Virtual Miki County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #1 Shobo-ji Temple

 

     Hodo, who traveled from India through Tang China and the Korean kingdom of Baekje to Japan from the 6th to 7th centuries, made Mount Shobo a holy place.  Shobo-ji Temple was founded in 649.  It is unknown if he was still alive in the year.  Emperor En'yu (959-991) approved the temple sometime between 970 and 972.  In its golden age, the temple had 7 sub-temples and 12 monk houses.  It declined but was revived by Priest Okuren to have 3 sub-temples and 7 monk houses.  In 1580, the temple burned down when Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536-1598) attacked Miki Castle.

     In 1578, the Bessho Family held Miki Castle against Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1537-1598).  By January, 1580, food supplies in the castle had already run out, and the "starvation of Miki" continued.  Meanwhile, Hideyoshi attacked the subsidiary fortress and forts of the castle, capturing Miyanoue Fort, which was defended by Bessho Tomoyuki (1560-1580), on the 6th, and Takaoyama Fortress, which was defended by Bessho Yoshichika (?-1580), on the 11th, leaving only the main castle.  On the 14th, Bessho Shigemune (1529-1591), who sided with Hideyoshi, advised the castle's samurai that the castle lord's family would commit seppuku suicide to spare the lives of the other samurai.  The Bessho Family accepted this, and on the 17th, Nagaharu (1558-1580) and his family committed seppuku suicides, ending the siege that had lasted for one year and ten months.

     In 1583, the temple was revived by Priest Kaishu to have 3 sub-temples and 7 monk houses.  In 1611, Priest Chosei built 2 more halls, and added another next year.

     Shobo-ji Temple is also the #23 member temple of Harima 33 Kannon Pilgrimage, which was organized in the 18th century.  Miki County was part of Harima Province, and Shobo-ji Temple might have become the #1 member temple of the Miki County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage to attract the visitors of the larger pilgrimage.

Address: 157 Besshocho Shoboji, Miki, Hyogo 673-0454

Phone: 0794-82-5232

Mount Shobo

Address: Besshocho Shoboji, Miki, Hyogo 673-0454