Trees In the Town

 

Virtual Arima County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #14 Shofuku-ji Temple

 

     Shofuku-ji Temple was founded in 1651 as a member of Caodong Chan School.

     It is unknown when Keirin-ji Temple was founded in Hirata Village, Arima County, Settsu Province, as a member of Shingon Sect.  After the Meiji Restoration, Shofuku-ji Temple moved to where Keirin-ji Temple was, and became Keirin-zan Shofuku-ji Temple.  So, although Shofuku-ji Temple belongs to Caodong Chan School, its buildings look as if the temple belongs to Shingon Sect. 

     Shofuku-ji Temple's main deity is the statue of Thousand-Armed Eleven-Faced Ekadasamukha or Eleven-Faced Thousand-Armed Sahasrabhuja, which was made by Enchin sometime between 859 and 877.  The third priest, Keitei, brought the statue.  He was formerly the priest of Kagaku-ji Temple, the family temple of Asano Naganori (1667-1701), the lord of Ako Domain in Harima Province.  In 1700, Naganori was forced to commit harakiri suicide and the Asano Family fell to ruin.  Keitei retired from Kagaku-ji Temple shortly thereafter with the statue, and in 1716, at the age over 40, he finally became the chief priest of Shofuku-ji Temple on September 17th.

     The wood from which the statue was carved out had its own legend.  Some say that it was originally a bridge timber which was hit by a bolt of lightning and which was washed away from Cape Mio in Takashima County, Omi Province, in a flood long ago.  The bolt-hit wood was believed to have miraculous power.  In the area where the wood was brought, there was a fire and an illness.  At first, it was brought to Kamikawa Village, Katsurage County, Yamato Province, and there was a great disaster in the village.  The villagers pushed it away.  It reached ​​Toma Village in the same county, and there were frequent outbreaks of fever and fires in the surrounding villages.  The villagers abandoned it in the Hase River.  30 years later, Tokudo (656-?) joined forces with Hodo, who traveled from India through Tang China and the Korean kingdom of Baekje to Japan from the 6th to 7th centuries, and ordered the Buddhist sculptor, Ji Zhudong and Ji Fuhui to carve a 7.9 meters tall statue in 727.  The Eleven-Faced Ekadasamukha statue was presented to Hase-dera Temple. Gyoki (668-749) was invited to be the master of the eye-opening ceremony.

     At that time, Gyoki said that there should be a leftover of the wood when the statue was made.  Tokudo pulled out a piece of wood about 2 feet long and said, "In the past, the sculptors lost this scrap and searched for it everywhere.  They were unable to find it.  What is strange is that no one has brought it, but it was left in the back yard.  It should have been waiting for you to come."  Tokudo quickly presented it to Gyoki.　

     Gyoki brought the leftover to Hine Village in Omi Province to carve another Eleven-Faced Ekadasamukha statue.  The village's whereabouts is unknown.  It is a pity that Gyoki grew older and passed away.

     Since then, the leftover remained in Hine Village for 140 or 150 years.  It occasionally emitted lights deep into the night.  All that saw the lights were amazed, but as time passed so long, no one knew what kind of tree it was.  However, one night, a poor man had a dream in which Thousand-Armed Eleven-Faced Ekadasamukha or Eleven-Faced Thousand-Armed Sahasrabhuja appeared at his pillow and said, "There is rotten wood in Hine Village.  Long ago, Gyoki wanted to carve an image of me but before he could do it he died.  The wood rotted away and was soiled by the villagers stepping on it.  You should quickly search for a person of taste and have him carve me out of the wood"  The man woke up from the dream and was deeply concerned about the wood.  As his family was poor, he didn't know what to do, and the months and days passed away.  At this time, Enchin  (814-891) was thinking, "I have relied on the power of Avalokitesvara since I was a child and have survived to this day.  However, as impermanence is difficult to measure, I hope to create a living image of Avalokitesvara while I'm still alive."  He searched for sacred wood.

     As the poor man happened to talk about the wood to Enchin.  Enchin was delighted, "What a great blessing this is!"  He searched for the wood that Gyoki had left and quickly cut up the rotten wood to make a statue himself.  However rotten the outside was, the core inside remained fragrant, like agarwood.  Finally, he had a small statue with 1,000 arms and 11 faces made.  He also built a temple in Hine Village, and performed an eye-opening ceremony for himself, spreading the word of salvation to good men and women near and far.  Avalokitesvara truly vowed that those who chant Avalokitesvara's name would be relieved of all illness, sorrow, and suffering.  Whether it be epidemics, illness, or difficult childbirth, it was never uncured.

     If the legend is true, it might have been Asano Nagamasa (1547- 1611) that got the statue when he owned some territory in Omi Province from 1573 to 1587.  Nagashige (1588-1632) was Nagamasa's 4th son.  Nagashige's first son, Naganao (1610-1672), became the lord of the Ako Domain in 1645.  He supported founding Kagaku-ji Temple as their family temple.  So, it could have been Naganao who brought the statue to Kagaku-ji Temple.  Believe it or not.  

Address: Hirata-862 Dojocho, Kita Ward, Kobe, Hyogo 651-1504

Phone: 078-951-4617

Kagaku-ji Temple

Address: 1992 Kariya, Ako, Hyogo 678-0239

Phone: 0791-42-2068

Hase-dera Temple

Address: 731-1 Hase, Sakurai, Nara 633-0112

Phone: 0744-47-7001

Trees In the Town

 

Virtual Arima County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #13 Komyo-ji Temple

 

     Komyo-ji Temple was founded on October 2nd, 1541, in Yamaguchi Village, Arima County, Settsu Province.  Its foundation date is so clear, but the details of the temple's founding are unknown.

     Yamaguchi Manor was first documented in 1114 as the private manor of Minamoto Toshiaki (1044-1114).  Toshiaki's 2 tanka poems were included in the imperially-commissioned Japanese anthologies of tanka poetry:

Has spring come before New Year?

We see mist on Mount Yoshino

Which is covered with snow.

Waves wash the beach and I watch the foam.

As I cooled down

I realized it's just snow on the pond which isn't frozen yet.

     The temple buildings were rebuilt in 1841, and it underwent a complete reconstruction in September, 1972, with a reinforced concrete main hall and a two-story wooden priest's office.

     To commemorate the reconstruction, the following Buddhist tanka poem was composed:

With compassion and mercy,

the light of the Buddha shines brightly

On the temple of Yamaguchi.

     The temple has Oshiruko, namely Soup gatherings, which have been held for over half a century since the time of the 32nd priest, Tatsudo.

     The temple holds Buddhist gatherings throughout the year, including memorial services, nirvana ceremonies, spring and autumn equinoxes gatherings, flower festivals, ten-night ceremonies, and enlightenment ceremonies.

     These events are held in the afternoon, with each member bringing only rice, and the people on duty that day preparing the soup and side dishes.  They have lively meals together.  The gatherings provide strong bonds between the temple and its parishioners.

     Komyo-ji Temple also has the Yoshimizu-ko gathering, where members can learn Buddhist tanka poems and Buddhist hymns, and the Goju-ko gatherings, for those who have undergone the Gojusoden.  In Gojusoden, practitioners listen to lectures, chant nianfo, and perform other Buddhist services for 5 days.

     Additionally, there are many stone monuments remaining in the precincts.

Address: 3 Chome-13-21 Yamaguchicho Shimoyamaguchi, Nishinomiya, Hyogo 651-1412

Phone: 078-904-1331

Trees In the Town

 

Virtual Arima County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #12 Kinsen-ji Temple Kannon-do Hall

 

     It is unknown when Kinsen-ji Temple was founded.  It is said to have been a large temple with 7 halls during the Warring States Period (1467-1590), when it served as the family temple of the Yamaguchi Family, who were based in Maruyama Fortress.

     As the fortress is said to have been built during the Warring States Period by Yamaguchi Gorozaemon, the temple could have been founded after the mid 15th century.

     Around 1558, the Yamaguchi Family belonged to Araki Murashige (1535-1586), who was based in Arioka Castle.  In 1564, the family was defeated in a surprise attack by Matsubara Sadatsugu, the lord of Tanpopo Fortress.  Thereafter, the Matsubara Family controlled the fortress.  In 1578, the fortress is said to have fallen to the army of Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582), who attacked Murashige.

     The temple was reduced to ashes with the demise of the Matsubara Family, but the Eleven-Faced Ekadasamukha statue, which escaped the disaster, survives to this day and is enshrined in the Kannon-do Hall built on the site of Kinsen-ji Temple.

     There used to be a time when nuns lived by the hall, which is now taken care of by neighboring people.  The current hall, made of reinforced concrete, was built in March, 1973.

Address: 3 Chome-4 Yamaguchicho Kinsenji, Nishinomiya, Hyogo 651-1422

Maruyama Fortress Site

Address: 1078 Yamaguchicho Shimoyamaguchi, Nishinomiya, Hyogo 651-1412

Trees In the Town

 

Virtual Arima County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #11 Hotei-ji Temple

 

     Hotei-ji Temple was founded by Miyazaki Hirotsuna, who claimed to be a descendant of Taira Noritsune (1160-1184), who died fighting against the Minamoto Clan.  After the Taira Clan was defeated in the Battle of Dannoura in Nagato Province, Noritsune's surviving son fled to Miyazaki in Hyuga Province, where he lived in seclusion for many years.  He took the place name as his surname.  Later In the 1520's, Hirotsuna came from Miyazaki with the statue of Arya Avalokitesvara, who is the human-figure prototype of the other 6 metamorphoses.  The statue was said to have been Noritsune's personal guardian Buddhist image.  Hirotsuna lived in Hata Manor, which was said to have been Noritsune's territory at the time the Taira Clan moved the national capital to Fukuhara.  He developed the land, naming the village Jiro.  He founded Hotei-ji Temple, enshrining the Arya Avalokitesvara statue.  He passed away on November 15th, 1574.  Hirotsuna's son married a daughter of the Matsubara Family, the lord of Kusakabe Tanpopo Fortress, and had one son, Hiromitsu.

     When Matsubara Yoshitomi was the 5th lord of Tanpopo Fortress, the family was destroyed as samurai by Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1537-1598) and so was the Miyazaki Family.  The fortress was abolished, but their descendants kept living in the area.

     After over 20 generations, Miyazaki Yojun practiced medicine, and formerly served the Fushiminomiya Family as their personal physician, serving them for many years and giving them treatment.  The family allowed the temple to wear the Imperial Chrysanthemum Crest.  Even today, the crest can be seen on the roof tiles of the temple, the front entrance, and others.

     The fact that Yojun was the personal physician for members of the Royal Family is clearly stated on the back of his Buddhist memorial tablet.  The Miyazaki Family cemetery is located to the south of the temple with the grave of Hirotsuna at its center.  There are over 30 graves and stupas representing successive generations.  On a small hill in the western corner of the temple, there was once a small, old-fashioned shrine dedicated to Emperor Antoku (1178-1185), whom the Miyazaki Family worshipped for generations.  It was merged into a village shrine around 1906, and only its site remains.  The Miyazaki Family had a mansion until around 1907, but Miyazaki Tomoshichi had no heirs and the family finally died out, with only the site of the mansion remaining.

     Hotei-ji Temple suffered a fire sometime between 1818 and 1831, when Daien was the 9th head priest.  It is regrettable that the temple buildings and ancient documents were lost to ruin.  The 10th head priest, Soso, passionately tried to rebuild the temple, visiting everywhere.  With the cooperation of the general parishioners, he rebuilt the current temple buildings in the autumn of 1833.

     The 12th head priest, Soken, was a gifted man of exceptional talent, and served not only as the chief priest of the temple but also as a senior official at the head temple, Eihei-ji Temple, for approximately 10 years, devoting himself to great service and dedication.  As a result, in 1869, Eihei-ji Temple recognized his meritorious service and raised the status of Hotei-ji Temple.

Address: 779 Arinocho, Kita Ward, Kobe, Hyogo 651-1311

Phone: 078-982-3221

Tanpopo Fortress Site

 Address: Kusakabe-1357 Dojocho, Kita Ward, Kobe, Hyogo 651-1505

Eihei-ji Temple

Address: 5-15 Shihi, Eiheiji, Yoshida District, Fukui 910-1228

Phone: 0776-63-3102

Trees In the Town

 

Virtual Arima County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #10 Joraku-ji Temple

 

     It is unknown when Joraku-ji Temple was founded in Naka Village, Arima County, Settsu Province.

Address: Naka-60 Hatacho, Kita Ward, Kobe, Hyogo 651-1351

Phone: 078-951-0543

Trees In the Town

 

Virtual Arima County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #9 Chomei-ji Temple

 

     It is unknown when Chomei-ji Temple was founded in Onada Village, Arima County, Settsu Province.  Onada Village was recorded in Keicho Kuni-ezu, or the Keicho Maps of the Provinces.  Tokugawa Ieyasu (1542-1616), the founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate, conducted a land survey of the distribution and rice yields of the feudal lords' territories and the lands of temples and shrines across Japan in September, 1605.  He appointed Nishio Yoshitsugu (1530-1606) as magistrate in charge of Eastern Provinces and Tsuda Hidemasa (1546-1653) as magistrate in charge of Western Provinces.  The maps are said to have been made based on this survey.  The village was the territory of Arima Toyouji (1569-1642).  It is unknown when the village was divided into Kami-Onada, namely Upper Onada, and Shimo-Onada, Namely Lower Onada, Villages.

     Shimo-Onada Village was merged into Kobe City, the Kanoko-dai New Town was developed in the area, and Chomei-ji Temple came to belong to the new town.

 

Address: 2 Chome-8-1 Kanokodai Minamimachi, Kita Ward, Kobe, Hyogo 651-1514

Phone: 078-951-0544

Trees In the Town

 

Virtual Arima County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #8 Ensho-ji Temple

 

     It is unknown when Ensho-ji Temple was founded in Onada Village, Arima County, Settsu Province.

     Onada Village was recorded in Keicho Kuni-ezu, or the Keicho Maps of the Provinces.  Tokugawa Ieyasu (1542-1616), the founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate, conducted a land survey of the distribution and rice yields of the feudal lords' territories and the lands of temples and shrines across Japan in September, 1605.  He appointed Nishio Yoshitsugu (1530-1606) as magistrate in charge of Eastern Provinces and Tsuda Hidemasa (1546-1653) as magistrate in charge of Western Provinces.  The maps are said to have been made based on this survey.  The village was the territory of Arima Toyouji (1569-1642).  It is unknown when the village was divided into Kami-Onada, namely Upper Onada, and Shimo-Onada, namely Lower Onada, Villages.

     Near the temple, there is the site of Sanjo Kokaji Munechika's workshop.

Munechika is said to have been a swordsmith from the late 10th century.  Kanchiin-bon Meizukushi has the section under the heading of Reign of Emperor Ichijo (980-1011).  The section writes that Munechika is known as the blacksmith of Sanjo.  He made the sword Ukimaru for Emperor Gotoba (1180-1239), and the Kogitsune for Fujiwara Michinori (1106-1160).  He is known as a master swordsmith from the period when Japanese swords were changing from straight ones to curved ones.  His forging of Ichijo's sword, Kogitsunemaru, is mentioned in the Noh play Kokaji.  There are no swords dating from this period, and with no other corroborating evidence.  He is treated as almost a legend.

     Munechika is widely believed to have lived and worked at Sanjo in Kyoto, and was called Sanjo Munechika.

     Hata Shrine, however, claims that it keeps wakizashi made by Munechika.  Munechika worshiped the shrine and donated a Japanese sword known as Nihon-ichi, or Japan's No. 1.  The Settsu Meisho Zue, or the Illustrated Guide to Famous Places in Settsu Province, which was first published in 1796, also lists Munechika's former residence as being located near the shrine.  The shrine houses a wakizashi with Munechika's name inscribed, another wakizashi with the inscription "donated by Munechika" on its white scabbard, and the other wakizashi said to have been donated by Munechika.  The authenticity of all of the 3 items is uncertain.

     Meizukushi is supposed to have been written in 1316.  The one kept in Kanchi-in Temple was copied in 1423.  It lists the names of swordsmiths from the mythical times, including the names of swordsmiths, illustrations of their swords, and genealogies of swordsmith schools.

     Anyway, it is probable that Munechika mastered his sword making technique in the Hata Manor, where craftsmanship had been handed down from prehistoric time when the Hata Clan moved in from or through the Korean Peninsula.  He then might have moved to Kyoto to maximize his potential and profits.

Address: Kamionada-2372 Hatacho, Kita Ward, Kobe, Hyogo 651-1354

Phone: 078-952-1331

Sanjo Kokaji Munechika Residence Site

Address: Kamionada-1667 Hatacho, Kita Ward, Kobe, Hyogo 651-1354

Kanchi-in Temple

Address: 403 Kujocho, Minami Ward, Kyoto, 601-8473

Phone: 075-691-1131