"Tokudō Shōnin, there are thirty-three places where Kwannon reveals her special favour, for behold she has, in her boundless love, divided herself into many bodies, so that he who cries for aid shall not cry in vain. Alas! men continue to go their evil ways, for they know not of these sacred shrines. They live their sordid lives and pass into Hell, a vast and countless number. Oh, how blind they are, how wayward, and how full of folly! If they were to make but a single pilgrimage to these thirty-three shrines sacred to our Lady of Mercy, a pure and wonderful light would shine from their feet, feet made spiritually strong to crush down all evil, to scatter the hundred and thirty-six hells into fragments. If, in spite of this pilgrimage, one should chance to fall into Hell, I will take his place and receive into myself all his suffering, for if this happened my tale of peace would be false, and I should indeed deserve to suffer. Here is a list of the thirty-and-three sacred shrines of Kwannon. Take it into the troubled world of men and women, and make known the everlasting mercy of Kwannon."

Tokudō, having carefully listened to all Emma-Ō had told him, replied: "You have honoured me with such a mission, but mortals are full of doubts and fears, and they would ask for some sign that what I tell them is indeed true."

Emma-Ō at once presented the abbot with his jewelled seal, and, bidding him farewell, sent him on his way accompanied by two attendants.

While these strange happenings were taking place in the Underworld the disciples of Tokudō perceived that though their master's body had lain for three days and nights the flesh had not grown cold. The devoted followers did not bury the body, believing that their master was not dead. And such was indeed the case, for eventually Tokudō awakened from his trance, and in his right hand he held the jewelled seal of Emma-Ō.

Tokudō lost no time in narrating his strange adventures, and when he had concluded his story he and his disciples set off on a pilgrimage to the thirty-three holy places[2] over which the Goddess of Mercy presides.

List of the "Thirty-three Places"

The following is a complete list of the "Thirty-three Places" sacred to Kwannon:

1.Fudaraku-ji, at Nachi, in Kishū.
2.Kimii-dera, near Wakayama, in Kishū.
3.Kokawa-dera, in Kishū.
4.Sefuku-ji, in Izumi.
5.Fujii-dera, in Kawachi.
6.Tsubosaka-dera, in Yamato.
7.Oka-dera, in Yamato.
8.Hase-dera, in Yamato.
9.Nan-enō, at Nara, in Yamato.
10.Mimuroto-dera, at Uji, in Yamashiro.
11.Kami Daigo-dera, at Uji, in Yamashiro.
12.Iwama-dera, in Ōmi.
13.Ishiyama-dera, near Ōtsu, in Ōmi.
14.Miidera, near Ōtsu, in Ōmi.
15.Ima-Gumano, at Kyōto, in Yamashiro.
16.Kiyomizu-dera, at Kyōto.
17.Rokuhara-dera, at Kyōto.
18.Rokkaku-dō, at Kyōto.
19.Kōdō, at Kyōto.
20.Yoshimine-dera, at Kyōto.
21.Anōji, in Tamba.
22.Sōjiji, in Settsu.
23.Katsuo-dera, in Settsu.
24.Nakayama-dera, near Kōbe, in Settsu.
25.Shin Kiyomizu-dera, in Harima.
26.Hokkeji, in Harima.
27.Shosha-san, in Harima.
28.Nareai-ji, in Tango.
29.Matsunoo-dera, in Wakasa.
30.Chikubu-shima, island in Lake Biwa, in Ōmi.
31.Chōmeiji, in Ōmi.
32.Kwannonji, in Ōmi.
33.Tanigumi-dera, near Tarui, in Mino.[3]

The "Hall of the Second Moon"