1604-1651),
donated an ornamental curtain displayed at the front of the main statue.
In 1751 竹姫 Takehime, adopted daughter of 5th shogun Tokugawa Tsunayoshi (1646-1709),
donated a decorative cord with imprinted crest of Tokugawa clan.
She also had a private small Buddhist statue made as a miniature of the Kannon statue
enshrined in Chokugan-in Kannon-ji.
among them in 1724 a monk named Kantsū, visited the temple’s grounds to spread the Buddhist teachings.
In 1768 a member of Iwashimizu clan, a supporter of Chokugan-in Kannon-ji
and a priest at Iwashimizu Hachimangū shrine founded the Main Gate of the temple.
The Gate was build according to Kantsū’s teachings in a ryūgū style (dragon palace style).
Unfortunately it was destroyed during the Tōnankai earthquake in 1944,
but in March 1961 it was rebuilt.
The current bell of the temple was made in August of 1644.
Luckily it was not confiscated as obligatory metal supply during the 2nd World War.
The Main Hall which stands to this day was built in May of 1665 and later improved in 1751.
In 1994 it was repaired thanks to cooperation of many believers and their enormous donation of 160.000.000 yen.
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- - - - - Reference of the temple
- reference source : isekannon.jp/english ... -
- reference source : nippon-reijo.jimdofree ... -
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This temple is Nr. 25 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 .
. Nyoirin Kannon 如意輪観音 Wishfulfilling Kannon
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. Japanese Legends - 伝説 民話 昔話 – ABC-List .
. Kannonji 観音寺 Kannon-Ji Temple Legends .
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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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