Virtual New Innami County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #19 Kannon-ji Temple

 

     Kannon-ji Temple was founded by Priest Sochin in 1578 in the site of the main keep of Shikata Castle.

Shikata Castle's lord was the Kushihashi Family.  The family produced Mitsu (1553-1627), the wife of Kuroda Yoshitaka (1546-1604), a military strategist during the Warring States Period (1467-1573).  The castle was built in 1492 by Kushihashi Norikore (1433-1487).  In 1573, when either Kushihashi Koresada (1522-1573) or his son, Masakore (?-1578), was the lord of the castle, the castle fell to the Oda Army.

     Sochin is said to have founded Kannon-ji Temple to keep the graves of the Kushihashi Family.

     For your information, the site of the second keep is used as Shikata Elementary School, and Uenomachi Public Hall is built on the site of the west keep.

     Kannon-ji Temple belongs to Caodong Chan School but Mitsu is known as a devoted Pure Land Buddhist, while Yoshitaka and their son, Nagamasa (1568-1623), were once Christian.  Why do we still fight religious wars?

Address: Shikatamachi-720 Shikatacho, Kakogawa, Hyogo 675-0321

Phone: 079-452-2370

Shikata Elementary School

Address: Shikatamachi-1050 Shikatacho, Kakogawa, Hyogo 675-0321

Phone: 079-452-0066

Uenomachi Public Hall

Address: 1093 Shikatacho, Kakogawa, Hyogo 675-0321

Phone: 079-452-4251