Limited distribution for only five years from the first year of Reiwa, starting from the 400th anniversary of the regent wife, Nene-sama. The "Three-headed Daikokuten", also known as the memorial Buddha possessed by Toyotomi Hideyoshi throughout his life, is now at the Washimineyama Kodaiji Entoku-in Temple, which was built at the request of Nene-sama to mourn the bodhi after Hideyoshi's death. It also transmits and gathers the deep faith of the people. She died here on September 6th (October 17th, 1624). Reiwa 6 (2024), the 400th anniversary of her death, will be a year of great mourning. The "Three-Headed Daikokuten" introduced here is for a limited time from October of the first year of Reiwa (2019) to the 6th year of Reiwa (2024) to commemorate this milestone year of Nene-sama's death.
The three faces of the three-faced Daikokuten are: Daikokuten, the god who brings fortune in the areas of national defense and good harvests; Bisyamonten, the god who ensures victory and riches; and Benzaiten, who brings happiness and wealth. While each one is a powerful deva in their own right, together they form an all-powerful trinity of fortune. As a result of possessing the three-faced Daikokuten, Hideyoshi was blessed with success in battles (as rearguard at the Seige of Kanegasaki and defeating Akechi Mitsuhide following the great return from Chuugoku), fateful meetings (with Oda Nobunaga and Nene), and great wealth (controlled a vast amount of territory, and received large payments).
This item has received an eye-opening ceremony at Entoku-in in Kodai-ji temple (a proof of ceremony certificate is included). Kodai-ji was built at the request of Nene, the North Mandokoro, after receiving the name Kodai-in in 1603, to enshrine her husband Hideyoshi. In 1605, the open-court and front-garden of Fushimi Castle were relocated to present day Shimokawaracho. It is thought that Hideyoshi's personal three-faced Daikokuten was enshrined in the temple at this time. Nene spent her remaining 19 years of life here, passing away at the age of 77. During this time she was supported by her brother, Kinoshita Iesada, and his son, Toshifusa. In 1632, 9 years after the passing of Nene, Toshifusa changed the dwelling to Entoku-in in memorial of the Kinoshita family under the foundation of the Kodai-ji priest, Sankou.