A Brief History of Kawasaki Daishi

During the reign of Emperor Sutoku, 890 years ago, there lived a samurai named Hirama Kanenori. Due to a false accusation he was exiled from his birthplace, Owari, and after having wandered through many provinces, Kanenori finally settled in Kawasaki. Here, he made a humble living as a fisherman.
Kanenori was deeply devoted to the teachings of Buddhism, especially worshipping Kobo Daishi. At the time, he was 42 years old, an age considered to be critical for men. He reflected on his unfortunate fate and constantly pleaded for the ousting of evil.
One night a great priest appeared in Kanenori's dream. "While living in China, I carved my image and subsequently cast it into the sea. You must go quickly and use your net to retrieve it. Give offerings of food, incense, flowers and so forth, thereby bringing blessings to the people. Your calamities will change to happiness and prosperity. Your numerous reuests will be fulfilled," declared the great priest. So, Kanenori went to sea, and at an especially glittering spot on the water he threw his net. When he pulled up the net, it contained a wooden statue of the revered figure of Kobo Daishi. At the time, there lived a Buddhist priest, Sonken, who spread the Buddhist teachings throughout the provinces of Wakayama Prefecture. One day he by chance stopped at the place of Kanenori, where he saw the figure of Kobo Daishi. He was moved to tears by the noble statue and extraordinary qualities that were attributed to it.
In the third year of the Daiji reign (1128 AD), Buddhist priest Sonken and Kanenori began constructing a temple, which was the start of the present day Kawasaki Daishi Heikenji Temple, Grand Head Temple of the Chisan School of Shingon Buddhism. It is the center of worship for devoted followers and for spreading the teachings of Kobo Daishi.