Daifukuji Temple (Gake Kannon) and Suwa Shrine [Chiba]

【Daifukuji Temple summary】

Daifukuji Temple is said to have originated in 717, when Gyoki carved a statue of the Kannon (Goddess of Mercy) for the local fishermen to pray for safety and good catches.

【Gyoki？】

Gyoki was a Japanese Buddhist monk active from the Asuka to the Nara periods. Although he was frequently oppressed and forbidden by the Imperial Court, he gained overwhelming support from the people, and he was a man who bounced back from adversity by mobilizing his power. Later, he was invited to be in charge of the construction of the Great Buddha (Todaiji Temple) in Nara and is one of the “Four Saints” of Todaiji Temple.

東大寺【奈良県】

【Daifukuji Temple Main hall】

From the Edo period to the Taisho period, the temple was lost and rebuilt several times due to fires and landslides. The current main hall was rebuilt in 1926.

There are two paths to the top, the one from the main hall is relatively easier. Looking up, you can see the Kannon Hall. It looks somewhat like the Yutoku Inari Shrine in Saga Prefecture.

Yutoku Inari Shrine [Saga]

【Daifukuji Temple Gake Kannon】

The current Kannon-do was rebuilt in 1925.

If you go up to the Kannon-do Hall, you can see Tateyama Bay below and even Izu Oshima Island on a clear day.

There is a suspended Kannon Hall with an inscription of the eleven-faced Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva on the cliff.

【Daifukuji Temple GOSHUIN】

【Narita-san Fudo Myo-o】

Fudo is enshrined in the middle of Daifukuji Kannondo and Suwa Shrine. The hall seems to have been built by carving a cliff. Unfortunately, we could not find any detailed information.

【Suwa Shrine】

 Suwa Shrine is located next to Daifukuji Temple. This shrine was also built in 717, the same year as Daifukuji Temple, with a request from the Suwa Taisha Shrine in Shinano.

The approach to the top is straight, just like a shrine. Those with weak legs and feet may prefer to take the approach from the main hall of Daifukuji Temple.

【Suwa Shrine Shrine building】

The main hall and worship hall were destroyed by arson in 2017. There was a magnificent mukai carving said to have been made by Yoshinobu Goto, a disciple of the late Edo period Awa master craftsman Yoshimitsu Goto, but unfortunately it was lost. Currently, the wooden shrine pavilion with copper shingle roof has been reconstructed.

There was a small shrine enshrined at the bottom of the cliff behind the shrine building. This shrine also seems to have been carved out of the cliff and built as an Inari shrine.

【Suwa Shrine GOSHUIN】

【Daifukuji Temple (Gake Kannon) Nearby attractions】

Tateyama Castle , Okinoshima Park , Nihonji Temple

Okinoshima Uga-Daimyojin Shrine (Okinoshima Park) [Chiba]

日本寺【千葉県】

【Daifukuji Temple (Gake Kannon) Access】

関連投稿(Related Posts):

Okinoshima Uga-Daimyojin Shrine (Okinoshima Park) [Chiba] Nihon-ji Temple [Chiba] Sunosaki Shrine [Chiba] Awa Shrine [Chiba]