Virtual New Innami County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #4 Saiko-ji Temple

 

The Mystery of Priest Jido: Why Did He Cross the Sea to Harima?

     Saikoji Temple was founded in 1549 by Priest Jido, who arrived from Awaji Island during the reign of the 13th Shogun, Ashikaga Yoshiteru (1536-1565). While the official reason for his journey was to spread Pure Land Buddhism, the historical context of the mid-16th century suggests a deeper geopolitical motivation involving the rise of the Miyoshi clan.

The Rise of the Miyoshi and the Shifting Power Balance

     The 15th and 16th centuries saw the dramatic decline of the Hosokawa clan and the meteoric rise of their former vassals, the Miyoshi. Emerging from the rugged terrain of Awa Province, the Miyoshi family—led by figures like Miyoshi Yukinaga (1458-1520) and later Nagayoshi (1522-1564)—transformed from local officials into central power brokers. By the 1550s, Miyoshi Nagayoshi’s influence spanned across Settsu, Yamashiro, Tamba, Izumi, and notably, Eastern Harima.

     This expansion was not merely a result of military prowess but was driven by the control of maritime trade routes. As the primary trade artery with China shifted from the heart of the Seto Inland Sea toward the Kii Channel, the Miyoshi’s stronghold over Awa and Awaji Provinces gave them strategic dominance over these lucrative sea lanes.

Salt, Power, and the Awaji Connection

     It is within this "Miyoshi Era" that Priest Jido’s arrival in Harima must be understood. The Oshio area (literally "Big Salt") was a premier center for salt production. For the Miyoshi clan, who relied on naval strength and "pirate" (suigun) networks, controlling a vital commodity like salt was essential.

     The establishment of Saiko-ji in 1549 coincides with the peak of the Miyoshi clan's expansion into Harima. It is highly plausible that Jido's mission from Awaji was not an isolated religious act, but part of a broader migration of people, resources, and influence from the Miyoshi-controlled Awaji/Awa region into the salt-producing heartlands of Harima. Where today solar power plants cover the landscape, there once stood a strategic intersection of faith, industry, and samurai ambition.

     In 1660, during the time of the 5th priest, Kanryu, the original main hall was rebuilt. Later, by the mid-Edo period, the temple gate, the living quarter, and Chann Hall (a guest hall) were completed.  In 1877, when Chosho-ji Temple, which was the shrine temple of Oshio-Tenman-gu Shrine, was abolished due to the anti-Buddhist movement, its main hall and treasures were moved to Saiko-ji Temple.  In 1947, the temple moved a monument to the war dead from the town to its precincts.  The main hall was rebuilt in 1984, and the living quarter was rebuilt at the turn of the 21st century. The temple gate, built when Kakudo was the 9th priest from 1706 to 1727, and the bell tower, built in 1762, have been repaired and remain in their original form to this day.

Address: 229 Oshiocho, Himeji, Hyogo 671-0101

Phone: 079-254-0351

Oshio Solar Power Plant

Address: Oshiocho, Himeji, Hyogo 671-0123

Nakashima Energy Solar Power Plant

Address: Nishihama-2217 Oshiocho, Himeji, Hyogo 671-0101

Hyogo Himeji Mega Solar Power Plant

Address: 1981-1 Oshiocho, Himeji, Hyogo 671-0101

Ex-Oshio-Tenman-gu Shrine Site

Address: 443 Oshiocho, Himeji, Hyogo 671-0101