Shojuji Temple
Main Image Maria Kannon Statue (with shrine) Category Bosatsu (Bodhisattva)
Impression TagsMysteryDepthStillness
DescriptionThe Maria Kannon statue preserved at Shojuji Temple, the family temple of the Nanbu clan, is a small bronze image designated as a Tangible Cultural Property of Morioka City. The figure of Kannon with hands joined in prayer is understood to have also embodied devotion to the Virgin Mary and has been handed down together with its small shrine. According to temple tradition, it was brought by Otake-no-kata, who became the wife of Morioka domain lord Nanbu Toshinao. It has been preserved as a rare object reflecting the intersection of Christian culture in the Momoyama period and Japanese Kannon devotion. General viewing requires a telephone reservation by the previous day, making this one of Iwate’s most distinctive Buddhist-related sites, especially when seen in the context of the temple’s connection with the Nanbu family.
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