Trees In the Town

 

Virtual Miki County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #12 Kongo-ji Temple

 

     Kongo-ji Temple was founded in 651 by Hodo, who traveled from India through Tang China and the Korean kingdom of Baekje to Japan from the 6th to 7th centuries.

     Kongo-ji Temple burned down when Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536-1598) attacked Miki Castle.  The head priest at the time, Ryosei, requested the restoration of Kongo-ji Temple through the mediation of Omura Yuko, a former monk of Kongo-ji Temple, who was Hideyoshi's assistant.  The restoration was subsequently granted, and a thatched roofed main hall was built in 1580.

     For your information, Raionbo was a monk at Aoyagi-san Choraku-ji Temple, a sub-temple of Kongo-ji Temple in Omura Village, Miki County, Settsu Province.  In his youth, he studied classical Chinese under Priest Shugyo (1483-1574), who was the 91st head priest of Shokoku-ji Temple in Kyoto, and cultivated the art of tanka poetry by visiting various tanka masters.  He became known for his profound knowledge.  He is said to have become an assistant scribe of Hideyoshi when he besieged Miki Castle from 1578 to 1580 and ruled Omura Village.  Raionbo is thought to have changed his name to Omura Yuko in those days.  When Hideyoshi made the Great Chugoku Retreat in 1582, Yuko participated in a military council at Himeji Castle.  He might have already established himself as Hideyoshi's confidant by this time.  That same year, he became the head priest of Tenman-gu Shrine in Osaka.

     While Hideyoshi was unifying Japan, Yuko not only served as an attendant but also wrote Hideyoshi's military chronicle, the Tenshoki.  The work emphasizes Hideyoshi's greatness.  Yuko seems to have served as a spokesman for the legitimacy of the Toyotomi Regime.

     During the Imjin War in 1592, Yuko accompanied Hideyoshi to Nagoya in Hizen Province.  Hideyoshi's devotion to Noh play at the time was so great that, not content with simply performing existing works, Hideyoshi is said to have commissioned Yuko to compose new Noh plays to commemorate Hideyoshi's own exploits for future generations.  Yuko's new Noh plays, "Cherry Blossom Viewing at Yoshino," "Pilgrimage to Koyasan," "The Attack on Akechi," "The Attack on Shibata," and "The Attack on Hojo," all feature Hideyoshi in the lead role.  Hideyoshi personally performed "The Attack on Akechi" at Osaka Castle on March 15th, 1594, and at the Imperial Palace on April 12th, indicating that it was a favorite of Hideyoshi.

     In addition to the war chronicles and new Noh plays mentioned above, Yuko also displayed a wide range of talents in Noh, tanka poems, renga poems, haikai poems, and kyoka poems.  He was also known to have had friendships with intellectuals of his time, including Fujiwara Seika (1561-1619), Yamashina Tokitsugu (1507-1579), Satomura Joha (1525-1602), and others.  He also had a deep knowledge of ancient calligraphy, having written the Baian Kohitsuden, Biography of Ancient Calligraphy.  Baian was his pseudonym.

Omura Yuko died on May 7th, 1596, at Tenman-gu Shrine in Settsu Province at the age of 60.

Address: 1041 Omura, Miki, Hyogo 673-0404

Phone: 0794-82-0722

Shokoku-ji Temple

Address: 701 Sokokuji Monzencho, Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto 602-0898

Phone: 075-231-0301

Himeji Castle

Address: 68 Honmachi, Himeji, Hyogo 670-0012

Phone: 079-285-1146

Osaka Tenman-gu Shrine

Address: 2 Chome-1-8 Tenjinbashi, Kita Ward, Osaka, 530-0041

Phone: 06-6353-0025

Nagoya Castle Ruins

Address: 1931-3 Chinzeimachi Nagoya, Karatsu, Saga 847-0401

Trees In the Town

 

Virtual Miki County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #1 Shobo-ji Temple

 

     Hodo, who traveled from India through Tang China and the Korean kingdom of Baekje to Japan from the 6th to 7th centuries, made Mount Shobo a holy place.  Shobo-ji Temple was founded in 649.  It is unknown if he was still alive in the year.  Emperor En'yu (959-991) approved the temple sometime between 970 and 972.  In its golden age, the temple had 7 sub-temples and 12 monk houses.  It declined but was revived by Priest Okuren to have 3 sub-temples and 7 monk houses.  In 1580, the temple burned down when Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536-1598) attacked Miki Castle.

     In 1578, the Bessho Family held Miki Castle against Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1537-1598).  By January, 1580, food supplies in the castle had already run out, and the "starvation of Miki" continued.  Meanwhile, Hideyoshi attacked the subsidiary fortress and forts of the castle, capturing Miyanoue Fort, which was defended by Bessho Tomoyuki (1560-1580), on the 6th, and Takaoyama Fortress, which was defended by Bessho Yoshichika (?-1580), on the 11th, leaving only the main castle.  On the 14th, Bessho Shigemune (1529-1591), who sided with Hideyoshi, advised the castle's samurai that the castle lord's family would commit seppuku suicide to spare the lives of the other samurai.  The Bessho Family accepted this, and on the 17th, Nagaharu (1558-1580) and his family committed seppuku suicides, ending the siege that had lasted for one year and ten months.

     In 1583, the temple was revived by Priest Kaishu to have 3 sub-temples and 7 monk houses.  In 1611, Priest Chosei built 2 more halls, and added another next year.

     Shobo-ji Temple is also the #23 member temple of Harima 33 Kannon Pilgrimage, which was organized in the 18th century.  Miki County was part of Harima Province, and Shobo-ji Temple might have become the #1 member temple of the Miki County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage to attract the visitors of the larger pilgrimage.

Address: 157 Besshocho Shoboji, Miki, Hyogo 673-0454

Phone: 0794-82-5232

Mount Shobo

Address: Besshocho Shoboji, Miki, Hyogo 673-0454

Trees In the Town

 

Miki County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage

 

     Miki County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage was organized by Yasufuku Gen'emon in 1707.

     In the prehistoric days of Japan, the country was unified by organizing Kuni-no-miyatsuko in remote areas.  Akashi Kuni-no-Miyatsuko's sovering power covered not only today's Akashi City but also today's Miki City.  Harima Province was organized in the 7th century, unifying Akashi Kuni-no-miyatsuko and Harimanokamo Kuni-no-miyatsuko as well as Harima Kuni-no-miyatsuko.  Miki County was first organized as Minagi County where Akashi Kuni-no-miyatsuko used to rule.  The county was also called Mino.  There are several stories about the origins of the names of the county.  Accordingly, the Miki County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage is also called Mino County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage or just the County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage.

     Gen'emon was the 2nd head of the Yasufuku Family.  The family kept their journal from 1675 to 1830 for 7 generations, 155 years.  It is surprising that the Yasufuku Family suddenly emerged as a powerful family about half a century after the establishment of the Tokugawa Shogunate.

     After the Warring States Period (1467-1573), Miki County was developed with Miki Castle in its center.  The castle was built by Bessho Noriharu (?-1513), who burst upon the samurai society in Harima Province.  There are over 10 stories about the origin of the Bessho Family.

     In Ancient times, some Emishi people were captured by Japan and some others had surrendered themselves to Japan because it offered them a good deal.  They had to swear obedience and offer local special products to Japan.  In return, they were exempted from taxes and were given food and clothes.  That must have looked more like a contract or trade to them.  They were called the subordinate Emishi.  Some subordinate Emishi were transferred and assigned to a couple of provinces in Japan.  In 725, for example, 144 subordinate Emishi were transferred and assigned to Iyo Province, 578 to Tsukushi Province, and 15 to Izumi Province.  In 738, 115 subordinate Emishi were transferred and assigned to Settsu Province.  After 774, the number of transferred and assigned subordinate Emishi increased, and so the number of the provinces to which they were transferred and assigned.

     The Wamyo Ruijusho, namely Japanese Names for Things Classified and Annotated, which was a Japanese dictionary compiled in 938, lists Japanese place names from south to north.  It lists Emishi Village in Mino County.  

     According to the Nihon Sandai Jitsuroku's entry dated April 11th, 866, 5 Emishi people from Kako and Mino Counties escaped to Omi Province.

     Nihon Sandai Jitsuroku, literally the True Record of Three Reigns of Japan, is a history text officially mandated by Emperor Uda (867-931) to compile. It was compiled by Fujiwara Tokihira (871-909), Sugawara Michizane (845-903), Okura Yoshiyuki (832-921), and Mimune Masahira (853-926), and covers the years from August 27th, 858, to August 26th, 887, corresponding to three imperial reigns: Seiwa (850-881), Yozei (869-949), and Koko (830-887). The compilation was completed in 901.

     All in all, some subordinate Emishi were transferred and assigned to Minagi, Mino, or Miki County.

     Kikuchi Takeharu (1890-1966) argued that the places where subordinate Emishi were transferred and assigned were called Bessho.  If so, Noriharu, who built Miki Castle, could have been a descendant either of subordinate Emishi or of those who had ruled subordinate Emishi in Minagi, Mino, or Miki County.

      Miki Castle was never called Minagi or Mino Castle.  As we talk about the county, the castle, and the pilgrimage often together, let me call the county Miki County, and the pilgrimage Miki County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage to avoid confusion.  Anyway, the pilgrimage was organized by a burst-upon person around the castle town, which was built by a burst-upon person.

Miki Castle Ruins

Address: 5 Uenomarucho, Miki, Hyogo 673-0432

Phone: 0794-82-2000

Kimigamine Fortress Site

Address: Shukuhara, Miki, Hyogo 673-0423

Trees In the Town

 

Virtual Arima County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #33 Koge-ji Temple

 

     Koge-ji Temple is said to have been founded by Priest Illa (?-583) from Baekje when Emperor Futotamashiki (538-585) reigned from 572 to 585.  When Illa secluded himself on Mount Hatsuka, he carved the Eleven-Faced Ekadasamukha statue from zelkova wood and enshrined it in the temple.

    When Emperor Futotamashiki (538-585) reigned from 572 to 585, Priest Illa (?-583) is believed to have founded Koge-ji Temple.

     Illa was from Baekje.  When he arrived at Kojima, Kibi Province, he was “consulted” by Mononobe Nieko, Otomo Nukateko, and Abe Me.  When he arrived at Namba in December, 583, he is said to have been assasinated by Baekje officials who had accompanied Illa, Dei and Yunu.

     After Illa's assasination, his wife and children were confined in Kudara Village, Ishikawa County, Kawachi Province; their rowers and others were confined in Otomo Village, Ishikawa County, Kawachi Province; and his assassinators Dei and Yunu were confined in Ata Village, Kudara County, Settsu Province, at Nukateko's suggestion that troubles could break out if they lived together.  Baekje was called Kudara in Japanese.

     Isn't it surprising and mysterious that Dei and Yunu weren't executed?  Did they really kill Illa?  If not, who assassinated Illa after his consultation or inspection?

     Anyway, if what was recorded in the Nihon Shoki, or the Chronicles of Japan, whose compilation was finished in 720, was true, Illa had no spare time to found a temple.

     According to the Prince Shotoku's Biography, which is supposed to have been compiled in 917 by Fujiwara Kanesuke (877-933), and Kon’jaku Monogatarishu, or the Anthology of Tales Old and New, which might have been written down at some point during the early half of the 12th century, after the year 1120, Illa was a Buddhist priest from Baekje, and Prince Shotoku learned from him.  Illa also spread Chinese characters to other provinces in Japan.

     Mystery leads to more mysteries.

     Koge-ji Temple is also the Settsu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #11.

Address: 1029 Kashita, Sanda, Hyogo 669-1507

Phone: 079-564-5143

Trees In the Town

 

Virtual Arima County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #32 Seiryu-ji Temple

 

     According to the Wakan Sansai Zue, or the Illustrated Sino-Japanese Encyclopedia, which was published in 1712, Seiryu-ji Temple was founded by Gyoki (668-749) as one of the 49 temples founded by him in the Kinai Region.  Some people argue that all the 49 temples were located in Yamato, Yamashiro, Settsu, Kawachi, and Izumi Provinces, excluding Seiryu-ji Temple, but some others in other provinces claim their temples were members of the 49 temples.

     Seiryu-ji Temple was located in Fukushima Village, which was first documented on October 22nd, 1377, when the village was transferred from the Katayama Family to Jisho-in Temple, which used to be a sub-temple of Nanzen-ji Temple.

     Seiryu-ji Temple's main deity is the wooden seated statue of Cintamanicakra, who usually has 6 arms and holds chintamani (a wish-fulfilling jewel) in one of the six, which was brought from Toko-zan Josho-ji Temple, which has been abolished.

     The statue has 1 face and 6 arms and is 21 centimeters tall.  It is meticulously crafted down to the smallest details.  The face is plump, and the right hand is lightly resting against the cheek in a pensive pose.  The jewel held in the hand on the chest and the prayer beads in the other hand hanging down are both missing.  The hand pointed above the left hand holds Dharmacakra, and the lotus flower held in the hand with the arm bent is missing.

     The statue is seated in the Rinnoza Style, with the right knee raised and the left one folded in front of the body.  The statue's soles of the feet are placed together unusually.  Arabesque patterns are raised on the silk ground, and traces of gold paint remaining in the recesses of the carvings suggest the original splendor.  The halo is said to have been added later.

     It is unknown why Josho-ji Temple was abolished, but as the area has Toko-zan Bodai-ji Temple, Josho-ji Temple could have been Bodai-ji Temple's sub-temple.

     As the statue is the #33 deity of the Arima County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage, some say Josho-ji Temple was the #33 member temple of the pilgrimage.

Address: 767-1 Fukushima, Sanda, Hyogo 669-1313

Phone: 079-567-0432

Toko-zan Bodai-ji Temple

Address: 352 Ninji, Sanda, Hyogo 669-1505

Phone: 079-566-0125

Nanzen-ji Temple

Address: 86 Nanzenji Fukuchicho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, 606-8435

Phone: 075-771-0365

Trees In the Town

 

Virtual Arima County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #31 Keian-ji Temple

 

     Keian-ji Temple was founded in 1649 to pray for the comfort of Kishi Yoshiuji, who was subject to Akamatsu Norimura (1277-1350), in the other world.  As the year 1649 was the 2nd year of the Keian Era (1648-1652), the temple name might have been after the era name.  It isn't clear why the temple was founded about 3 centuries after Yoshiuji's death.  Kuki Hisataka (1617-1649) became the 1st lord of the Mita Domain in 1633.  The descendants of Yoshiuji might have been on bad terms with the former lords of the domain, the Arima Family.

     The 1st head of the Arima Family, Yoshisuke (?-1421), was the 6th son of Akamatsu Norisuke (1314-1372), Norimura's 3rd son.  Presumably, the Kishi family was a local samurai based in Kishi Fortress, and Yoshiuji became subject to Yoshisuke and was given the Yoshi phrase for the first half of his new first name.  A couple of centuries is long enough to fall out.

     As there is the Kishi Ancient Burial Mounds No. 1 between Kishi Fortress Site and Keian-ji Temple, the Kishi Family could have been a local powerful family since prehistoric times.

     It is unknown when Goryo Shrine was founded in Kishi Village, but it was revived in 1470 presumably by Yoshiuji, so the shrine must be quite old.  Goryo Shrine was usually founded to soothe the spirit or soul of a certain person who had died an unnatural death.  Someone could have died a violent death along the bloodline of the Kishi Family, or the medieval Kishi Family could have replaced a certain ancient family violently.

     The Religion Registration Book of Mandaraji Village (part of today's Amagasaki City) in 1698 records that 2 daughters of Shichibei in Kishi Village were adopted by a villager of Mandaraji Village as lifelong servants.  As apprenticeship was common in those days, Shichibei or Kishi Village might have had some special reasons to launch young women into lifelong service.

Address: 1192 Kishi, Sanda, Hyogo 669-1541

Phone: 079-563-4748

Remains of Kishi Castle

Address: Kishi, Sanda, Hyogo 669-1541

Kishi Ancient Burial Mounds No. 1

Address: Sanda, Hyogo 669-1541

Trees In the Town

 

Virtual Arima County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #30 Seigen-ji Temple

 

     It is unknown when Seigen-ji Temple was founded in Ohara Village, Arima County, Settsu Province.  Ohara Village was first documented in June, 1339.  On October, 19th, 1338, Kishi Yoshiuji, who was subject to Akamatsu Norimura (1277-1350), burned down over 40 houses in Ohara Village on his way to attack Karasaki Fortress, which was located where Amagasaki Gakuen is.  As Yoshiuji belonged to the Northern Court, the village either belonged to the Southern Court or was just involved in battles unluckily.

     Seigen-ji Temple enshrines the sitting wooden Eleven-Faced Ekadasamukha statue, which is said to have been the personal guardian Buddhist image of Ohara Munetaka, who ruled Ohara Village based in Ohara Fortress.

     Munetaka's daughter was married to the Kishi Family, but was divorced.  She went back to Ohara Village, but her father, Munetaka, was killed in battle soon after.  She tried to copy the 600 volumes of the Hear Sutra for her late father, but was exhausted and died.  The villagers were pained by her death, and founded Himeyama Shrine at the site of Ohara Fortress.

https://www.city.sanda.lg.jp/soshiki/15/gyomu/rekishi_bunkazai/minwa/1899.html

     It is unknown if Yoshiuji and Munetaka (and thus Munetaka's daughter) were contemporary with each other.  If so, Munetaka could have been killed by his son-in-law.

Address: 896 Ohara, Sanda, Hyogo 669-1515

Phone: 079-564-5860

Himeyama Shrine

Address: Sanda, Hyogo 669-1515

Ohara Fortress Site

Address: Ohara, Sanda, Hyogo 669-1515

Amagasaki Gakuen

Address: 3083 Dojocho, Kita Ward, Kobe, Hyogo 651-1502

Phone: 078-985-2133