Virtual New Innami County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #14 Shinzen-ji Temple

 

     It is unknown when Shinzen-ji Temple was founded in Bessho Village, Innami County, Harima Province, but its precincts have Amida Sekkanbutsu (the Amida Stone Coffin Statue), which was carved in 1265, in front of the temple's living quarter.

     Amida Stone Coffin Statues are unique Buddhist icons with Amitabha figures carved directly into the lids of stone coffins from the Kofun period. Most were crafted between the 12th and 16th centuries, with a particularly high concentration in Harima Province. The statues depict Amitabha in both standing and seated poses, often featuring the meditation mudra (Jo-in) held before the torso.

     The primary material used was Tatsuyama stone (a type of hyaloclastite), prized for its paradoxically ideal qualities: it is soft enough for intricate carving yet strong, durable, and exceptionally fire-resistant.

     Throughout Japanese history, Tatsuyama stone has been a material of prestige. Between the 5th and 7th centuries, it was used for the sarcophagi of elite burial mounds, including the massive Daisen-ryo Kofun (Tomb of Emperor Nintoku). In the Nara period, it formed the foundations of the Heijo and Kuni Palaces and the pedestal of the Asuka-dera Great Buddha. Its use continued through the centuries, from the stone walls of Himeji Castle to modern landmarks like the National Diet Building and the Imperial Palace Fukiage Garden.

     While the choice of such high-quality stone is logical, the motive for using actual coffin lids remains a fascinating mystery:

     Convenience? Was it simply a matter of repurposing readily available, pre-cut high-quality stone?

     Ancestral Piety? Were medieval locals the descendants of those buried in the mounds, seeking to offer Buddhist prayers for the repose of their ancestors' souls?

     Dominance? Or were they the conquerors of the previous dynasty’s descendants, finding a sense of superiority in carving their new faith onto the monuments of the fallen?

Address: Kitajuku-255 Besshocho, Himeji, Hyogo 671-0223

Phone: 079-252-0227

Tatsuyama Stone Quarry Site

Address: 18 Tatsuyama, Takasago, Hyogo 676-0811

Phone: 079-448-8255

Daisen-ryo Kofun (Tomb of Emperor Nintoku)

Address: 1079-1 Daisencho, Sakai Ward, Sakai, Osaka 590-0035

Phone: 072-955-1115

Heijo Palace Site Historical Park

Address: 3 Chome-5-1 Nijoojiminami, Nara, 630-8012

Phone: 0742-36-8780

Site of Kunikyo (Ancient Capital)

Address: Mizogaito Kamocho Reihei, Kizugawa, Kyoto 619-1106

Phone: 075-414-5903

Asuka-dera Temple

Address: 682 Asuka, Takaichi District, Nara 634-0103

Himeji Castle

Address: 68 Honmachi, Himeji, Hyogo 670-0012

Phone: 079-285-1146

Fukiage Omiya Palace

Address: 1-1 Chiyoda, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-0001

Phone: 03-3213-1111

National Diet Building

Address: 1-chome-7 Nagatacho, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-0014

Sumitomo Building

Address: 4 Chome-5-33 Kitahama, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 541-0041

Okaya Koki Nagoya Public Hall

Address: 1 Chome-1-3 Tsurumai, Showa Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 466-0064

Phone: 052-731-7191