One Hundred Famous Views of Edo No.69Sanjusangendo Temple at Fukagawa

The Sanjusangendo Temple was so named because the inner sanctum was made up of 33 (“sanjusan”) bays (“ken”) separated by evenly spaced pillars. The original temple was built in Kyoto in 1164 and the side of the building was about 50 metres long.
During the Edo period, archery contests took place under the eaves of the outer passageway. Archers tested their skill by shooting from one end at targets at the opposite end of the passageway.
A bow maker in Edo city petitioned the shogunate to grant him ground which could be used for practicing archery. He raised the funds needed and in 1642 built Sanjusangendo Temple at Asakusa, modelled on one in Kyoto, and used its passageway for practicing archery.
The temple was burnt down in a fire in 1698 and the shogunate agreed to grant an alternative ground at Fukagawa. A new temple was built in 1701. However, this one was also destroyed because it collapsed during a violent typhoon in 1769. The temple depicted in this print was rebuilt in 1805.
The archery contest started at the passageway in the evening and lasted 24 hours. The archer who hit the target most was named a master archer, and a wooden plate with his name written on it was hung in the temple. However, in this print the archery contest and accompanying crowds are not shown. Only a few samurai warriors wearing swords can be seen closely inspecting the passageway where the contest takes place. Close to the temple and at the mouth of the Sumida River was a timber market which was crisscrossed by many canals, and some timber can be seen floating on the canal behind the temple.