Virtual Sakai 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #31 Chogan-ji Temple

     Tsukamoto Nishikawa was born in Mameduka Village, Sumiyoshi County, Settsu Province, today's Mamezukacho, Kita Ward, Sakai, Osaka 591-8042.  The village was first documented in 1569.

     While traveling around the country, Nishikawa met Priest Rennyo (1415-1499), the 8th head of the Hongan-ji branch of Ture Pure Land Buddhism, in Kakizaki, Echigo Province, today's Joetsu, Niigata Prefecture, became Rennyo's disciple, and changed his name to Ryosai.

     Rennyo was a passionate missionary, sending letters to his followers around the country containing the teachings of the sect's founder, Shinran (1173-1263), in easy-to-understand language, instead of using sutras in classical Chinese, which common people could not read.  Renyo suffered various forms of persecution and moved from place to place.  It is recorded that Renyo visited Kakizaki in 1479.

     After returning to Sakai, Ryosai built a training hall for True Pure Land Buddhism, Ryosai-an Hermitage, in Ojigaue, today's Kitatadeicho, Sakai Ward, Sakai, Osaka 590-0017.  Its foundation date is unknown.

     During the Ishiyama Hongan-ji War from 1570 to 1580, a battle between Honganji forces and Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582), it is recorded that Ryokan, the 3rd priest of Ryosai-an Hermitage, followed Kennyo (1543-1592), the 11th head of Hongan-ji Temple, and provided food and financial support.  Ryokan also accompanied Kennyo when he retreated to Sagimori after a peace agreement was made with Nobunaga.

     During the reign of the 5th priest, Ryokei, Ryosai-an Hermitage was relocated to Kitanosho Manor, Sakai, and the temple's name was changed to Chogan-ji Temple.

     During the Summer Siege of Osaka in 1615, Sakai Town was burned down and completely destroyed.  Later, when the Tokugawa Shogunate redeveloped Sakai, temple towns were formed, and Chogan-ji Temple was moved to its present location.

     According to temple records, the current main hall was completed in January, 1863.  The hall's architectural and decorative style exhibits characteristics of the late Edo Period, which is consistent with the temple's history.

     However, on the sliding screen separating the outer sanctuary  and the auxiliary room in the main hall on the 2nd floor, there is an ink inscription reading, "The Winter of the Year of the Horeki Kanoto-Mi" (1761), indicating that the screens were made approximately 100 years earlier.

     Chogan-ji Temple's nickname is Nikai-do, or Two-storied Hall.  The temple is said to have undergone major renovations at the end of the Edo Period, when the hall, which had been on the first floor, was raised to the second floor, resulting in its current appearance.  It has been doubted if such renovations were carried out in the Edo Period, when heavy machinery was unavailable.  This mystery has now been solved by the dismantling and restoration work being carried out lately.

     In 2022, Choganji Temple, with the cooperation of its parishioners, carried out long-awaited repairs to its main building.  It was discovered that the second-floor hall and the first-floor building were completely different in terms of the ways they were constructed and what wood was used for them.  This proved that the most part of the 2nd floor was built in 1761, and it was raised to the 2nd floor in 1863.

     The mystery seems to have been solved, but new questions continue to arise.

     First of all, during the Edo Period, buildings higher than two stories were prohibited, so why was Chogan-ji Temple allowed to build a two-storied hall?  Were the shogunate's regulations relaxed, or were the regulations themselves weakened due to the chaos at the end of the period, or did the temple have some special power?  To begin with, how and by what means was the hall raised to the second floor?

     It seems there will never be an end to the mystery of the temple.

     Anyway, it is certain that Chogan-ji Temple has an architectural style that was rare nationwide, and that the limited space as an urban temple caused its style.

Address: 3 Chome-1 Shinmeichohigashi, Sakai Ward, Sakai, Osaka 590-0935

Phone: 072-238-3136

Honganji-Sagimori-betsuin Temple

Address: 1 Saginomori, Wakayama, 640-8053

Phone: 073-422-4677