Mizusawa-dera
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History
The foundation of the temple is uncertain and all ancient documentary evidence pre-dating the Edo period has been lost. According to temple's own legend, it was founded in the Asuka period. During the reign of Emperor Richū the Kokushi of Kōzuke province Takanobe Ienari had three daughters. Their evil stepmother attempted to kill all three, but when she attempted to have the youngest, Princess Ihaho, drowned in an abyss, she was saved by the intervention of Kannon Bosatsu. She subsequently married the new kokushi, Lieutenant General Takamitsu. Later, Empress Suiko invited Ekan, a high-ranking prelate from Goguryeo to introduce Buddhism to the region, and the by-then widowed Princess Ikaho donated her personal statue of Kannon Bosatsu to be the honzon statue of the temple.. The temple has been destroyed by fires several times in its history.The temple is located approximately 8.4 kilometers west of Shibukawa Station of the JR East Jōetsu Line
Cultural Properties
Gunma Prefectural Tangible Cultural Properties
- Rokkaku-dō. This two-story hexagonal hall is a kyōzō with a rotating sutra library on its ground floor and a state of Dainichi Nyōrai on its second story. It was built between 1775 and 1787
- Kannon-dō. The main hall of the temple, it was built during the Genroku era and completed a 33-year major renovation in the 7th year of Tenmei.
- Niōmon. The main gate of the temple, it was built during the Genroku era and completed a 33-year major renovation in the 7th year of Tenmei.
Shibusawa City Tangible Cultural Properties
- Wooden Amida Nyorai seated statue, Edo period, attributed to Enkū
- Wooden Juichimen Kannon Bosatsu standing statue, Heian period, 11th century, attributed to Jōchō school