Ichijo-in Temple
Ichijo-in is a special head temple of the
Shingon sect, located in Senjuin Valley at Mount Koya in Wakayama Prefecture.
The principal image of Ichijo-in is Aizen
Myo-o, which is considered a secret Buddha.
It is said to have been founded by the monk
Zenka during the Konin era (around 840). Other theories include that it was
founded on the site of the residence of the monk Kesen, or that it was founded
by Sadaaki.
During the Nanboku-cho period (14th
century), Seiyu Ryoninbou, the second son of Naoe Kanetsugu, who served Uesugi
Kenshin and Kagekatsu, served as the 14th chief priest and resided at both
Ryuko-in and Hoki-in temples.
After Seiyu Ryoninbou's death, his mother
donated the Thirty-three Bodies Kannon statue for his soul, which remains a
temple treasure to this day.
