Andoji Kannon Kuwana

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Andoji 安渡寺 Ando-Ji, Kuwana
星川山 Hoshikawazan, 安渡寺 Andoji

三重県桑名市星川448-10 / Mie, Kuwana city, Hoshikawa

The Kannon statue is 聖観世音菩薩 Sho Kannon.

- Chant of the temple
The stars reflecting on the water, looks like a calm river easy to cross.
天津星川瀬に影のうつる夜はやすの渡りと見ゆるものかな

This temple is designated as Cultural Property of Kuwana city. 桑名市文化財指定.

The main statue enshrined at Ando-ji temple is a 10th Century 38cm (14.96in) high Shō Kannon (Sacred Kannon)
made from a single piece of hinoki 檜材 cypress.
The wooden halo attached to the back of the figure together with the lotus pedestal are 57cm (22.44in) high.
It is assumed that originally the statue was painted to some extent but none of the coloring is left on it anymore.
Goddess Kannon is holding a lotus flower in its left hand.
The right hand is half raised to the chest in symbolic gesture of fearlessness 施無畏手 (Abhaya Mudra).
The face looks is gentle with a delicate smile.
The pattern on the robes of the statue faded away and it is hard to tell what clothes was this Kannon wearing.
It was probably decorated in a style typical for Esoteric Buddhism.
The simple carving at the back or the deep carving used in the shoulders area or at the bottom of the statue
is also typical for Buddhist statues of this size.
Together with the restored lotus pedestal and boat-shaped halo it reflects the style of 10th Century Buddhist sculptures.
Shō Kannon is not one of the 33 manifestations of Goddess Kannon,
but rather represents the root, unchangeable, pure, noble, sacred form of Kannon.
The main statue of Ando-ji was made from fragrance wood.
Since the 9th Century Tendai temples treated these small statues as second important statues at the altar.
Many of these beautiful sculptures were made and some even survived to our times.
Without any doubt the Kannon enshrined at Ando-ji is one of them.
Since ancient times Ando-ji was one of sub-temples of Tendai sect
and was known as 星川の観音さん Kannon of Hoshikawa.
Historical records mentioning this name were found inside a statue of Buddha Amida.
This statue, designated as Yokkaichi city Important Cultural Property, is enshrined in Zenkyō-ji temple of Tomida district.
A diary titled 作善日誌 Sakuzen Nisshi and written by 藤原実重 Fujiwara Saneshige mentions the name at least two times.
It states: 2nd year of Jōō period (1223) – offering of 100 sen for the roof of the Hoshikawa temple’s hall;
2nd year of Karoku period (1226) October – offering of 100 sen for a hot water boiling pot,
2800 rolls of Heart Sutra chanted.
These two entries tells us that at the beginning of the 13th Century there was a Kannon Hall at the temple,
and that water for making food was boiled.
Ando-ji has a goeika 御詠歌 (song of praise recited at the end of Buddhist ceremony):
The stars reflecting on the water (in Japanese hoshikawa, it is also the name of the mountain),
looks like a calm river easy to cross (in Japanese ando, it is the name of the temple).

Kannon of Ando-ji is especially known as Koyasu Kannon (goddess of childbirth and guardian of children)
and many women come to ask her for help.
She is also worshiped by local people as a fortune bringer and protector against bad luck.
Each year on the 10th of January a prayer called Hatsu Kannon-e (first Kannon prayer of the New Year)
is held, during which monk and the believers pray for safety of the households, good fortune and expelling of bad luck.
Another popular festival called Tōka Kannon 十日観音 (Kannon of the 10th day) or
Tōka Bon (the 10th day Festival of the Dead) is also held every year on the 10th of August.

- source : isekannon..andoji

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shuin　朱印 stamp

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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. 30 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 .

. Shō Kannon 聖観音 / 正観音 Sho Kannon / 聖観世音菩薩

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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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