Naritasan Shinshōji Temple is the main center of the Shingon mystical Buddhist sect located in Narita City, Chiba Prefecture. Monzen town, which lies at 800 meters from Narita Station to the temple, has a lively crowd of worshipers throughout the year. This paper examines the history of the Shinshōji Temple through changes in folklore, oral tradition, and a special opening ceremony called Kaichō; It further examines the life of Monzen town, concentrating on its historical narrative. In other words, this is a study of Shinshōji Temple’s foundation legend during the Edo period and of modern commemorative events based on the foundation legend. The temple and the town have existed together as a “fate community” since the middle of the Edo period to the present, with many pilgrimage associations called Kō.On the unusual occasion of Kaichō.,many worshipers visit the temple and town. After the 1938 Millennium anniversary of the foundation, the character of Kaichō transformed into a commemorative foundation event. The temple’s foundation legend has been reproduced at commemorative events every 10 years since 1968. This is a new life rhythm that differs from the traditional yearly ritual in Monzen town. And each of the seven sub-towns organize the Gion Matsuri festival once every seven years. The people of Monzen town live in multiple types of time— every year, every seven years, and every ten years. This perception of time produces unique historical narratives.

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