Virtual North Kawachi 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #25 Kinryu-ji Temple

 

     Kinryu-ji Temple was founded in 958 as a branch of Shokuson-ji Temple.  

     Nun Antei revived the temple in 1573.

     After the death of Miyoshi Nagayoshi (1522-1564), the Miyoshi Regime, which was the de facto central government at the time, split into 3 groups and suffered from internal conflicts.  Nagayoshi’s nephew, Yoshitsugu (1549-1573), succeeded to the head of the Miyoshi Clan just before the death of Nagayoshi, who was already unreliable at the time.  Yoshitsugu lagged behind the other 2 groups, and invited Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582) to the central government in 1568.  Yoshitsugu and Nobunaga fought in cooperation for a while, but they broke up in 1571.  On November 13th, 1573, Yoshitsugu’s base, Wakae Castle in Kawachi Province, fell, he killed his wife and son, charged his enemy, and cut his stomach in cross.

     Nun Antei could have had something to do with Nagayoshi's family.  One of the probabilities is that Antei was Yoshitsugu's daughter, who had married into the Kaji Family.  As Yoshitsugu fought against Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582), the then hegemon of Japan, the Kaji Family could have divorced her, afraid of their future troubles.  Antei means Peaceful Chastity.

     After her, the temple was a convent for 14 generations, but the temple is run by a male priest today.

Address: 36-19 Nasuzukuri Kitamachi, Hirakata, Osaka 573-0083

Phone: 072-854-5819

Shakuson-ji Temple

Address: 1-10 Shakusonjichō, Hirakata, Osaka 573-0081

Phone: 072-854-3521