Virtual Sakai 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #10 Kensei-ji Temple

 

     It is unknown when Kensei-ji Temple was founded in Shinzaike-tera-machi Township, Sakai Town, Izumi Province.

     According to the Great Sakai Map in 1689, there were Chokei-ji Temple, Enmyo-ji Temple, Enryu-ji Temple, Hosen-ji Temple, Amida-ji Temple, and Enmyo-ji Temple to the north of Juman-koji Alley, which divides the township in 2, and Chosen-ji Temple, Shioana-ji Temple, Go'nen-ji Temple, Kensei-ji Temple, Koutoku-ji Temple, Sensho-ji Temple, Kotaku-ji Temple, and Shomyo-ji Temple to the south.  It isn’t recorded where Juman-koji Alley ran, but, due to the distribution of the temples, the alley must have been the one between 4 Chome-3 Shinzaikechohigashi, Sakai Ward, Sakai, Osaka 590-0964, and 4 Chome-4 Shinzaikechohigashi, Sakai Ward, Sakai, Osaka 590-0964.

     Why is the alley called Juman-koji Alley?

     Monk Onkei copied the Amitabha Sutra.  It is unknown how he counted the sutra, but, according to him, the sutra had 100,000 volumes.  100,000 is juman in Japanese, and he was called Juman-shonin, or Monk Juman.  When he founded a temple in 1490, the temple was called Juman-ji Temple, which was originally located along the beach of Yanaginocho Township (today's 2 Chome Yanaginochonishi, Sakai Ward, Sakai, Osaka 590-0930), Sakai Town, Izumi Province.  The temple was approved by Emperor Go-Tsuchimikado (1442-1500), who gave the temple the name plate Hiden-in in 1501.

     Why was Juman-ji Temple given the name Hiden-in?

     Usually, Hiden-in is supposed to be the Buddhist temple in Kyoto.  Originally, Hiden-in were facilities established to help the poor and orphans based on the Buddhist concept of compassion.

     Tradition has it that the first Hiden-in in Japan was established by Prince Shotoku (574-622) as one of the 4 houses at Shitenno-ji Temple in Osaka, following the example of the Sui Dynasty in China.  The 4 houses were Hiden-in, Keiden-in, Seyaku-in, and Ryobyo-in Houses.

     According to the Fuso Ryakuki, a Japanese historical text compiled at the end of the 12th century by Priest Koen (1074-1169), Empress Komyo (701-760), then Crown Princess, established Seyaku-in and Hiden-in Houses at Kofuku-ji Temple in 723.

     During the Heian Period (794-1185), Seyaku-in and Hiden-in Houses were established in the east and west of Heian-kyo Capital, and were placed under the management of the Hidenin and Seyakuin Bureaus, which were also established by Empress Komyo as part of the Imperial Household Agency.

     During the Kamakura Period (1185-1333), Ninsho (1217-1303), who founded 83 temples,  established 5 Hiden-in-like houses and gave 33,000 items of clothing to medieval outcasts.  The houses subsequently became bases for medieval outcasts.

     Hiden-in Temple, currently one of the sub-temples of Sennyu-ji Temple in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City, is said to be the successor of the Hiden-in Houses of Heian-kyo Capital.  The place name Hiden-in-cho remains as Hidenincho, Tennoji Ward, Osaka, 543-0055.  Hiden-in-cho is near JR and subway Tennoji Station, located at the southern end of Tennoji Ward, Osaka City, where Shitenno-ji Temple is located.

     The fact that Emperor Go-Tsuchimikado (1442-1500) gave the temple the name plate Hiden-in might have shown that the Imperial Court approved Juman-ji Temple as one of Hiden-in Houses.

     Sakai Town was burned in 1615 in the Siege of Osaka, and the temple was revived later, divided into 2: Kita-Juman-ji Temple, namely North Juman-ji Temple; and Minami-Juman-ji Temple, namely South Juman-ji Temple.  As Emperor Go-Mizuno (1596-1680) presented Kita-juman-ji Temple the name plate Kitajuman, Juman-ji Temple should have been divided before 1680.  Anyway, Kita-Juman-ji Temple became an official Buddhism temple under the Tokugawa Shogunate, approved by the Imperial Court.  Later, Kita-juman-ji Temple became Hiden-in Temple, and Minami-Juman-ji Temple became Chosen-ji Temple.

     Onkei had pity on wifeless old men, husbandless old women, orphans, and childless old people.  He housed them within the temple precincts.  Their descendants continued to live within the precincts, but in 1811 they were forced to move north outside the precincts of Kita-Juman-ji Temple to the west of Inari-sha Shrine, and the place was called Juman Nagaya, or Juman Row House.

     Juman-koji Alley could have run within Minami-Juman-ji Temple.  It is unknown if Kensei-ji Temple was a branch of Minami-Juman-ji Temple.  It is also unknown  if Kensei-ji Temple had something to do with housing the poor and orphans.

Address: 4 Chome-2-14 Shinzaikechohigashi, Sakai Ward, Sakai, Osaka 590-0964

Phone: 072-222-2332

Hiden-in Temple

Address: 35 Sennyuji Yamanouchicho, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 605-0977

Phone: 075-561-8781

Sen'yu-ji Temple

Address: 27 Sennyuji Yamanouchicho, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 605-0977

Phone: 075-561-1551

Shitenno-ji Temple

Address: 1 Chome-11-18 Shitennoji, Tennoji Ward, Osaka, 543-0051

Phone: 06-6771-0066

Enmei-ji Temple

Address: 4 Chome-1-6 Shinzaikechohigashi, Sakai Ward, Sakai, Osaka 590-0964

Phone: 072-233-2435

Enryu-ji Temple

Address: 4 Chome-1-5 Shinzaikechohigashi, Sakai Ward, Sakai, Osaka 590-0964

Phone: 072-238-8297

Amida-ji Temple

Address: 4 Chome-1-22 Shinzaikechohigashi, Sakai Ward, Sakai, Osaka 590-0964

Phone: 072-222-1316

Enmei-ji Temple

Address: 4 Chome-1-16 Shinzaikechohigashi, Sakai Ward, Sakai, Osaka 590-0964

Phone: 072-238-1076

Chosen-ji Temple

Address: 4 Chome−2−25, Shinzaikechohigashi, Sakai Ward, Sakai, Osaka 590-0964

Phone: 072-233-2162

Sensho-ji Temple

Address: 4 Chome-3-17 Shinzaikechohigashi, Sakai Ward, Sakai, Osaka 590-0964

Phone: 072-233-6393

Kotaku-ji Temple

Address: 4 Chome-3-4 Shinzaikechohigashi, Sakai Ward, Sakai, Osaka 590-0964

Phone: 072-238-0457

Shomyo-ji Temple

Address: 4 Chome-3-15 Shinzaikechohigashi, Sakai Ward, Sakai, Osaka 590-0964

Phone: 072-223-1905