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

Trees In the Town

 

Virtual Akashi 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #21 Nyoi-ji Temple

 

     Nyoi-ji Temple was founded by Nun Gansai sometime between 990 and 995.

     Gansai's father was Urabe Masachika (?-948).  The Urabe Clan lived in Katsuragi County, Yamato Province, served the god of Katsuragi, and worked for the Imperial Court as fortune-tellers.  Fortune-telling is "uranai" in Japanese, from which the clan's name comes from.  Gansai's mother belonged to the Kiyohara Clan.  She must have been 1 or 2 generations older than Sei Shonagon (966-1025), who also belonged to the same clan, and who was a famous essayist and tanka composer.  Gansai belonged to a line of intellectuals.

     According to an excavation, the original temple had the main hall and the 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.

     Nyoi-ji Temple was first documented in 1152.

     Nyoi means to have everything my own way and the temple’s Buddhist tanka poem is:

Nyoi-ji Temple, which reflects lotus leaves,

Is where to pray

Your own way.

Address: 259 Hasetanicho, Nishi Ward, Kobe, Hyogo 651-2237

Phone: 078-991-0009

Trees In the Town

 

Virtual Akashi 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #20 Mangan-ji Temple

 

     Mangan-ji Temple is said to have been founded by Nun Gansai either in 1131 or 1132.  It has been a convent until it became nunless lately.  As the nun died sometime between 1004 and 1012, the temple might have been founded for the late lamented nun.

     Mangan means Ten-Thousand Wishes and the temple's main deity is Eleven-Faced Ekadasamukha.  Its Buddhist tanka poem is:

If you make tens of thousands of wishes,

Ekadasamukha picks all of them up

With the white threads of the hands.

Address: Iketani-771 Hasetanicho, Nishi Ward, Kobe, Hyogo 651-2234

Phone: 078-991-0009 (Nyoi-ji Temple)