Virtual Upper Tada Manor 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #3 Mansho-ji Temple

 

     The Japanese word Gion comes from Jetavana, which was one of the 5 most famous Buddhist monasteries or viharas in India. The five are believed to have already existed while the Buddha still lived. Gion Shrine enshrines the guardian god of Jetavana, who was called Gozu in Japan. The root or the source of the guardian god of Jetavana was Bhaisajyaguru, who chose to be born as a son of Mudang as a part of the syncretism of Buddhism. The son had a bull head, and grew up to find no bride to get married with. One day, he set out on a journey to find a bride. In brief, at last, he got married to a daughter of Naga, who lived in the ocean. Gozu might have had the power to control water as a natural process.

     Gozu was first enshrined at Hiromine Shrine in today’s Himeji. He was invited to today’s Kyoto when the Kamo River flooded and plague spread, they wished for the healing and anti-flood power of Gozu. He was made the main deity of Gion Shrine, or Yasaka Shrine today, in Kyoto.  He was further invited to many parts of Japan, as we had many floods and epidemics, and he is enshrined in more than 2,300 shrines.

     7 Gozu-tenno-sha Shrines were founded along the upper stream of the Muko River.  The one in Kamisasori was one of them, and was founded in 1589.  The one in Nagatani has a stone monument dated 1350.  The one in Oharano was moved to its present place in 1398.  The 7 shrines don't seem to have been founded at the same time, and the oldest one, though it isn't clear which one is the oldest, could have been founded in the 14th century.  The whole area might have been developed in those days, but the Sasori Family seem to have ruled Sasori Village in medieval days, and Sasori Hachiro was first documented in 1278.

     After the Meiji Restoration, Haibutsu Kishaku (literally "abolish Buddhism and destroy Shakamuni”) was executed in many parts of Japan.  The 7 Gozu-tenno-sha Shrines were renamed Susanoo Shrines in those days.

     Mansho-ji Temple might have been founded as the shrine temple of Gozu-tenno-sha Shrine in Kamisasori.

Address: Shinnomoto-16 Kamisasori, Takarazuka, Hyogo 669-1202

Phone: 0797-91-0233

Susanoo Shrine

Address: Teranoue-5 Kamisasori, Takarazuka, Hyogo 669-1202