Virtual Kawabe 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #27 Shokaku-ji Temple

 

     Shokaku-ji Temple was founded by Priest Kyoyo in 1469, when Ikeda Castle was seized by the West Force in the Onin War (1467-1477).  Ikeda Tadamasa, the lord of Ikeda Castle, fought for the East Force.

     When the Hyogo Prefectural Route 13 Amagasaki-Ikeda Line was widened in 2004, the temple's main hall was rebuilt.  The coffered ceiling of the hall's inner sanctuary was restored in the new main hall.  The ceiling is called Hanamaru, namely Flower Coffers, and has 99 coffers.  Each coffer is painted with a different flower.  The coffers were lacquered by Naraya Hikobei, colored by Imasue Shinbei, and foiled by Hakuya Kahei

     The temple’s main deity is the Amitabha wooden seated statue, which is supposed to have been made in the Edo Period (1603-1867).

     The temple’s old gate was built in 1685, with the belfry on the top of the gate.  The style is very unique and was introduced after the Muromachi Period (1336-1573).  Its bell was delivered to the government during World War II, and was newly cast in 1986.

     The temple's graveyard has the graves of Furuno Masamitsu (1773-1837), who compiled Arioka Manor Unofficial Chronology; Yamaguchi Taiotsu (1800-1854), a haiku poet; and Kanamoto Masai (1829-1871), who was arrested as an accompice when Yokoi Shonan (1809-1869) was assassinated in 1869 by conservative samurai who suspected him of being a Christian.  Masai died in prison.

Address: 4 Chome-1-6 Itami, Hyogo 664-0846

Phone: 050-1705-8510

Ikeda Castle Ruins

Address: 3-19 Shiroyamacho, Ikeda, Osaka 563-0052

Phone: 072-753-2767