Chichibu Fudasho No.32 Hosho-ji Temple
The Kannon Hall was built in 1707 in a stage-like structure.
The principal statue of Sho Kannon, holding an oar as if rowing a boat, is known as Ofune Kannon or “Boat Kannon.”
Behind the hall is a large tafoni rock cave, featuring many honeycomb-like holes. These formed when salts in the rock came to the surface, crystallized, and gradually broke the stone apart.
Chichibu Fudasho No.32 Hosho-ji Temple
- Japanese / English notation
- 般若山 法性寺（はんにゃさん ほうしょうじ）/ Hannya-San Hosho-ji Temple
- Location
- 〒368-0103 Hannya2661,ogano-machi,chichibugun,Saitama
- School
- Soto Zen School
- Principal Image
- Sho Kannon (Sacred Kannon)
- Tagline
- The Moss Temple of Chichibu
- Blessings
- Enlightened Insight
- Mother-and-Child Safety
- Success and Good Luck
- Highlights
- Nio-mon Gate: This is a combined Main Gate and Bell Tower, which is the only one of its type among Chichibu pilgrimage temples. It was built in 1710.
- Kannon Hall: This was built in 1707 against a cliff in a stage-like structure. It is also called Hannya-do Hall, named after a legend in which Kobo Daishi, a 9th-century monk, completed copying all 600 volumes of the Great Hannya Sutra in a single night and dedicated them to this hall.
- Okunoin, the Remote Sanctuary: This features a giant rock called Ofune-iwa, meaning “Boat Rock,” which is 200 meters long. It enshrines Ofune Kannon and Dainichi Nyorai, the Cosmic Buddha, and takes about one hour for a round trip.
- Miracles of Kannon at This Temple
- A Daughter of Toshima Gonnokami
Long ago, there was a man called Toshima Gonnokami. One day, his daughter was traveling by boat along a river with a boatman, when they came to a deep part of the river and the boat could not move.
The boatman said, “An evil fish lives here. The boat cannot move unless someone is offered as a sacrifice.” The daughter prepared to jump into the water herself.
At that moment, a woman holding an umbrella appeared on the boat. She saved the daughter and defeated the evil fish. Toshima Gonnokami learned that the woman was an incarnation of Kannon. He was very grateful and devoted himself to the Kannon of this temple, honoring it with great care.
- Nearest station
- 2-hours and 30-minutes walk from Seibu Railway Seibuchichibu Station.