Virtual Upper Tada Manor 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #14 Jobutsu-ji Temple

 

     Jobutsu-ji Temple was founded in 990, 3 years after Minamoto Mitsunaka (912-997) became a Buddhist monk.  Tradition suggests that his entering Buddhism had something to do with the foundation of the temple.  Fujiwara Sanesuke (957-1046) wrote in his diary, Shoyu-ki, "Such a man who had been renounced from killing people developed the bodhisattva mindset and became a monk."

     Jobutsu-ji Temple was revived by Priest Gyudo in 1578.  That means it could have been damaged, destroyed, or abolished during the Warring States Period (1467-1568).

     Jobutsu-ji Temple has the wooden sculptures by the Nakai Gonji Lineage.  They are supposed to be the easternmost ones by them.

     The Nakai Gonji Lineage was founded by Nakai Dogen (?-1698), a shrine carpenter from the Tanba-Kashiwara Domain (today's Tamba City, Hyogo Prefecture), and was active as carvers for shrines and temples from the 4th Gonji Kimine (1722-1787) to the 9th Sadatane (1872-1958).  The name Gonji lineage comes from the fact that the 6th Gonji Masatada took the name Gonji.  Some say that they are descended from Nakai Masakiyo (1565-1619), a shrine carpenter employed by Tokugawa Ieyasu (1542-1616).  Masakiyo worked on Nikko Toshogu Shrine and Edo Castle, but the details of the lineage's origins are unknown.  It is estimated that there are about 300 surviving works, such as gables and balustrades carved with sacred animals such as dragons, kirin, Chinese lions, and bake, mainly in Tanba, Tango, and Tajima  Provinces, including parts of Harima and Settsu Provinces.

     The 6th Gonji Tachibana Masasada (1780-1855) carved dragons and a crane for Jobutsu-ji Temple.

     For your information, the 10th generation Takeo (?-1988) worked as a shrine carpenter until before World War II.  He then ran a seal engraving shop.  The 11th Mitsuo (1941-) runs a seal engraving shop in Miyazu City, Kyoto Prefecture and isn't a shrine carpenter.

Address: Hirose−8, Shimizu, Inagawa, Hyogo 666-0214

Phone: 072-769-0652

Nakai Engraving Shop

Address: 744 Honmachi, Miyazu, Kyoto 626-0018

Phone: 0772-22-2598