Exploring Japanese Landmarks in Nishiki-e and Photographs

Samezu / Kaian-ji Temple

Samezu kaigan Coast

The land from the southern end of Minami Shinagawa-shuku to Kitahamakawa, facing the eastern side ocean, was called Samezu. There are multiple theories on the origin of the name including one which states that "it was called 'Samizu' (sand water) for the pure water which was found in the sands of the beach and in the ocean during low tide", one that states "when a giant shark that died here in 1251 was caught, a Kannon idol was found from its stomach, so it was named 'sameshu' (shark sandbank)", and yet another which says it was because "on the beach on the left there was a spring, so it was called 'samizu' (left water)". Fishing was prosperous and from fall to spring nori seaweed cultivation was also carried out, with Asakusa Nori actually being made from raw seaweed harvested from Shinagawa and this area.

Nishiki-e and Paintings

名所江戸百景　南品川鮫洲海岸

Kaian-ji Temple

Founded by Houjo Tokiyori in 1251. Thereafter, Rankei Doryu became the founder, and it was restored in 1596 by Tenso Keison. The sect was originally the Rinzai-shu Sect, however upon the restoration, it was converted to the Soto-shu Sect. The principal object of worship is a Kannon idol recovered from the stomach of a great shark caught in the sea before the temple in 1251. The sango was made "Fudarakusan" in connection with the name of the mountain in which the Kannon goddess of mercy lived, Fudaraku (Sanskrit: Potala-ka). The temple name means "a peaceful and tranquil world". It was a meisho (famous place) for cherry blossoms, however the beauty of the autumnal leaves of the maples planted in the area behind the temple was so famous that the short song "Kaian-ji Temple" said that its beauty was unmatched even by that of Tatsutahime, the goddess that ruled over the autumn, or Takao, the highest ranked courtesan of Shinyoshiwara. The temple holds the graves of several famous historical figures including Iwakura Tomomi（→http://www.ndl.go.jp/portrait/e/datas/23.html） and Matsudaira Shungaku.