Pop Japan

Sugimoto-dera is one of the oldest surviving temples, which foundation dates back on 734 by priest Gyoki. His carved statue of 11-faced Kannon is still enshrined in the temple.

Few years more, on 851, priest Ennin also made an 11-faced Kannon. One century passes, and on 985, priest Genshin also worked on his 11-faced Kannon and enshrined it to the temple, too. There was a folktale or legend that these three Kannon statues escaped from a huge fire some 750 years ago. They are believed to sat under a cedar tree within the temple grounds order to protect themselves. Since then, the temple was called Sugimoto-dera or "under the cedar tree."