Virtual Miki County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #18 Toryu-ji Temple

 

     It is unknown when Toryu-ji Temple was founded in today's Yokawacho Ooso, Miki, Hyogo.  Its Kannon-do Hall was rebuilt in 1704 by Hibara Daiku, literally Hibara Carpenters, according to a plate the hall had.  So, the temple's foundation must be older than that.

     The beginning of the Hibara Family Genealogy describes their ancestors.  "Our ancestor, Fujiwara Masakiyo, came to Japan from Tang China during the reign (770-781) of Emperor Takatsugi (708-782).  Masakiyo first lived in Kasuga-ri Village, Soekami County, Yamato Province.  He was appointed head carpenter of the Imperial Palace.  Later, during the reign (781-806) of Emperor Yamabe (737-806), he moved to Yamada Village at the foot of Mount Tanjo.  His eldest son, Munetsugu, got the document and drawing of the Great Eight Heavens Pagoda of Chengyang Palace in Tang China, which were brought back by Saicho (767-822)."  The document was written by Munetsugu's greatgrandson, Moriyosh,i in March, 826.  From Munetsugu, they called their family Hibara.

     During the reign of Emperor Takatsugi, when Masakiyo came to Japan, the large temples of Nara, the then capital, held political power and likely needed skilled carpenters for their construction.  This is probably why Masakiyo was invited from Tang China.  However, during the reign of Emperor Yamabe, the emperor disliked interference from the old powers of Nara, and the capital moved to Nagaoka-kyo and then to Heian-kyo in Kyoto.  As a result, the large temples of Nara lost power, and the work for carpenters likely decreased.

     Perhaps for this reason, the second head of the family, Munetsugu, who first adopted the family name Hibara, came to Yamada at the foot of Mount Tanjo.  This was likely for the construction of Myoyo-ji Temple on the summit of the mountain.  At that time, the mountain was in Miki County, and the county's governor was Obi Hirotomi, the head of the Korean-Japanese blacksmiths.  In 789, Hirotomi donated 60,000 bundles of rice for the repair of the Kako Port.  Given his considerable wealth, he should have played a significant role in the construction of Myoyo-ji Temple.

     A document held by the Hakogi family in Yamada, Kita Ward, Kobe, states, "The ridgepole was raised on an auspicious day in April of the third year of Daido, by Tanjo carpenter Hibara."  This is 20 years after 788, so the Hibara carpenter must have referred to the third head of the Hibara Family, Munehisa.  His family continued to work at Myoyo-ji Temple for many generations afterward.  This suggests a deep connection between the Hibara carpenters and the temple.

     The master carpenter of the Toyotomi Clan was Nakai Masakichi (1533-1609), but the head of the Hibara Carpenters, Hibara Morikichi, lived in Nara, Yamato Province, and participated in the construction of the Yakushi-do Hall and the West Gate of Shitenno-ji Temple in Osaka, which were built under the supervision of Katagiri Katsumoto (1556-1615).  Later, when the main hall of Zojo-ji Temple in Edo was built, Morikichi also went to Edo to work.　

     Under the Tokugawa Shogunate, the first head carpenter of Kyoto for the shogunate was the son of Masakichi, Masakiyo (1565-1619).  Starting with the construction of Nijo Castle in 1602, he subsequently undertook major projects for the Tokugawa Shogunate, including the construction of Edo Castle, Chion-in Temple, and Nagoya Castle.  When Masakiyo became the head carpenter of the shogunate, Morikichi gave up working in Osaka and Kyoto, and settled in Osawa Village along Yokawa Valley.

     After settling in Osawa Village, Morikichi built the three-story pagoda of Shakubu-ji Temple, and the bell tower of Jodo-ji Temple.  

     The next generation, Muneie, built the main hall of Renge-ji Temple, the priest's quarters, monks' houses, bell tower, and founder's hall of Hodo-ji Temple, and the gate of Inada Wakamiya Shrine.　

     The next generation, Mitsumasa, repaired the multi-storied pagoda of Toko-ji Temple and built its bell tower, North Storehouse, Upper Storehouse, Middle Storehouse; built Main Hall of Kichijo-ji Temple; and the main hall of Horin-ji Temple.  The fourth generation, Masakatsu, built the Renge-ji Temple pagoda, the main hall and palace of Hoko-ji Temple, the Hachiman Shrine in Ogawa-shimo Village, the Goma Hall of Omiji Temple in Oshibedani, the Amida Hall of Toko-ji Temple, and the main hall of Wada-ji Temple in Taki County.  In 1728, Masakatsu of Nishi-Osawa Village rebuilt the guardian shrine of Renge-ji Temple.  According to the ridge beam inscription left by Mitsumasa, the Hibara Family claimed to belong to the Fujiwara Clan.

     It is unknown whether the Hibara Family was succeeded by bloodline or by apprenticeship, but the family produced many branch families and apprentices.  They are collectively called the Hibara Carpenters.

     The descendants of the Hibara Carpenters, who lived in Ogawa-Osawa for generations, now live in Takarazuka.  Ancient documents such as the Hibara Family Genealogy were discovered in the descendants' home in 1934, and were reported in the newspapers.

      Many records of carpenters named Hibara exist in the Ex-Harima Province, or the southern part of Hyogo Prefecture.  These carpenters were either apprentices of the Hibara Family, or people who falsely used the name to take advantage of the authority the family held for the people of this region.  Therefore, during the Edo Period, many shrines and temples in the areas were built by Hibara Carpenters, making the family name even more famous.

     The Kannon-do Hall of Toryu-ji Temple was rebuilt in 1704, and the ridge beam inscription lists the carpenter as Fujiwara Kogishi.  Kogishi might have been an apprentice of the Hibara Carpenters.

Mount Tanjo

Address: Yamadacho Sakamoto, Kita Ward, Kobe, Hyogo 651-1261

Sites of Tanjo Fortress and Myoyo-ji Temple

Address: 384 Yamadacho, Kita Ward, Kobe, Hyogo 651-1261

Shakubu-ji Temple

Address: 110-1 Ogocho, Kita Ward, Kobe, Hyogo 651-1621

Phone: 078-958-0822

Jodo-ji Temple

Address: 2094 Kiyotanicho, Ono, Hyogo 675-1317

Phone: 0794-62-4318

Renge-ji Temple

Address: 188 Kuchiyokawacho, Miki, Hyogo 673-0734

Phone: 0794-88-0013

Hodo-ji Temple

Address: 758 Nakakunakayasuda, Taka, Taka District, Hyogo 679-1122

Phone: 0795-32-0574

Inada Wakamiya Shrine

Address: 557 Yokawacho Inada, Miki, Hyogo 673-1231

Phone: 0794-72-0056

Toko-ji Temple

Address: 261 Yokawacho Fukuyoshi, Miki, Hyogo 673-1234

Phone: 0794-72-0315

Kichijo-ji Temple

Address: 82 Kuchiyokawacho, Miki, Hyogo 673-0752

Phone: 0794-88-0026

Horin-ji Temple

Address: 567 Hosokawacho, Miki, Hyogo 673-0703

Phone: 0794-88-2004