Virtual North Kawachi 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #19 Kannon-ji Temple — Saiun-ji Temple

 

     Emperor Konin (708-782) visited the Katano area in 771 and built a provisional villa in the site of Nagasa-no-in.  When Emperor Kanmu (737-806) visited the area 16 times, he stayed in the villa.  Emperor Saga (786-842) stayed in the villa and named it Nagisa-no-in.  Prince Koretaka (844-897) made it his private villa.  When Ariwara Narihira (825-880) stayed in the villa, he composed a tanka poem:

If only cherry blossoms

Were not in the world,

Spring would be more serene.

     Retired-Emperor Go-Toba (1180-1239) stayed in the villa in 1205.

     As ancient regime declined, so did the villa in samurai's days and Kannon-ji Temple was founded on its site.

     Nagai Naotsune (1631-1677), who was the ruler of the area, rebuilt the main hall sometime between 1658 and 1661.

     Kannon-ji Temple became the #16 member temple of the North Kawachi 33 Kannon Pilgrimage sometime between 1655 and 1657.

     In i676, Yokoyama Masakatsu presented a small shrine box to enshrine the temple's main deity, the Eleven-Faced Ekadasamukha image.

     Kannon-ji Temple was abolished in 1870.  Nishi-Awakura Shrine became independent from the temple, was renamed Goten'yama Shrine, and was moved to its present place.

     In 1877, Nagisa Village Elementary School moved to the site of Kannon-ji Temple.  The school moved to 1 Chome-6-5 Ueno, Hirakata, Osaka 573-1175, in 1901.

     In 1890, the Eleven-Faced Ekadasamukha image was moved to Saiun-ji Temple, with a 13-square-meters hall built for it.

     In 1891, Makino Village Office was built on the site.  The office was rebuilt in 1911 and became Nagisanoin Hall after Makino Village was merged in 1935.  Nagisa Nursery School was opened on the site of Nagisa Village Elementary School, but was abolished in 2022.

     What is Saiun-ji Temple?

     Koyama-dera Temple was founded in 1630 by Priest Sonetsu.  It enshrined the sitting statue of Kukai (774-835) and belonged to Shingon Sect.

     The 5th priest, Zuiyo, built the main hall and the priests' living quarters, and changed its name to Saiun-ji.

     Gyoyo became the 17th priest in 1717, rebuilt the hall and quarters, and built Kannon-do Hall. 

      The relation between the Kannon-do Hall built in 1717 and the Kannon-do Hall built in 1890 is unknown.

Address: 24-1 Nagisamotomachi, Hirakata, Osaka 573-1177

Phone: 072-840-6734

Nagisa-no-in Site

Address: 9 Nagisamotomachi, Hirakata, Osaka 573-1177

Goten'yama Shrine

Address: 12-55 Nagisahonmachi, Hirakata, Osaka 573-1181

Phone: 072-847-6665

Nagisanoin Hall

Address: 9-23 Nagisamotomachi, Hirakata, Osaka 573-1177