Virtual Akashi 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #4 Otaki-san Shogo-ji Temple

 

     It is unknown when a Kannon-do hall was built in Hayashizaki Village, Akashi County, Harima Province.  The village was first mentioned on June 2nd, 1176, that Fujiwara Narichika (1138-1777) passed through the village when he was exiled to Bizen Province, where he was starved to death on July the 9th.

     In 1364, fundraising for the revival of Fukusho-ji Temple, whose nick name is Suma-dera, was held by copying the sutra.  It is unknown whether before or after the fundraising that the hall became Shogo-ji Temple.  In 1449, the villagers made a bell for the temple but the bell was moved to Myokei-in Temple, which was founded by Fukushima Masanori (1561-1624) for his late mother, Shounin (?-1602).  After the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, Masanori became the lord of Aki Province, but it is unknown why the bell was moved but the temple seems to have been abolished in those days.

     In February, 1700, Priest Yukai of Jinno-ji Temple built a Kannon-do hall in the site of Shogo-ji Temple, supported by the village head, Zenbei.  It was restored in 1794, and the current hall was rebuilt in 1966.

     Shogo-ji Temple’s Buddhist tanka poem is: 

The river water from Mount Otaki

Is the same with that in Fudaraku

The water can tie up your wishes.

Address: 410 Matsue, Akashi, Hyogo 673-0036

Fukusho-ji Temple (Suma-dera Temple)

Address: 4 Chome-6-8 Sumaderacho, Suma Ward, Kobe, Hyogo 654-0071

Phone: 078-731-0416

Myokei-in Temple

Address: 2-1 Komachi, Naka Ward, Hiroshima, 730-0041

Phone: 082-241-7471