Hase Temple (Hase Kannon)

This old temple is said to have existed since before the Kamakura period (1185-1333). The main image of the eleven-faced Kannon is enshrined here, and at 9.18 meters high, it is one of the largest wooden Buddhist statues in Japan.

The Kannon Hall is built on a flat site, where there is also an observatory. From the observatory, visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of the sea of Kamakura, the town of Hase, and even the Miura Peninsula.

The temple is well known for its hydrangea blossoms, with 2,500 hydrangea plants in 40 varieties.

Hase-dera Temple is officially called Kaikozan Jishoin Hase-dera Temple, also known as Hase Kannon. It is also the fourth temple of the 33 sacred places of the Bando Kannon Sacred Shrine.

History

Hase-ji Temple is said to have been founded in the Nara period (710-794), but the specific history and background of the temple is not clear.

According to tradition, in 736, Fusamae Fujiwara invited Tokumichi, the founder of Hase-ji Temple in Yamato, to build the temple with a statue of the eleven-faced Kannon as its principal image.

In 721 (5th year of Yoro), Tokumichi made two statues of the eleven-faced Kannon from a camphor tree he found in the mountains of Yamato Province. One of the statues became the Kannon of Yamato Hase Temple, and the other was washed out to sea after a prayer.

Fifteen years later, the Kannon statue washed ashore at Nagaiura on the Miura Peninsula and was enshrined in Kamakura, which is believed to be the origin of Hase-ji Temple.

The historical existence of Hase-ji Temple is confirmed through the temple bell of the first year of Bun’ei (1264), which bears an inscription.

During the Kamakura period (1185-1333), various powerful figures restored the temple and its principal image, and Ashikaga Takauji and Ashikaga Yoshimitsu made donations to Hase-ji.

In the early Edo period (1603-1867), Tokugawa Ieyasu restored the temple, and Haseji was later converted to the Pure Land sect.

Precincts

Kannon-do (Kannon Hall): This hall enshrines the Hase Kannon, known for its standing image of the eleven-faced Kannon. The image is similar to the statue of Kannon at Hase-ji Temple in Nara, with a prayer bead and tsujutsu in the right hand and a water vial in the left.
Amida Hall: Located to the right of the Kannon Hall, this hall enshrines a seated statue of Amida Nyorai. The statue is said to have been built by Minamoto no Yoritomo, but was actually created in the Muromachi period (1336-1573).
Daikokudo: Located to the left of the Kannon Hall, this hall enshrines a statue of Daikokuten. This statue of Daikokuten is one of the Seven Gods of Good Luck of Kamakura Enoshima. Originally created in 1412, it was moved to the Treasure House, where a newer statue of Daikokuten is now enshrined.
Kannon Museum: The former Treasure House was renovated and opened in 2015. It houses a Buddhist bell, a suspended image of the eleven-faced Kannon, and a statue of the 33rd manifestation of the Kannon.
Sutra Repository: This building is built in the style of a “wanzo” (a storehouse for sutras).
Jizo Hall: Located on the approach to the mountainside.
Benten Hall: Located to the right of the temple gate, this hall enshrines a statue of Bensaiten (Sarasvati). The Benten Cave is also nearby.
Benten Cave: Located in front of Benten Hall near Hosei-ike Pond, this cave is said to be the place where Kobo Daishi used to visit. The cave has sculptures of Benzaiten and 16 children on the cave walls, and the folk belief of Ugajin is also enshrined here.
Kakigara Inari: Located beside the bell tower, this shrine is said to enshrine the oyster shells attached to the statue of Hase Kannon.
Main Hall: Located on the right before entering the temple gate, it is connected to the temple office. Completed in the Heisei era, it is not open to the public and is mainly used for Buddhist memorial services.
Monument to Kyoshi Takahama: A stone statue of the Kannon (Goddess of Mercy) stands in front of the Daikoku-do Hall and is used as a monument to Kyoshi Takahama’s haiku.
Bust of Masao Kume: Located in front of Daikoku-do Hall, this statue was erected by the Pen Club on the third anniversary of Masao Kume’s death.
Takayama Kogyu Residence Monument: Located to the left of the gate, this monument was erected to commemorate the residence of the thinker Takayama Kogyu, who stayed here around 1901.

Important Cultural Property

Buddhist bell: inscribed with an inscription cast in the first year of Bun’ei era (1264).
Eleven-faced Kannon Suspended Buddha: This is a six-faced suspended Buddha with a three-dimensional image of the Buddha mounted on a circular mirror. Some of them have inscriptions dated 1326, 1330, and 1331.

Other Cultural Properties

Wooden Standing Image of Eleven-Faced Kannon (the principal image): At 9.18 meters tall, this is one of the tallest wooden Buddhist statues in Japan (the largest wooden Buddhist statue in Japan is the Fukuoka Daibutsu statue at Tochoji Temple in Hakata Ward, Fukuoka City, which is estimated to be 10.8 meters tall). The date of construction is not certain, but it is estimated to have been made around the Muromachi period (1333-1573). It has been restored several times, and a repair inscription dated 1485 (Bunmei 17) has been found. The current halo is made of aluminum and was built in 1991. The statue stands on a square rock with a water jar in its left hand and prayer beads and a tin cane in its right hand. One of the features of the statue is its posture with the left pinky finger raised.