Virtual Kako County Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #6 Fukurin-ji Temple

 

     It remains unknown exactly when Fukurin-ji Temple was founded in Bingo Village, within the Kako County of Harima Province. The earliest surviving written record that mentions both the village and the temple together dates back to 1515. However, within the temple's precincts stands a Gorinto (a Buddhist five-ring pagoda) inscribed with the date February 18th, 1363. This physical evidence strongly suggests that the temple already existed by the mid-14th century.

     The inscription on the pagoda reads: "For the sake of the entire cosmic realm and the equal spiritual benefit of all sentient beings, on the 18th day of the second month of the second year of Joji (1363), by the Ikketshu (the assembled group), respectfully submitted."

     The phrase "Ikketshu" carries a nuance of people banding together, often implying a united front formed in opposition to an external force, particularly a ruling authority. Intriguingly, because this group utilized the era name Joji, they clearly belonged to the Northern Court side. During this period, the Samurai Guardian (military governor) of Harima Province was Akamatsu Norisuke (1314–1372). Although Norisuke had briefly transferred his allegiance to the Southern Court side in 1351, he returned to the Northern Court side the following year. Therefore, by 1363, both the provincial Samurai Guardian and the local Ikketshu were aligned with the same side.

     Read in this light, contemporary documents indicate that Harima Province was plagued by disputes over manor (shoen) ownership around 1363. This historical context allows us to infer that despite sharing a nominal alignment under the same court's era name, sharp friction and underlying tensions over land and local autonomy persisted between the Samurai Guardian and the local community.

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