Virtual Upper Tada Manor 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #17 Tentaku-ji Temple

 

     The central part of Inagawa-cho used to be called Yanai-zu, which is called Ki-zu (literally Wood Port) today, and which might have been a point to gather wood and to send them out through the river.  Yanaizu-in Temple was founded by Gyoki(668-749) as one of the 49 temples founded by him in Yamato, Kawachi, and Izumi Provinces.  Gyoki (668-749) helped build Todai-ji Temple.  Tentaku-ji Temple is said to have succeeded Yanaizu-in Temple.  The temple's precincts have a stone garden lantern dated 1403, one year before the foundation of Gozu-Tenno-sha Shrine nearby.  Gozu was invited from Hiromine Shrine.

     Kizu Village was first documented in 1368 as it "donated" money to Tada-in Temple.

     Gozu 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. 

     Anyway, Kizu Village became religious enough, or rich enough, to found a shrine and build garden lanterns for a temple.  That is, the people there were, at least partially, released from the exploitation of central powerful nobles and samurai.

Address: Teragaichi-8 Kizu, Inagawa, Kawabe District, Hyogo 666-0225

Phone: 072-768-0200

 

Hiromine Shrine

Address: 52 Hiromineyama, Himeji, Hyogo 670-0891

Phone: 079-288-4777