Virtual Arima County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #30 Seigen-ji Temple

 

     It is unknown when Seigen-ji Temple was founded in Ohara Village, Arima County, Settsu Province.  Ohara Village was first documented in June, 1339.  On October, 19th, 1338, Kishi Yoshiuji, who was subject to Akamatsu Norimura (1277-1350), burned down over 40 houses in Ohara Village on his way to attack Karasaki Fortress, which was located where Amagasaki Gakuen is.  As Yoshiuji belonged to the Northern Court, the village either belonged to the Southern Court or was just involved in battles unluckily.

     Seigen-ji Temple enshrines the sitting wooden Eleven-Faced Ekadasamukha statue, which is said to have been the personal guardian Buddhist image of Ohara Munetaka, who ruled Ohara Village based in Ohara Fortress.

     Munetaka's daughter was married to the Kishi Family, but was divorced.  She went back to Ohara Village, but her father, Munetaka, was killed in battle soon after.  She tried to copy the 600 volumes of the Hear Sutra for her late father, but was exhausted and died.  The villagers were pained by her death, and founded Himeyama Shrine at the site of Ohara Fortress.

https://www.city.sanda.lg.jp/soshiki/15/gyomu/rekishi_bunkazai/minwa/1899.html

     It is unknown if Yoshiuji and Munetaka (and thus Munetaka's daughter) were contemporary with each other.  If so, Munetaka could have been killed by his son-in-law.

Address: 896 Ohara, Sanda, Hyogo 669-1515

Phone: 079-564-5860

Himeyama Shrine

Address: Sanda, Hyogo 669-1515

Ohara Fortress Site

Address: Ohara, Sanda, Hyogo 669-1515

Amagasaki Gakuen

Address: 3083 Dojocho, Kita Ward, Kobe, Hyogo 651-1502

Phone: 078-985-2133