Virtual North Kawachi 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #23 Jiko-ji Temple

 

     It is unknown when Jiko-ji Temple was founded.  According to an inscription on the back of Priest Tan’gyoku's Buddhist memorial tablet written in 1806 by the 18th priest, Rinku, the temple originally belonged to Tiantai Sect, but it became uninhabited during the wars between 1596 and 1615, and Tan’gyoku revived it as a training center for Yuzu Nembutsu School of Pure Land Buddhism .

     When the temple was revived, its main hall and other buildings had the thatched roofs.  As they were badly damaged, they were renovated with funds raised by the 15th priest, Rinku, sometime between 1751 and 1764.

     In 1803, the temple was documented as a branch of Raikoj-i Temple.  It had converted to the Seizan Pure land Buddhism, which is headquartered in Komyo-ji Temple, before.  Priest Tekku entered Jiko-ji Temple in 1846, became the 61st head priest of Komyo-ji Temple in 1871.  He became the CEO of Pure Land Buddhism in 1873, and entered Chion-in Temple in Kyoto.

     The Precincts of Jiko-ji Temple have the Thirteen Buddhas stone monument, which was made in 1607, and which is the only Thirteen Buddhas in Katano City.  The monument was carved into a boat-shaped granite stone in relief, with a canopy decorated above and a lotus-petal base below supporting the Thirteen Buddhas.

     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.

     The Thirteen Buddhas are carved on the monument as follows: on the top row; Akasagarbha (32 years): on the second row from the right; Vairocana (12 years), Akshobhya (6 years), and Amitabha (2 years): on the third row from the right; Bhaisajyaguru (49 days), Avalokitesvara (100 days), Mahasthamaprapta (1 year): on the fourth row from the right; Maitreya (42 days), Ksitigarbha (35 days), Samantabhadra (28 days): on the fifth row from the right; Acala (7 days), Shakamuni (14 days), Manjusri (21 days).

Address: 3 Chome 1-1, Katano, Osaka 576-0016

Phone: 072-893-0027

Raiko-ji Temple

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

Phone: 06-6901-0336

Komyo-ji Temple

Address: Saijonouchi 26-1 Ao, Nagaokakyo, Kyoto 617-0811

Phone: 075-955-0002

Chion-in Temple

Address: 400 Rinkacho, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 605-8686

Phone: 075-531-2111