Virtual Arima County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #19 Kinshin-ji Temple

 

     Kinshin-ji Temple was founded by Priest Joe (643-666) in today's Yashikimachi, Sanda, Hyogo 669-1532.  Joe studied in Tang China from 653 to 665.

     In May, 653, Joe traveled to Tang China as a monk studying abroad with a Japanese envoy to Tang China.  He resided at the Huiri Daochang Practice Hall of Huaide Temple in Changan and studied under Master Shentai, a disciple of Xuanzang (602-664).

     In September, 665, Joe returned to Japan via Baekje on the Korean Peninsula.  He is said to have returned with a large delegation of over 250 people led by Liu Degao, an envoy from Tang China.  Joe died in December of the same year in Ohara (today's Ohara, Asuka, Takaichi District, Nara 634-0106).

     The temple's main deity is the Seated Maitreya Buddha statue, which is supposedly made in the late Heian Period (794-1185).  The temple burned down in the Warring States Period (1467-1573), but the statue was hidden in the pond nearby.

     Kinshin-ji Temple was revived in its present place later, with the statue enshrined in it.

     The statue had a document in it.  According to the document, the temple's original location used to be called Matsuyama Manor, but was renamed Kinshin-ji Temple's Three Fukuden, literally Three Fortune Fields.  The 3 fields consisted of Keiden, Onden, and Hiden.  Keiden was the fields dedicated for Buddhist monks, and Hiden for wifeless old men, husbandless old women, orphans, and childless old people.  It is unknown what Onden particularly meant, but it is supposed to have been dedicated for some people based on the Buddhist concept of compassion.  Anyway the place name Sanda is said to have come from the three fields.

     For your information, there are some places called Onda in Japan, so there could have been some Onden fields dedicated for some people based on the Buddhist concept of compassion across Japan.

Address: 3 Chome-28-45 Tenjin, Sanda, Hyogo 669-1531

Phone: 079-563-3084