Virtual Settsu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #16 Getsupo-ji Temple

 

     Mount Kenpi used to be called Tsuki-ga-mine, namely Tsuki's Peak.  Tsuki means zelkova in Japanese.  The mountaintop and its surrounding area have big rocks and they were the center of a megalithic worship.

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

     After Illa's assasination, Prince Shotoku (574-622) visited the mountain, found a big Japanese zelkova tree, and carved 2 Thousand-Armed Sahasrabhuja statues.  One was enshrined on the top of Mount Kenpi and the other in Daikaku-ji Temple.

     It is unknown when a Buddhist temple was founded on the top of Tsuki-ga-mine to enshrine the Sahasrabhuja statue.  The temple might have been called Tsukimine-dera or something.  Tsuki also means the Moon in Japanese and its Chinese character has another pronunciation Getsu while Mine’s Chinese character has another pronunciation Po.  The temple came to be called Getsupo-ji.

     In 1546, Hatano Hidetada (?-1548) burned the temple down.  In 1550, it was revived by Miyoshi Nagayoshi (1522-1564), who had married Hidetada's daughter.  Katagiri Katsumoto (1556-1615) moved the temple to its present place with Shinryo as its head priest sometime between 1600 and 1614.  Katsumoto’s feu was dotted around Settsu, Harima, and Ise Provinces.  Katsumoto might have had some feu in Nose County, and presented part of it to build temple buildings at the foot of Mount Kenpi.

Address: 555 Ozato, Nose, Toyono District, Osaka 563-0352

Phone: 072-734-0029

Mount Kenpi

Address: Yamabe, Nose, Toyono District, Osaka 563-0372

Ex-Getsupo-ji Temple Ruins

Address: Yamabe, Nose, Toyono District, Osaka 563-0372

Daikaku-ji Temple

Address: 9 Teramachi, Amagasaki, Hyogo 660-0867

Phone: 06-6411-2705