Virtual North Kawachi 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #15 Raiun-ji Temple

 

     Son'en-ji Temple was founded sometime between 729 and 749 by Priest Senkyo at the request of Emperor Shomu (701-756).  The temple grew and came to have 46 branches in its precincts.  Raiun-ji Temple was founded as one of the branches.

     Later, the temple belonged to the Shingon Sect.  Priest Jisson, who founded Raiko-ji Temple, stayed in Raiun-ji Temple in 1347.  That led Raiun-ji Temple to belong to the Yuzu Nembutsu School of Pure Land Buddhism.   

     In 1558 and 1612, stone monuments for the Thirteen Buddhas were erected.  The Thirteen Buddhas judge the dead certain days or years after their death: Acala after 7 days, Sakyamuni after 14 days, Manjushri after 21 days, Samantabhadra after 28 days, Ksitigarbha after 35 days, Maitreya after 42 days, Bhaisajyaguru after 49 days, Avalokitesvara after 100 days, Mahasthamaprapta after 1 year, Amitabha after 2 years, Akshobhya after 6 years, Vairocana after 12 years, and Akasagarbha after 32 years.

       Japanese tradition to hold Buddhist memorial services 7 days, 2 years, and 6 years after death comes from the belief.

     Sometime between 1681 and 1716, Priest Shuyo (?-1720) revived the temple and transferred it to Pure Land Buddhism.

     In 1833, heavy rain and cold weather hit Japan.  On January 20th, 1835, Volcan Cosiguina erupted.  Its volcanic ashes spread and made the sun shine red, dark, and gloomy even in Japan in April.  Many farmers and peasants ran away to big cities.  In Osaka, with 150 to 200 people dying every day, Oshio Heihachiro (1793-1837) revolted against the Tokugawa Shogunate on February 19th, 1837.  Fukao Saijiro and 13 others of Sonnenji Village joined the revolts, which were suppressed within a day.  Saijiro fled to Noto Province and killed himself there.  Raiun-ji Temple keeps the Buddhist memorial tablet of Saijiro along with those of his elder brother, Jihei, and his mother, Nobu, who died in jail, involved in the revolts. 

     Itsukushima Shrine is near Raiun-ji Temple, which used to be the shrine temple before the Meiji Restoration Government issued the Gods and Buddhas Separation Order in 1868.

Address: 10, Hirakata, Osaka 573-0112

Son'en-ji Temple

Address: 6 Chome-11-1 Sonenji, Hirakata, Osaka 573-0112

Phone: 072-858-6480

Itsukushima Shrine

Address: 5 Chome-9-11 Sonenji, Hirakata, Osaka 573-0112

Phone: 072-858-8045

Raiko-ji Temple

Address: 7 Chome-11-17 Sata Nakamachi, Moriguchi, Osaka 570-0002

Phone: 06-6901-0336