Narita Fudo and the faith in it by the Ichikawa Family of Kabuki
It could be said that the history of Narita is one with Naritasan Shinsho-ji Temple. The history of the temple goes back to as early as 940, when Priest Kanjo is said to have founded it in order to suppress the rebellion of Taira-no Masakado, a warrior of the Heian Period (794 - 1185). Since then it has been the center of the cult of Fudo (a fierce incarnation of cosmic Buddha) throughout the Kanto Region for more than a thousand years. One of the reasons for its prosperity was the religious faith of the Ichikawa Danjuro Family (one of the major family lines in the Kabuki tradition). Although Ichikawa Danjuro I, who played the central role in Yedo Kabuki, was born in Yedo (the present Tokyo) in 1660, his father was from the area that is now Narita City. When Danjuro I, who was a strong believer of Fudo, presented a play on miraculous efficacy of Fudo, it became very popular. Danjuro II and III also performed in a play on Narita Fudo and enjoyed a good reputation throughout the Yedo Region, which helped the name of Narita Fudo to spread all over in a short period of time. The Fudo's image treasured in Shinsho-ji Temple had been unveiled and shown to the public also at Eitai-ji Temple in Yedo many times since 1703, and this facilitated people's visit to Shinsho-ji Temple. Visiting the temple became popular during the Bunka Era (1804 - 1818), and it still is.
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