Virtual Arima County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #31 Keian-ji Temple

 

     Keian-ji Temple was founded in 1649 to pray for the comfort of Kishi Yoshiuji, who was subject to Akamatsu Norimura (1277-1350), in the other world.  As the year 1649 was the 2nd year of the Keian Era (1648-1652), the temple name might have been after the era name.  It isn't clear why the temple was founded about 3 centuries after Yoshiuji's death.  Kuki Hisataka (1617-1649) became the 1st lord of the Mita Domain in 1633.  The descendants of Yoshiuji might have been on bad terms with the former lords of the domain, the Arima Family.

     The 1st head of the Arima Family, Yoshisuke (?-1421), was the 6th son of Akamatsu Norisuke (1314-1372), Norimura's 3rd son.  Presumably, the Kishi family was a local samurai based in Kishi Fortress, and Yoshiuji became subject to Yoshisuke and was given the Yoshi phrase for the first half of his new first name.  A couple of centuries is long enough to fall out.

     As there is the Kishi Ancient Burial Mounds No. 1 between Kishi Fortress Site and Keian-ji Temple, the Kishi Family could have been a local powerful family since prehistoric times.

     It is unknown when Goryo Shrine was founded in Kishi Village, but it was revived in 1470 presumably by Yoshiuji, so the shrine must be quite old.  Goryo Shrine was usually founded to soothe the spirit or soul of a certain person who had died an unnatural death.  Someone could have died a violent death along the bloodline of the Kishi Family, or the medieval Kishi Family could have replaced a certain ancient family violently.

     The Religion Registration Book of Mandaraji Village (part of today's Amagasaki City) in 1698 records that 2 daughters of Shichibei in Kishi Village were adopted by a villager of Mandaraji Village as lifelong servants.  As apprenticeship was common in those days, Shichibei or Kishi Village might have had some special reasons to launch young women into lifelong service.

Address: 1192 Kishi, Sanda, Hyogo 669-1541

Phone: 079-563-4748

Remains of Kishi Castle

Address: Kishi, Sanda, Hyogo 669-1541

Kishi Ancient Burial Mounds No. 1

Address: Sanda, Hyogo 669-1541