There is a bronze statue of Oman-no-kata near the entrance of the front approach to Shichimenzan (Mount Shichimen) Keishin-in Temple. She is known as a concubine of Tokugawa Ieyasu, and the biological mother of Tokugawa Yorinobu, founder of the Kishu Domain, and Tokugawa Yorifusa, founder of the Mito Domain. She was also a devout follower of the Nichiren Sect of Buddhism. In 1608, when Tokugawa Ieyasu ordered the crucifixion of Nichion Shonin, the 22nd head priest of Kuon-ji Temple, Oman-no-kata entreated Ieyasu to spare his life. She told Ieyasu that if Nichion Shonin must die, then she would also choose to die. Ieyasu finally released Nichion Shonin. Following Ieyasu’s death, Oman-no-kata became a Yojuin (nun). After the 25th memorial service for Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1640, she visited Mount Shichimen, which was closed to women at that time, a visit that opened the door for women to be allowed to visit Mount Shichimen. Kuon-ji Temple also exhibits the big bell along with a statue of Buddha at Joroku-do Hall and a large group of stone Buddha statues called Sentai Botoke (one thousand Buddha statues) donated by Oman-no-kata.
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- 03Main Gate at Mount Shichimen