Virtual Kako County Chichibu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #13 Kannon-do Hall

 

Historical Analysis of Station No. 13 (Notsuji)

1. Exclusion of Bankokusan Taihei-ji

     Although Taihei-ji Temple is located near the former ko-aza (sub-village) of Notsuji, it can be ruled out as the 13th station. Established as recently as 1970 under the Hokke Sect (Honmon-ryu), it has no historical connection to the Kako County Chichibu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage, which was founded in the Taisho period (1922).

2. Historical Context of Notsuji-shinmura in Edo period

     Branch Village (Eda-go) Status: Developed around 1666, Notsuji-shinmura was a branch village (eda-go) subordinate to the main village (hon-go), Shinzaike.

     Absence of a Parish Temple (Bodai-ji) and Graveyard: Residents of branch villages relied on the main village's temples for funerary rites and family graves. Consequently, Notsuji naturally lacked its own independent temple or cemetery.

     Role of the Village Hall (Kannon-do): Despite having no formal temple, the community maintained a local hall (Kannon-do) for daily devotion, agricultural prayers, and communal gatherings.

3. Creation of the Pilgrimage (1922) and Post-War Transition

     Taisho Period Allocation: By the time the Kako County Chichibu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage was established around 1922, Notsuji had long been merged into neighboring administrative structures. However, local pilgrimage routes were designated based on micro-level sub-communities rather than formal modern administrative borders. Thus, the local Kannon-do was designated as Station No. 13.  

     Modern Integration into the Community Center: Following post-war land developments (such as the reclamation of local irrigation ponds) and urbanization, maintaining standalone village halls became difficult. Throughout the Harima region, small halls or statues were commonly relocated to or housed within newly built community centers (kominkan).

Conclusion

     Given that Notsuji was historically a branch village without a formal temple, the local Kannon-do existed solely as a small communal worship site. With the modern restructuring of land and community spaces, the Notsuji Community Center (Notsuji Kominkan) stands as the most logically sound successor to the historic 13th station.

Notsuji Community Center

Address: Hiraokacho Shinzaike, Kakogawa, Hyogo 675-0101