Virtual New Innami County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #18 Joraku-ji Temple

 

     Joraku-ji Temple was founded in today's Nakanishi Nishikankicho, Kakogawa, Hyogo 675-0043, in 1333 by Priest Meitetsu, who later became the head priest of Komyo-ji Temple, which is the head temple of Joraku-ji Temple.

     The temple functioned as a fort of the Akamatsu Clan.  As the clan declined, so did the temple.  However, the Kanki Family, who are said to be a branch of the Akamatsu Clan, built their fortress around where Joraku-ji Temple is located today, and made the then Joraku-ji Temple their family temple.

     In 1578, when Kanki Yorisada (1550-1578) was the lord of the fortress, Oda Nobutada (1557-1582) killed Yorisada and destroyed the fortress.  The then Joraku-ji Temple was also burned down.  The then priest, Shoshun, built the grave for Yorisada and revived the temple in the fortress site, where Joraku-ji Temple is located.

     In today's Nakanishi Nishikankicho, Kakogawa, Hyogo 675-0043, there is the site of the so-called Nakanishi Abolished Temple.  The site has a center foundation stone about 76 centimeters in diameter and about 26 centimeters in depth.  There should have been a gigantic wooden Buddhist tower.  Judging from excavated roof tiles, the temple existed from the end of the 7th century to the 12th century.  In the Nakanishi area, there is Iwai Pure Water Spring, for which the leftover stones are used from the temple.

     It is unknown whether Ex-Joraku-ji Temple was the successor of the Nakanishi Abolished Temple, the successor of a sub-temple of the Nakanishi Abolished Temple, or had nothing to do with the Nakanishi Abolished Temple.

     It is unknown why, but there are 2 more Joraku-ji Temples in Kakogawa City.  There are 127 Joraku-ji Temples nationwide, while we have 792 cities, towns, and villages.  Obviously, the ratio of Joraku-ji Temples in the city far exceeds the average.

Address: Kanki-1413 Higashikankicho, Kakogawa, Hyogo 675-0057

Komyo-ji Temple

Address: Saijo-no-uchi 26-1 Ao, Nagaokakyo, Kyoto 617-0811

Phone: 075-955-0002

Kanki Fortress Site

Address: Jorakuji 1413, Higashikankicho, Kakogawa, Hyogo 675-0057

The Grave of Kanki Yorisada, the Lord of the Kanki Fortress

Address: Kanki-1343-1 Higashikankicho, Kakogawa, Hyogo 675-0057

Iwai Pure Water Spring

Address: Nakanishi-269 Nishikankicho, Kakogawa, Hyogo 675-0043

Joraku-ji Temple

Address: Ono-1762 Kakogawacho, Kakogawa, Hyogo 675-0061

Phone: 0794245882

Joraku-ji Temple

Address: Inokuchi-158 Kamisocho, Kakogawa, Hyogo 675-1212

Phone: 079-428-2207