Virtual Kasai Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #18 Kongo-ji Temple

 

     Kongo-ji Temple is said to have been founded by the priest Gimoku in 1798, although its main hall was reportedly constructed earlier, in 1774.

     In 1631, the Tokugawa Shogunate issued an edict prohibiting the establishment of new temples, effectively freezing the number of temples nationwide. Temples built before 1631 were classified as koseki (historical sites), whereas those established later were designated as shinchi (new sites). Although some temples were built covertly, they were eventually brought under strict control, particularly through regulations such as the 1692 decree. Consequently, the construction of new temples was generally permitted only under the pretext of reviving dilapidated, pre-existing ones—a process known as the "revival of old temples" (koseki fukko).

     This strict regulatory framework likely explains why nearly a generation elapsed between the construction of the main hall and the official recognition of Kongo-ji as a formal Buddhist temple.

1. Famine in Harima and the Executed Martyr (Late 1750s–1764)

Unseasonable Weather and Local Famine (from c. 1757):

     Just before the 1760s, the Harima region suffered from persistent unseasonable weather. In Taka District (present-day Taka Town and Nishiwaki City), which was under the direct administration of the Shogunate’s Ikono Magistrate Office (Ikono Daikansho), unusually cold and unstable weather severely damaged rice yields. The local populace faced near-starvation conditions, leading to widespread inability to pay land taxes (nengu) that lasted into the early 1760s.

The Martyrdom of Natsuume Taroemon (1764):

     Against this backdrop of extreme hardship, the Ikono Magistrate Office attempted to impose extraordinary tax burdens (goyokin) on the impoverished peasantry. In response, Natsuume Taroemon, the headman (shoya) of Kumanobe Village (now Yachiyo Ward, Taka Town), bypassed official channels and appealed directly (essho) to the magistrate to save the villagers’ lives. In June 1764, Taroemon was executed by burning at the stake as a public warning. However, his sacrifice succeeded in reducing the tax burden and saved the local population from mass starvation.

2. The Spreading Riots of 1768 (Uchikowashi)

The Osaka Riots (Spring–Summer 1768):

     Outraged by soaring rice prices and monopolistic distribution schemes, angry crowds in Osaka launched violent riots (uchikowashi), targeting the residences and warehouses of prominent merchants involved in the newly established rice management offices (sahaisho).

Spread to Harima:

     Word that "rioting forces down rice prices" quickly traveled west along the Saigokukaido Highway and upstream along rivers such as the Kako River into Harima Province.

     Kato District (May 9): Impoverished peasants from 20 surrounding villages descended upon the residence of the wealthy Kondo family in Ichiba Village (now Ono City), forcing them to agree to sell rice at discounted rates.

     Itto District (May 20): A similar mass mobilization occurred in Shinzaike Village (now Aboshi Ward, Himeji City). The crowd consistently demanded a ban on rice shipments to Osaka (tsudome) and forced the local release of cheap rice for the regional populace.

3. Suppression, Relief Measures, and the Shogunate's Direct Control

Military Mobilization and Suppression:

     Alarmed by the widespread unrest, the Shogunate and local domains strengthened security. Because jurisdiction in Harima was highly fragmented, neighboring domains were ordered to guard strategic points; for instance, the Himeji Domain (Sakai clan) dispatched troops to maintain order and secure land and sea routes around Hyogonotsu Port. Once the riots subsided, ringleaders were hunted down and severely punished.

Relief Efforts (Osukui):

     To prevent further uprisings and starvation, authorities implemented relief measures alongside military suppression:

Merchants and domains reluctantly approved temporary price cuts for rice.

     Domains (such as Himeji and Akashi) and Shogunate magistrates distributed free rice (semai) and relief funds (osukui-kin) to needy households. Wealthy merchants and village leaders were also ordered to make donations to fund public relief kitchens.

The Annexation of Strategic Ports (Meiwa no Jochi, 1769):

     Recognizing that relying on individual domains to manage key logistical hubs like Hyogonotsu and Nishimiya threatened the security and grain supply of the Kinai region, the Shogunate took decisive action. In 1769 (Meiwa 6), the Shogunate forcibly confiscated these strategic coastal areas from domains such as Amagasaki and brought them under direct Shogunate control (Tenryo).

     Although no surviving records explicitly link the founding of Kongo-ji Temple to these regional lines of events, it is highly plausible that this turbulent socio-economic backdrop shaped the process of its establishment and eventual official recognition.

     Viewed against the backdrop of 18th-century social turmoil, the sacred hymn (goeika) of Kongo-ji Temple takes on a profoundly poignant resonance:

True is the prayer from a heart so strong,

Here where the rock-firm faith belongs.

At Kongo-ji, the solid and grand,

Every wish finds its fulfillment at hand.

     The phrase kataki ("rock-firm") references not merely an abstract spiritual devotion, but the indestructible resilience of a populace that endured severe famines, tax oppressions, and social uprisings. Through sheer collective will, they carved out a sanctuary of hope in defiance of strict Shogunate regulations.

     Yet, the complete fulfillment of their prayers—a world free from the rigid constraints of the feudal order—would require another full century to realize. It was not until the Meiji Restoration of 1868 that the Shogunate system finally collapsed, paving the way toward a new era. In this light, the enduring stones and sacred verses of Kongo-ji Temple stand as a quiet testament to the enduring hopes of the common people, who preserved their faith and dignity through a century of waiting.

Address: 320-1 Nojocho, Kasai, Hyogo 675-2202

Phone: 0790-48-3978