Zenyoji Temple is famous for Yoko no Matsu
Seijusan Jizoin Zenyoji standing along
Edogawa River is built in
Muromachi period and this old temple is famous for a huge black pine tree called
Yoko no Matsu designated as a National Natural Property. The site of the temple is very
large enough for the huge pine tree to spread its long branches.
And there are also some other landmarks for visitors to enjoy seeing such as a famous Yokozuna, Tochinishiki's Yokozuna dedicated in the niomon gate, Mt. Yokozunayama, the main hall dedicating a statue of Binzuru Sonja (Pindola bharadvaja), the Fudodo Hall suitable for its another name 'Koiwa Fudo', the new small 88 pilgrimages of Shikoku prepared, the memorial stone tablet for victims of the eruption of Mt. Asama in 1783 and so on.
Moreover, Zenyoji was the head temple of
Enmeiji in
Gyotoku and
Hojoin in
Urayasu. And Zenyoji was a very old temple where
Socho, a
renga poet in Muromachi period, had described his wonderful visit at in his
masterpiece 'Azumaji no Tsuto'.
A walk in Zenyoji Temple standing in nature of Edogawa River and crowded
residential area of
Tokyo gives you much relaxing time. Why don't you visit Seijusan Jizoin Zenyoji
Temple?
Seijusan Jizoin Zenyoji Temple
Zenyoji Temple
Seijusan Jizoin Zenyoji Temple belongs to
Buzanha in
Shingon Shu. It was built in 1527 of Muromachi period. Raicho Hoin in Daigosan in
Kyoto had seen a scared dream, then he visited Koiwa village and built
some halls in it. This is the beginning of Zenyoji Temple. However, there
is another evidence that Zenyoji Temple appeared on 'Azumaji no Tsuto'
an essay written by Socho that said he had visited Zenyoji in 1509. It
means that Zenyoji could be built there before 1509. In 1648,
Tokugawa Family gave Zenyoji Temple the feudal estate having 10 kokus of rice fields.
The principle image is the statue of Jizo Bosatsu carved in
Edo period. There is a Fudodo Hall so it is sometimes called Koiwa Fudoson.
Yoko no Matsu (a huge black pine tree designated as the National Natural
Property in September 21, 2011 and registered as the Natural Property by
Edogawaku in January 13, 1981.)
The length of the branches from east to west is about 31 meters long, and it from south to north is about 28. This pine tree is almost over 600 years old. Yoko no Matsu is one of the two thickest grown pine trees in Japan.
Anyway, the means of 'Yoko' is that Gods and Buddha are appearing.
The Memorial Stone Tablet for Victims of the Eruption of Mt. Asama in 1783 (The stone tablet was designated as a prefectural tangible cultural asset by Tokyo in July 1973 and registered as a tangible cultural asset by Edogawaku in January 1981)
In 1783, some victims of the eruption carried by Edogawa river and they were buried in Zenyoji Temple. This memorial stone tablet was built in the 13th anniversaries in 1795 by villagers.
The Signpost to Koiwa Fudoson at Sakasai (a tangible asset registered by Edogawaku in March 1983)
The Signpost to Koiwa Fudoson at
Ichikawa (a tangible asset registered by Edogawaku in March 1983)
Both of these two signposts tell the direction to Zenyoji Temple.
November 2011
Edogawaku Board of Education
善養寺仁王門前案内板より
出典・抜粋・引用および参考
善養寺仁王門前案内板
善養寺影向の松前案内板
善養寺横綱山前案内板
天明3年浅間山噴火横死者供養碑脇案内板
江戸川区ホームページ
紀元二千六百年記念. 第6卷 地誌其一 葛飾誌略
ウィッキペデイァ
The Landmarks in Zenyoji Temple
Seijusan Jizoin Zenyoji Temple
- Zenyoji Temple has great accessibilities from both Narita and Haneda International
Airport.
- From Narita International Airport, take Keisei-line and get off Edogawa
Sta, take minimally 50 minutes from Narita Airport. And also take JR Sobu-express
line, get off Koiwa Sta.
- From Haneda International Airport, take Keikyu-line bound to Narita, and
get off Edogawa Sta.
- Take 15 minute walk from both Edogawa Sta and 18 minute walk from Koiwa
Sta.
- 2-24-2 Higashi Koiwa, Edogawaku, Tokyo
Noted Scenic Spots near Zenyoji Temple
The areas along the river have many noted spots that people could enjoy history and culture.
It commands a panoramic view of Mt.Fuji behind Tokyo.
The park is the noted scenic spot to see cherry blossoms, roses and colored
leaves with many historical heritages.
It was treated as a high ranked temple as same as Upper Class Daimyos
by Tokugawa Bakufu in Edo period.
Zenyoji Temple
This temple is famous for Yoko no Matsu, the National Natural Property.
It has beautiful nature in every season and legends related to the Battles
of Konodai.
Genkoji Temple, a branch temple of Ryogoku Ekoin has a beautiful garden
and a mordern main hall with CafeTerrace Ekoin.
They are in Nogikuen Park and Sairenji Temple in Yagiri.