Amabiki Kannon - Amabiki Kannon

A common name for Amabikiyama Rakuhoji Temple in Motogi, Sakuragawa City, Ibaraki Prefecture. It belongs to the Buzan school of Shingon Buddhism. It is the 24th sacred site of the Bando Thirty-Three Temples. It was founded by Horin Dokushu Koji from Liang, China, during the reign of Emperor Yomei (reigned 585-587), and is said to be a temple to pray for the recovery of the emperor from illness. It is said that Empress Komyo copied out the Lotus Sutra and dedicated it to pray for safe childbirth, and even today, amulets for safe childbirth are presented to the empress. It is also said that Tokuitsu of the Hosso sect, who debated with Saicho, founded the temple during the Daido era (806-810). The Ashikaga clan was a devoted follower of the temple, and during the Edo period, it was awarded 150 koku of land. The wooden Kannon Bodhisattva statue and the front standing Kannon statue are national important cultural properties. The Madara Kijin Festival in April is famous as a strange festival in the Kanto region.

[Tamura Kosuke]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

茨城県桜川(さくらがわ)市本木(もとぎ)にある雨引山楽法寺(らくほうじ)の通称。真言宗豊山(ぶざん)派に属する。坂東(ばんどう)三十三所第24番霊場。用明(ようめい)天皇（在位585～587）のころ、中国・梁(りょう)の法輪独守居士が来日して創立、天皇の病気平癒祈願の寺と伝えられる。光明(こうみょう)皇后は安産祈願のため『法華経(ほけきょう)』を書写奉納したといい、現在でも皇后に安産の御守りを奉呈している。また、最澄(さいちょう)と論争を行った法相(ほっそう)宗の徳一(とくいつ)が大同(だいどう)年間（806～810）に創立したとも伝える。足利(あしかが)氏の帰依(きえ)厚く、江戸時代には朱印150石を領した。木造観世音菩薩(ぼさつ)像および前立観音像は国の重要文化財。4月のマダラ鬼神祭は関東の奇祭として有名。

［田村晃祐］

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