Virtual Settsu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #11 Koge-ji Temple

 

     When Emperor Futotamashiki (538-585) reigned from 572 to 585, Priest Illa (?-583) is believed to have founded Koge-ji Temple.

     Illa was from Baekje.  When he arrived at Kojima, Kibi Province, he was “consulted” by Mononobe Nieko, Otomo Nukateko, and Abe Me.  When he arrived at Namba in December, 583, he is said to have been assasinated by Baekje officials who had accompanied Illa, Dei and Yunu.

     After Illa's assasination, his wife and children were confined in Kudara Village, Ishikawa County, Kawachi Province; their rowers and others were confined in Otomo Village, Ishikawa County, Kawachi Province; and his assassinators Dei and Yunu were confined in Ata Village, Kudara County, Settsu Province, at Nukateko's suggestion that troubles could break out if they lived together.  Baekje was called Kudara in Japanese.

     Isn't it surprising and mysterious that Dei and Yunu weren't executed?  Did they really kill Illa?  If not, who assassinated Illa after his consultation or inspection?

     Anyway, if what was recorded in the Nihon Shoki, or the Chronicles of Japan, whose compilation was finished in 720, was true, Illa had no spare time to found a temple.

     According to the Prince Shotoku's Biography, which is supposed to have been compiled in 917 by Fujiwara Kanesuke (877-933), and Konjaku Monogatarishu, or the Anthology of Tales Old and New, which might have been written down at some point during the early half of the 12th century, after the year 1120, Illa was a Buddhist priest from Baekje, and Prince Shotoku learned from him.  Illa also spread Chinese characters to other provinces in Japan.

     Mystery leads to more mysteries.

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