Virtual Arima County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #17 Tamon-ji Temple

 

     Tamon-ji Temple is said to have been founded when Emperor Karu (683-707) reigned from 645 to 654 by the Indian monk Hodo.  It subsequently fell into disrepair and was restored in 858 by Priest Chozen.  The temple complex was originally located on Furuderayama, or Mount Furudera, or Mount Old Temple, southeast of its current location.  When Taira Kiyomori (1118-1181) moved the capital to Fukuhara in Kobe in 1180, the temple was modeled after Kyoto's Mount Kurama and designated as a temple to protect the capital's Kimon.  Kimon is north-east and ura-iimon is, accordingly, south-west.

     In China, where the lunar old calendar is used, the year-end and New Year days mark not only the turning point of the year but also the transition from winter to spring.  It was a time of great change, and people tended to be sick.  They thought demons came to make them sick.

     On the other hand, in the Chinese zodiac system that have been used since ancient times, seasons and directions used the same phrases: Rat, Cow, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Chicken, Dog, and Wild Boar.

     New Year's Eve, the boundary of the year, falls between Cow and Tiger.  The direction north-east also falls between Cow and Tiger.  At the time between Cow and Tiger, there come demons.  Then, they should come from the direction between Cow and Tiger, from north-east.  North-east is the gate for demons.  It's a very plain syllogism.

     The Kimon idea is supposed to have been imported to Japan by the end of the 9th century.

     During the Genpei War (1180-1185), when Minamoto Yoshitsune (1159-1189) attacked Ichinotani in Suma, Tamonji Temple was burned down for refusing to guide him.  After falling into ruin, it was relocated and rebuilt from Furuderayama to its current location in 1462. The current main hall was rebuilt by Priest Ryoen in 1690.

     The phrase Tamon in Japanese usually refers to Vaisravana, but it is unknown whether the temple has something to do with the belief in Vaisravana or not.

Address: Eibara-417 Nagaocho, Kita Ward, Kobe, Hyogo 651-1511

Phone: 078-986-2701

Furuderayama

Address: Karato Arinocho, Kita Ward, Kobe, Hyogo 651-1331