Virtual New Innami County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #32 Shinpuku-ji Temple

 

     The origins of Shinpuku-ji Temple in Uozaki-shinmura (Innami County, Harima Province) remain shrouded in mystery. The village was established as salt pans in 1604 by Rokuzaemon of Arai Village. Originally settled by his family and known as Arai-shinmura, it was officially recognized as a village by the Himeji Domain and renamed Uozaki-shinmura in 1625.

     Records are silent regarding when Shinpuku-ji was abolished or where it stood. Uozaki-shinmura encompassed the modern-day area of Umei (Takasago, Hyogo) and its surroundings. Given that Umei is already home to Zengyo-ji—a Pure Land Buddhist temple founded in the early Edo period—it is possible that Shinpuku-ji served as a jingu-ji (shrine-temple). If so, it likely faced abolition following the Shinbutsu Bunri (Gods and Buddhas Separation Order) of 1868.

     Since most shrines in the village were managed by Sone Tenman Shrine, the former site of the temple was likely repurposed for communal or ritual use. My hypothesis is that the temple became just Kannon-do Hall, relocated to its present place.

Zengyo-ji Temple

Address: 4 Chome-20-3 Umei, Takasago, Hyogo 676-0074

Phone: 079-447-3710

Sone Tenman Shrine

Address: 2299-1 Sonecho, Takasago, Hyogo 676-0082

Phone: 079-447-0645

Kannon-do Hall

Address: 5-5 Araicho Nakamachi, Takasago, Hyogo 676-0007