Chichibu Fudasho No.20 Iwanoue-do Temple
The temple is owned by the local Uchida family. The original hall, built at the end of the 11th century, burned down in 1569. The principal statue was kept in a temporary hall. The Uchida family, who ruled this area, used their own funds to begin building a new Kannon Hall in 1678. The construction took 25 years to complete.
Since then, the family has maintained the hall and its principal statue for over 300 years.
The Main Hall Sanctuary was repaired in 1796, and the carvings were restored in 1830.
Chichibu Fudasho No.20 Iwanoue-do Temple
- Japanese / English notation
- 法王山 岩之上堂（ほうおうざん いわのうえどう）/ Houou-Zan Iwanoue-do Temple
- Location
- 〒368-0056 Terao2169,chichibu-shi,Saitama
- School
- Rinzai Zen School, Nanzen-ji Branch
- Principal Image
- Sho Kannon (Sacred Kannon)
- Tagline
- A Temple Hall Standing on a Sheer Cliff
- Blessings
- Smooth Breastfeeding
- Successful Parenting
- Protection from Hardship and Peaceful Living
- Highlights
- Senbiki Monkeys: These dolls are part of the interior decorations inside the hall and are dedicated to prayers for safe childbirth and the healthy growth of children.
- Zushi: This is the box housing the Kannon statue. It was dedicated in the 17th century and features paintings of the sun god, the moon god, the wind god, and the thunder god.
- Miracles of Kannon at This Temple
- Kannon’s Rowboat
Long ago, a young man received news that his mother, who lived across the river, had suddenly fallen ill. He hurried to the riverbank, but the heavy rain had made the river impossible to cross. When he bravely tried to cross, a child he had never seen before appeared with a boat and safely carried him to the other side. As he tried to thank the child, the child said, “I was moved by your love for your parent. Even your mother, who is now sick, puts her faith in me,” and then disappeared along with the boat.
When the young man reached his mother, her illness had been cured.
- Nearest station
- 25-minutes walk from Chichibu Railway Oonohara Station.