Trees In the Town

 

Virtual Akashi 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #28 Myoo-ji Temple

 

     Myoo-ji Temple was founded in 806 by Priest Genga.

     Why in 806?

     Prince Sawara (750-785) was implicated in the assassination of Fujiwara Tanetsugu (737-785) in 785, and was deposed as crown prince.  He was exiled to Awaji Province, and, on his way there, he either starved himself to death or was starved to death.  His body was forwarded to the province and was buried there.  The whereabouts of his burial site is unknown.

     His tragedy provoked fear against his curse.  The fear became awe, and the awe led to enshrining the prince as a god.

     On October 8th, 785, Emperor Kanmu (737-806) reported to the tombs of Emperor Tenchi (626-672), Prince Shiki (668-716), and Emperor Konin (709-782) that Prince Sawara had been deposed as crown prince, and on November 25th, Prince Ote (774-824) was made crown prince.  After 788, there were a series of unhappy events, including Ote's illness; the deaths of Emperor Kanmu's wives, Fujiwara Tabiko (759-788), Fujiwara Otomuro (760-790), and Sakanoue Matako (?-790); the death of Takano Niigasa (?-790), the mother of Emperor Kanmu and Prince Sawara; epidemics; and famines.  The incidents were all concluded by the Department of Divinities to be the curse of Prince Sawara.  In 792, a household was assigned to guard and clean Sawara's burial site.

     After that, two monks were sent to Awaji Province, where Sawara was buried, on May 20th, 797, to apologize to the prince's spirit.  On February 15th, 799, Otomo Korenari and Priest Taishin were sent to the province to apologize, and other ceremonies were held to appease the prince's spirit.

     On July 23rd, 800, Prince Sawara was posthumously named Emperor Sudo and a mound was made on his burial site.  Korenari was sent to the burial mound with onmyoji, a technical officer in charge of divination and geomorphology, and monks to apologize, and 2 households were assigned to be grave keepers in Tsuna County, Awaji Province.  So, his burial site might have been in the county.  Kanmu's health deteriorated from the end of 804, and he put more effort into appeasement of the prince's spirit.  In April, 805, he ordered provinces to build small warehouses for Sawara and keep 40 bundles of tax rice to cover the cost of reburial of Sawara.  He appointed a reburial official to proceed with the reburial in Yamato Province.  The site is identified as Yashima Mausoleum.  On March 17th, 806, Kanmu, who was critically ill, pardoned those involved in the assassination of Tanetsugu: Otomo Yakamochi (715-785), Otomo Tsuguhito (?-785), and Ki Shiramaro.  He ordered the monks of Provincial Temples to recite the Vajrayana Sutra for 7 days in February and September for Sawara, and passed away on the same day.

     According to Myodani Shi, or Myodani History and Topography, which was published in 1973, the Akashi 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #27 Tenporin-ji Temple suffered from fires and Myoo-ji Temple was founded, enshrining Acalanatha to prevent further fires.  However, other documents don't support the relation between the 2 temples.  Anyway, Myoo-ji Temple could have been founded because there was something threatening and disquieting in the air of the society.

     Myoo-ji Temple’s Buddhist tanka poem is:

Looking out, the moon shines brightly at Myo-oji Temple,

Letting the light of great compassion

Live up to the moon light.

Address: 1900 Myodanicho, Tarumi-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 655-0852

Phone: 078-707-0163

Trees In the Town

 

Virtual Akashi 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #27 Tenporin-ji Temple

 

     Tenporin-ji Temple is said to have been founded to pray for the recovery of Emperor Heizei (774-824) from the disease in 806 where Iwafune Fudomyo is located.  The Emperor succeeded to the throne on March 17th, 806, and abdicated the throne on April 1st, 809, because of illness.  As he reigned only for 3 years and 14 days, it is hard to tell whether building the temple worked or not.

     It is unknown why the temple was moved to its present place in 1223.

     The temple’s Buddhist tanka poem is:

Now the Buddha's past is revealed,

And the moonlight turns

Like the wheel of Buddhism.

Address: 2089 Myodanicho, Tarumi-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 655-0852

Phone: 078-791-7885

Iwafune Fudomyoo

Address: 7 Chome-1 Shioyacho, Tarumi-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 655-0872

Trees In the Town

 

Virtual Akashi 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #26 Taisan-ji Temple

 

     Taisan-ji Temple was founded in 716 by Fujiwara Umakai (694-737), who was appointed to be the vice ambassador of the 9th Japanese Mission to Tang China in the year.

     When Umakai recuperated at Mayadani Hot Springs, he received a revelation in a dream, which led to him making 7 Bhaisajyaguru images (the Akashi Seven Yakushi Buddhas) and enshrining them in 7 locations within Akashi County.  The main deity of Taisan-ji Temple is said to be one of the 7.

      Jinno-ji, Chorin-ji, Koke-ji, and Jurin-ji Temples claim that they belong to the Akashi Seven Yakushi Buddhas.  Taisan-ji Temple doesn’t say it belongs to the Akashi Seven Yakushi Buddhas but it was also founded by Umakai, so it might be a member of the Akashi Seven Yakushi Buddhas.  Nothing is known about the other 2 temples.  Have they been abolished?

     We can’t find Mayadani Hot Springs today.  Was it today’s Arima Hot Springs?

     Tradition says that Taisan-ji Temple was founded in one of the old haunts of Priest Joe (643-666).  Joe studied in Tang China from 653 to 665.

     In May, 653, Joe traveled to Tang China as a monk studying abroad with a Japanese envoy to Tang China.  He resided at the Huiri Daochang Practice Hall of Huaide Temple in Changan and studied under Master Shentai, a disciple of Xuanzang (602-664).

     In September, 665, Joe returned to Japan via Baekje on the Korean Peninsula.  He is said to have returned with a large delegation of over 250 people led by Liu Degao, an envoy from Tang China.  Joe died in December of the same year in Ohara (today's Ohara, Asuka, Takaichi District, Nara 634-0106).

     The temple burned down in 1285, and was revived between 1293 and 1299.

     Taisanji Fudoh Myooh is the Acalanatha image carved out of the cliff along the gorge of I River, and is supposed to be the inner sanctuary of the temple.  On the hill top along the opposite bank, there stands Taishaku-Kannon-do Hall.  Taishaku is the Japanese phrase which refers to Indra, who is believed to live in Trayastrimsa.

     Taisan-ji Temple’s Buddhist tanka poem is:

The white threads of the gorge in Taisan-ji Temple

Reaches all the way to Trayastrimsa

Through the stone Buddhist image.

Address: Zenkai-224 Ikawadani-chō, Nishi Ward, Kobe, Hyogo 651-2108

Phone: 078-976-6658

Jinno-ji Temple

Address: 2 Chome-14-18 Hayashi, Akashi, Hyogo 673-0034

Phone: 078-923-4351

Chorin-ji Temple

Address: 9-4 Zaimokucho, Akashi, Hyogo 673-0893

Phone: 078-911-4727

Koke-ji Temple

Address: 2-chome-10-35 Taidera, Akashi, Hyogo 673-0845

Phone: 078-911-3755

Jurin-ji Temple

Address: 1074 Takasagocho Yokomachi, Takasago, Hyogo 676-0051

Phone: 079-442-0242

Taishaku-Kannon-do Hall

Address: Ikawadani-cho, Nishi Ward, Kobe, Hyogo 651-2108

Trees In the Town

 

Virtual Akashi 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #25 Taikoku-ji Temple

 

     Taikoku-ji Temple was founded in 727 by Priest Joe.  The most famous Joe, who studied in Tang China from 653 to 665, lived from 643 to 666.  The founder of Taikoku-ji Temple should be another Joe.

     The temple used to have the main hall, the Jogyo-do hall, and a dining hall.

     Jogyo-do hall is also called Jogyo-Zanmai-do hall.  Jogyo Zammai is the Buddhist practice in which monks walk around Amidabha for 90 days while chanting Nianfo and thinking of Amidabha in their hearts.  Therefore, the hall is square with Amidabha enshrined in the center, and often has a tented roof.

     Taikoku-ji Temple also had 22 sub-temples in its precincts.

     The temple was burned down in fire twice and diminished.  The second fire is said to have been caused by Miyoshi Nagayoshi (1522-1564).

     In 1554, in response to a request from Arima Shigenori, Nagayoshi attacked Miki Castle, which belonged to Bessho Nariharu (1502-1563), and captured 7 of its attached forts.  Presumably, Taikoku-ji Temple was burned down in one of the battles.

     The temple’s Buddhist tanka poem is:

As Avalokitesvara shines at the blessings,

The setting sun shines

On the shining mountains.

Address: Kodera-330 Ikawadani-chō, Nishi Ward, Kobe, Hyogo 651-2107

Phone: 078-974-3693

Miki Castle Ruins

Address: 5 Uenomarucho, Miki, Hyogo 673-0432

Phone: 0794-82-2000

Trees In the Town

 

Virtual Akashi 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #24 Chokai-ji Temple

 

     Chokai-ji Temple was founded in 1351 during the Southern and Northern Courts Period (1337-1392) by Akamatsu Ujinori (1330-1386), presumably for his late father, Norimura (1277-1350), the Samurai Guardian of Harima Province.  Ujinori supported the Southern Court.

     The temple's main deity is the standing statue of Eleven-Faced Ekadasamukha, which was carved out of sandalwood, and which was brought from Tang China by Ennin (794-864).  The temple had 29 sub-temples in its precincts in its prime.  During the Edo Period (1603-1867), the temple was known for its numerous cherry trees with its nickname Hakuunro, namely White Clouds Building.  Lords Matsudaira of Akashi Domain hosted annual cherry blossom viewing parties in its precincts, and they attracted many literati and artists.

     The temple’s Buddhist tanka poem is:

Spring flowers invite storms.

The clouds of falling cherry blossoms

Wave over the garden of the Buddhism teaching.

Address: 9-1 Imadera, Nishi Ward, Kobe, Hyogo 651-2114

Phone: 078-974-1253

Trees In the Town

 

Virtual Akashi 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #23 Fukurin-ji Temple

 

     It is unknown when Fukurin-ji Temple was founded in Ikegami Village, Akashi County, Harima Province.  It belongs to Tamon-ji Temple as a Kannon-do hall out of the precincts of Tamon-ji Temple, but it is unknown whether the hall belonged to the temple from its origin or Fukurin-ji Temple was an independent temple and was merged to Tamon-ji Temple.

     Ikegami Village, whose current place name is Ikegami 1-5 chome, Ikawadanicho Kamiwaki, Otsuwa 1-3 chome, all in Nishi Ward, Kobe, Hyogo, was located in the midstream of the Ikawa River, to the west was Minamibefu Village.  The village was first documented in The Keicho Kuni-ezu, or the Keicho Maps of the Provinces, which was drawn at the beginning of the 17th century.  The village belonged to the Akashi Domain.

     Fukurin-ji Temple’s Buddhist tanka poem is:

In Fukurin-ji Temple,

Worship grows

Like a waxing moon.

Address: 2 Chome-18-6 Ikegami, Nishi Ward, Kobe, Hyogo 651-2111

Tamon-ji Temple

Address: 2 Chome-2-75 Tamondai, Tarumi-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 655-0007

Phone: 078-782-4445

Trees In the Town

 

Virtual Akashi 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #22 Nichirin-ji Temple

 

     Nichirin-ji Temple is believed to have been founded by Gyoki (668-749) in 724.

     The temple has a waniguchi, a Japanese flat round hollow metal slit gong which was presented to Shinguhonguryo Shrine in Awa Province in 1509 by Iuchi Norimoto, who could have been a samurai steward of the Myozai Manor, in which the shrine was located.  The manor was first documented in the 1020’s.  A document dated September 4th, 1370, laments that the power of the nobles declined and that of samurai increased in the manor.

     Miyoshi Yoshitaka (1527-1562), who was from Awa Province, invaded Harima Province from 1554 to 1555.  Nichirin-ji Temple is said to have been burned down in battle and was revived by Priest Yukan later.  The gong might have been presented by the Miyoshi Clan when the temple was revived.

     The temple’s Buddhist tanka poem is:

The wishes of all pilgrims

Clear up in the clouds of their hearts

At Nichirin-ji Temple.

Address: Koyama-563 Tamatsucho, Nishi Ward, Kobe, Hyogo 651-2144

Phone: 078-928-7255 

Shinguhonguryo Shrine

Address: Nakashima Takahara, Ishii, Myozai District, Tokushima 779-3208