Virtual Kawabe 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #22 Hoen-ji Temple

 

     Hoen-ji Temple is said to have been founded in 645 by Priest Hodo, who traveled from India through Tang China and the Korean kingdom of Baekje to Japan from the 6th to 7th centuries, supported by Emperor Kotoku (596-654), who reigned from July 2nd, 645 to November 24th, 654.

     The temple was revived by Gyoki (668-749) in 741.  In 1321, the temple was burned, and was revived.  It was completely burned down in 1577, when the Oda Clan was advancing west.  Later, the temple's main deity, the Bhaisajyaguru image, was found in the nearby pond.  In 1756, Priest Joko built a hermitage to enshrine the Bhaisajyaguru image and revived the temple next year.  After the Meiji Restoration Government issued the Gods and Buddhas Separation Order in 1868, the temple became priestless and was abolished in 1873, but was revived again 1878, supported by locals.

     As its place name suggests, there used to be Ina-dera Temple in the area. Judging from its excavated articles, the temple is supposed to have been founded sometime between 645 and 710, when Horyu-ji Temple was founded, and to share the same arrangement of temple buildings.  The relation between Hoen-ji and Ina-dera Temples is debatable.

Address: 1-chome-1 Inadera, Amagasaki, Hyogo 661-0981

Phone: 06-6491-6796

Ina-dera Temple Site

Address: 1-chome-31-43 Inadera, Amagasaki, Hyogo 661-0981

Horyu-ji Temple

Address: 1-1 Horyuji Sannai, Ikaruga, Ikoma District, Nara 636-0115

Phone: 0745-75-2555