Trees In the Town

 

Taira Tadamori (1096–1153): The Rise of Japan’s Second Pirate King

 

Introduction and the Lessons of Echizen

     In 1114, Taira Tadamori was appointed as a provincial officer in Echizen Province. Its major port, Tsuruga, was a bustling hub for Song Dynasty Chinese traders. During his tenure, a murder case involving a Hie Shrine priest escalated into a violent, direct petition to the Imperial Court by the powerful monks of Enryaku-ji Temple. Underlying this conflict was a fierce clash of interests over continental trade. Through this experience, Tadamori learned firsthand the immense profits that could be raked in through foreign commerce.

The "Easy Suppression" in the Seto Inland Sea

     By the late 1120s and 1130s, the Seto Inland Sea had become a critical trade route. In March 1129, the office of Cloistered Emperor Shirakawa issued an urgent decree ordering Tadamori to hunt down and kill the "savage bandits" allegedly rampant along the sea lanes. Curiously, contemporary records show no evidence of such large-scale piracy.

     Nevertheless, Tadamori used this mandate to bring the Nomi-no-umi area under his control, renaming it "Tada-no-umi" (Tada Sea) using the first character of his name. He also established Mori Port on nearby O-Mishima Island—home to O-Yamazumi Shrine, the most powerful sanctuary for local seafaring people.

     On April 8, 1135, Tadamori was officially appointed as the commander to subdue these pirates. By August, he returned to Kyoto in triumph with 70 captives. However, on August 19, rumors were documented that he had merely brought his own followers to Kyoto, as no major executions took place. Rather than launching a bloody suppression, Tadamori had used the Cloistered Emperor’s authority to co-opt and organize the local sea people.

     Centuries later during the Warring States Period, these same sea families would carry the "Nomi" brand name, eventually evolving into the Nomi/Ura family and forging alliances with the formidable Murakami Pirates.

Geopolitics and the Pirates of Kyushu

     Meanwhile, the 12th-century trade between Japan and China reached a major turning point. Following the Jingling Incident of 1126, the Jurchen tribes conquered northern China, forcing the Song Dynasty to flee south. The resulting Southern Song society faced massive displacement and epidemics. This triggered a boom in maritime trade: China urgently imported timber from Japanese provinces like Suo to rebuild its cities, while exporting advanced medical knowledge and goods back to Japan.

     This booming commerce fueled piracy in Japan’s Western Sea (Kyushu), led by powerful local families. Under the guise of sacred purveyors or priests, these groups mixed legal tax-rice transportation with illegal smuggling, looting, and homicide.

     When the Imperial Court debated whether to send the violent Minamoto Tameyoshi or the politically savvy Taira Tadamori to handle the Kyushu crisis, they chose Tadamori. Once again, Tadamori achieved a swift, suspiciously bloodless triumph, returning to Kyoto in August 1135 with the Zen priest Hidaka and 80 others. Just as in the Seto Inland Sea, rumors swirled that these "pirates" were either framed or were actually local maritime factions newly organized under Tadamori’s banner.

Conclusion: A New Kind of Pirate King

     Japan’s first pirate king, Fujiwara Sumitomo (?—941), had challenged the state by robbing provincial governments of tax rice and plundering imported goods at Dazaifu. Tadamori took a fundamentally different approach. Instead of outright robbery, he contracted with the court to safely transport taxes to Kyoto. Instead of plundering foreign goods, he established highly lucrative, illegal trade channels that were tolerated and condoned by the central government. By transforming independent sea factions into a unified maritime network, Taira Tadamori legitimately earned his legacy as Japan's second, and far more sophisticated, Pirate King.

Trees In the Town

 

Sanuki no Suke’s Diary: Days of Imperial Mourning (5)

 

     The days of Imperial mourning entered March. I attended the monthly memorial service as usual. The cherry blossoms at the Horikawa-in Residence were in full, magnificent bloom. It reminded me of the poem composed by Hata no Kanekata upon the death of Emperor Go-Sanjo (1034–1073):

The cherry blossoms bloom

in the exact same color as before.

It seems it is only the flowers

that are free from the sorrows of this world.

     And indeed, the blossoms appeared exactly as they always had, untouched by our grief.

     The Seiryoden, which had been the late Emperor's everyday residence during his lifetime, had now been converted into a Buddhist temple. Until July, Buddhist services for the evening and dawn were to be held continuously at fixed times. The quarters for the twenty chamberlains and the station for the guardsmen had all been turned into monks' quarters.

     Seeing how desolate the former Imperial Palace had become, I realized how true the poem by the former Empress Dowager, Fujiwara Shoshi (988–1074), was. When she had visited the former residence of her deceased husband, Emperor Ichijo (980–1011), and found it so quiet and lonely, she had composed this poem:

Who could have called

this throne a jeweled seat,

where now not even

the Emperor's shadow remains?

     It felt as though her words perfectly described the scene before my eyes.

     Meanwhile, the late Emperor Horikawa’s Empress Dowager was holding a series of thirty lectures, during which one chapter of the Lotus Sutra was expounded each day. I accompanied my older sister, Kenshi, who had served as the late Emperor's wet nurse, to listen to one of these lectures.

     After the sermon concluded, the Empress Dowager summoned Kenshi to her side, and my sister went to attend to her. Her lady-in-waiting, Saisho, remarked, "Kenshi, please come closer. As for Nagako, it must feel so awkward for her to be here at a time like this..."

     Overhearing this, the Empress Dowager quickly interceded, saying, "Nagako is a truly sincere and devoted person. She can have no reason to feel comfortable in this place, which has now lost its former glory, yet she has kept me in her thoughts and made an appearance anyway."

     She could not finish her sentence, her voice choking with tears. I, too, could no longer hold back my own.

     Since it was getting dark, I took my leave.

Trees In the Town

 

Virtual New Innami County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #9 Seigan-ji Temple

 

     It is unknown when Seigan-ji Temple was founded in Nishihama Kitahamacho, Takasago, Hyogo 671-0123.  Seigan means West Coast and Nishihama means West Beach.  The temple faced east, and sea waves could have washed in front of the temple gate when it was founded.

Address: Nishihama-1118 Kitahamacho, Takasago, Hyogo 671-0123

Phone: 079-254-0407

Trees In the Town

 

Sanuki no Suke’s Diary: Days of Imperial Mourning (4)

 

     In February, the nineteenth day arrived—marking not only the monthly anniversary of the late Emperor’s passing but now also the anniversary of that lady's death. As I listened to the priest’s sermon and looked at the sliding door, I was vividly reminded of her.

     Last year, during the New Year's celebrations, while I was attending the New Year's services at the Imperial Palace, she had sent someone from her place of retirement to summon her juniors.

     "It is a charming and peaceful place, so please come with us," I was invited by an elder Lady-in-Waiting and another companion. Upon hearing that the retired lady was just beyond the sliding door of her residence, the Lady-in-Waiting called out, "So you are here. I have brought my colleagues with me."

     "Ah, let me meet Nagako! What a joy!" she had replied, and so we met.

     On that night, she had said to me:

     "I understand you have been exceptionally kind and devoted in taking care of my junior, yet I have never been able to properly express my gratitude. Now that I am retired and see how advanced in age my hair has become, I cannot even bring myself to visit her family’s residence. Besides, I no longer look my best even with makeup. I have been wishing to fulfill my desire to become a nun and abandon the world within this month. This thought had become my sole obsession, but tonight, my prayers to the Buddha seem to have been answered by this meeting. I am truly happy. My heart is now at peace, and when I attain enlightenment, I am sure my afterlife will be tranquil as well."

     Remembering these words, the first thing that came back to me was how deeply considerate and thoughtful she had been—and now she, too, is gone.

     And thus, the second month passed away in deepening sorrow.

Trees In the Town

 

Virtual New Innami County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #8 Rendai-ji Temple

 

     In legendary times, Okinagatarashi (170?-269?), a legendary empress, was said to have made a military expedition to Silla in the Korean Peninsula.  A historical record of the Three Kingdoms of Korea (Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla) recorded 14 organized piracies by Wa, the Japanese kingdom, by the end of the 4th century, and Okinagatarashi’s expedition to Silla might have been one of those piracies.  On her way, Okinagatarashi is believed to have stopped at where Minato Shrine is located.

     In those days, an isle was in the sea off the coast.  It is unknown when Hachiman Shrine was invited to the islet.  The isle could have been already a hill when the shrine was invited.  It is unknown when the Matogata area was reclaimed from the sea, but Matogata Manor was first documented in 1337.  The shrine also functions as a temporary shrine of Minato Shrine.

It is unknown when Rendai-ji Temple was founded as a shrine temple of Hachiman Shrine.  It should have been abolished after the Meiji Restoration Government issued the Gods and Buddhas Separation Order in 1868.

Hachiman Shrine

Address: Matogata 1312, Matogatacho, Himeji, Hyogo 671-0111

Minato Shrine

Address: Matogata-1249 Matogatacho, Himeji, Hyogo 671-0111

Phone: 079-254-0613

Trees In the Town

 

Sanuki no Suke’s Diary: Days of Imperial Mourning (3)

 

     It was the first monthly memorial of the new year since the late Emperor’s passing. Thinking that the turn of the year should be no reason to neglect my duty, I set out for the Horikawa-in Palace.

     The ladies remaining there welcomed me with surprise, saying, "Look who's here. We heard you were now serving at the Imperial Palace, so we assumed you wouldn't come this month."

     "How could I not come?" I replied. "I intend to serve His late Majesty to the very end. No matter how occupied I might be, I will never fail to visit."

     They murmured to one another, "How deeply moving it is that she never misses a single month." Then, they turned to me and said, "Just to keep ourselves busy in our obscurity, we offer flowers to the Lotus Sutra copied by Her Majesty."

     As each of them shuffled off to fetch their flowers, it was a rather pathetic sight.

Trees In the Town

 

Virtual New Innami County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #7 Jingu-ji Temple

 

     It is unknown when Jingu-ji Temple was founded as a shrine temple of Fukudomari Shrine, which is believed to have been founded in the Heian Period (794-1185).

The Mystery of Kara Port: From Gyoki’s Five Ports to the Legend of Okinagatarashi

     The Buddhist priest Gyoki (668–749) is credited with establishing the "Five Ports of Settsu and Harima": Muro, Kara (also read as Kan), Uozumi, Owada, and Kawajiri. These correspond to modern-day Tatsuno, Himeji, Akashi, Kobe, and Amagasaki, respectively. Among them, Kara Port (Kara-domari) is widely believed to be the predecessor of what was later known as Fuku Port (Fuku-domari).

     Historical records provide vital clues about its location. In a petition dated April 28, 914, the scholar Miyoshi Kiyoyuki (847–919) presented "Twelve Opinions" to Emperor Daigo, mentioning Kara Port as a crucial maritime hub situated a one-day journey from both Murotsu to the west and Uozumi to the east. The port also appears under the name Kara Port in a draft imperial decree by Emperor Fushimi in 1289, after which the name seems to have vanished from the records.

     It remains unclear whether "Kara Port" simply underwent a name change to "Fuku Port," or if it was entirely replaced by it. One compelling theory suggests that heavy siltation at the original Kara Port forced the construction of a new harbor (Fuku). If this is the case, the original site of Kara Port may have been located at the foot of Minato Shrine—the name Minato itself literally meaning "port."

     This location is also steeped in ancient legend. The Empress Okinagatarashi (traditionally 170?–269?) is said to have stopped at the site of Minato Shrine during her military expedition to Silla. While traditional myths frame this as a heroic conquest, Korean records from the Three Kingdoms period (Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla) document 14 organized raids by "Wa" (Japan) by the late 4th century. It is possible that the legend of the Empress’s expedition reflects one of these historical maritime incursions.

     Jingu-ji Temple might have been abolished after the Meiji Restoration Government issued the Gods and Buddhas Separation Order in 1868.

Fukudomari Shrine

Address: Fukudomari-402 Matogatacho, Himeji, Hyogo 671-0112

Minato Shrine

Address: Matogata-1249 Matogatacho, Himeji, Hyogo 671-0111

Phone: 079-254-0613

Trees In the Town

 

Sanuki no Suke’s Diary: Days of Imperial Mourning (2)

 

     As dawn broke and everyone rose, I looked around and saw that the blinds in the Emperor's room were covered with coarse reeds—and so many of them. Their edges were a somber gray. The screens attached to the sliding doors were also gray, fitted with white wooden crossbeams. There was no chair set out for the ritual haircut; I wondered if such a thing was deemed inappropriate during this period of deep mourning, or if it was simply skipped because of the Emperor’s tender age. When I offered him his meal, he ate with his tiny chin thrusting out earnestly—a sight that was thoroughly endearing.

     Near noon, the Lord Regent arrived, and everyone in attendance straightened their posture. I thought to myself, "In the days of the late Emperor, he was a mature adult, so I would naturally stand up and step back even during his meals, and he would even quietly signal me when to do so. But now, with this child Emperor, if I were to stand up and leave him during a meal, it would surely be frowned upon as a failure of my duty." Thus, I remained seated. Yet, even as I sat there, how could I not feel pangs of guilt over the many years I had spent so carelessly and selfishly, despite having received such boundless, invaluable kindness from the late Emperor?

     Overwhelmed by shame, I sat with my head bowed. Just then, I heard the Regent's voice inquiring of the attendants outside the sliding door:

     "Who is waiting within?"

     "It is Sanuki no Suke," they apparently replied.

     Upon hearing this, the Lord Regent knelt close right behind the sliding door and spoke to me:

     "Since when have you been serving here? Please, you must continue your service in the future. I miss the late Emperor so deeply; I only wish we could talk of those gone days together to comfort our grieving hearts."

     His words were truly heartbreaking, revealing that he harbored the very same sorrow as I did. It brought back a vivid memory: once, the late Emperor had asked, "Who is on duty to serve the table today?" and upon hearing that it was this Lord Regent in his younger days, the Emperor had playfully stuck out his tongue, hitched up his robes, and ran away, much to everyone's amusement. Knowing that it was this lord who had been part of that fond memory, my heart swelled with such emotion that I could not bring myself to utter a single word.

     As I remained silent, the Regent spoke again:

     "This is quite unexpected. I never imagined I would come so close to speak with you like this. I remember when the late Emperor was gravely ill; you were lying right beside him. When I came to visit, he intentionally raised his knees to hide you from my sight. To think we would meet in this manner now... He truly did try to shield you, didn't he? How fleeting and unpredictable this human world is."

     With these poignant words, he rose to his feet. Hearing him speak of the past, I felt the profound truth in his words, and the world around me felt unendurably harsh.

     And so, this unremarkable New Year's Day came to a close. As the days passed, the colors of people's mourning clothes faded, each in their own way.

Trees In the Town

 

Virtual New Innami County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #6 Fukuen-ji Temple

 

     Monk Shindo trained himself at Shosha-zan Engyo-ji Temple for 15 years from the 1580's to the 1590's.  The monk founded Fukuen-ji Temple at the foot of Mount Akasaka in the 1590s as a Linji Chan temple, and also built Zenju-an Hermitage, which became Zenju-ji Temple in 1948.  The hermitage was a convent for 122 years.

     Akamatsu Sukehisa (?-1441) built Aga Castle in the 1430's.  The Aga-Miki Family became the lords of the castle in the Warring States Period (1467-1568).  Aga Castle was known as one of the 3 great castles in Harima Province, along with Miki Castle of the Bessho Family and Gochaku Castle of the Kodera Family.  When Chikashige was the lord of Aga Castle, his son, Tomoshige, became the leader of the garrison of Fukudomari Fort.  He called his family Nagao and settled the area.  His nephew, Shigetomo, built Matogata and Akasaka-yama Fortresses.  The family might have ruled Fukudomari Port and the Matogata Salt Pans.  As Aga Castle fell in 1580, the Nagao Family could have been destroyed about the same time.

     Shindo could have been a descendant of the Nagao Family, could have been sheltered in Engyo-ji Temple, and could have built a hermitage for his mother, who had become a war widow.

Address: Fukudomari-260 Matogatacho, Himeji, Hyogo 671-0112

Mount Akasaka

Address: Fukudomari-116-4 Matogatacho, Himeji, Hyogo 672-8016

Engyo-ji Temple

Address: 2968 Shosha, Himeji, Hyogo 671-2201

Phone: 079-266-3327

Zenjuji Temple

Address: Mikage-326 Toyotomicho, Himeji, Hyogo 679-2122

Phone: 079-264-0350

Akasaka-yama Fortress Site

Address: 277 Matogatacho, Himeji, Hyogo 671-0112

Matogata Fortress Site

Address: 1399 Matogatacho, Himeji, Hyogo 671-0111

Fukudomari Fort Site

Address: 346 Matogatacho, Himeji, Hyogo 671-0112

Aga Castle Main Enclosure Site Stone Monument

Address: 2 Chome−42 Nakahamacho, Shikama Ward, Himeji, Hyogo 672-8085

Aga Castle's Port Site

Address: 2 Chome Shikamaku Nakahamacho, Himeji, Hyogo 672-8085

Aga Castle Okashiba Gate Site

Address: 2 Chome Shikamaku Agamiyacho, Himeji, Hyogo 672-8080

Gochaku Castle Site Park

Address: Mikuninocho, Himeji, Hyogo 671-0232

Trees In the Town

 

Sanuki no Suke’s Diaary: Days of Imperial Mourning (1)

 

     It was nearly the end of the twelfth month when someone brought me a letter, saying, "This is a letter from Ben no Suke, the wet nurse of the Emperor." I accepted and opened it.

     The letter read: "The Retired Emperor has instructed that neither Fujiwara no Mitsuko nor her daughter, Jisshi, will be attending on New Year’s Day. Since as many suitable attendants as possible should be present on such an auspicious day, he requests that you come to the palace."

     I thought to myself, "There is no escaping this now." Accepting my fate, I hurriedly prepared for my departure.

     I arrived at the palace on the evening of New Year’s Day. The moment my carriage pulled into the guardhouse inside the gate, a flood of memories rushed over me, filling my heart with overwhelming emotion. When I reached my assigned chambers, I learned that the young Emperor was staying elsewhere, and so my first night passed uneventfully.

     The next morning, a heavy snow fell. Upon waking, I felt as though nothing had changed since the late Emperor's reign; the reality of a new Emperor being on the throne felt like something happening in a distant world. Just then, a sweet, innocent voice drifted over: "Fall, fall, powdery snow!"

     "Oh, who could that be? Whose child is that?" I wondered, only to realize with a shock that it was the Emperor himself. The realization staggered me. The thought that I must now rely on and serve such a young boy as my lord filled me with a pitiful sense of helplessness.

     Feeling out of place during the day, I waited until after sunset before entering his presence.

     "Tonight is an auspicious night," I was told, "so please serve him his meal." They dimmed the lamp before him and gestured for me to begin. I quietly stepped forward to serve him, just as I used to do in the past. The only unfamiliar details were the dark, unlacquered trays and earthenware bowls, which had replaced the lacquered ones used in the previous reign.

     The Emperor came running over, bringing his face very close to mine.

     "Who is this?" he asked.

     When the attendants replied, "This is the foster child of the late Emperor Horikawa," he seemed to accept it. He appeared to have grown considerably since I last saw him.

     That had been the year before last, when he had come to the Imperial Palace to stay at the Prince’s Palace. Whenever he visited his father’s quarters, the late Emperor would eventually urge him, "Now, you should return. You must have your hair combed before sunset."

     "I want to stay by your side just a little longer," the prince would reply. I remember so clearly how endearing the late Emperor found this. The memory felt so vivid, as if it were happening right before my eyes, and my heart overflowed with sorrow.

     That night, I attended to him as he slept with absolute, childlike innocence. But his tiny form was engulfed in grand imperial robes that did not yet fit him—a heartbreaking sight that moved me to tears.

Trees In the Town

 

Virtual New Innami County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #5 Kaigaku-ji Temple

 

     Local tradition maintains that Gyoki (668–749) came ashore at Gyoki-ga-hana Point and founded Kaigaku-ji Temple in 735. He is also credited with introducing salt manufacturing to Matogata Beach, where numerous salt pans flourished for centuries before eventually being repurposed as solar power plants.

     While these local accounts carry a legendary quality, they are grounded in the plausible historical context of Gyoki’s life. Records show that in 732, Gyoki completed the construction of Sayama Pond, a massive artificial reservoir in present-day Osaka. Around this time, he also met with prominent international figures, including the Indian monk Bodhisena, Fozhe from Champa, and Daoxuan from Tang China. Given his high level of mobility and active involvement in civil engineering projects across the Kinai region during the 730s, his visit to Matogata in 735 remains a historical possibility.

Address: Matogata-2069 Matogatacho, Himeji, Hyogo 671-0111

Phone: 079-254-1952

Gyoki-ga-hana Point

Address: Matogata-1921 Matogatacho, Himeji, Hyogo 671-0111

Himeji Matogata Daiichi Solar Power Plant

Address: Matogata Matogatacho, Himeji, Hyogo 671-0111

Astec Himeji Daiichi Solar Power Plant

Address: Matogata Matogatacho, Himeji, Hyogo 671-0111

Trees In the Town

 

Sanuki no Suke’s Diaary Volume 2 (6)

 

     Before dawn on the first day of the twelfth month, I proceeded to the Daigokuden (Great Hall of State). I had my carriage pulled to the western wing, walked along the matted path, and entered the designated waiting area.

     As dawn slowly broke, mist hung over the tiled roofs of the palace, reminding me of the scenes I had glimpsed while passing the Imperial Palace in years past. As I gazed intently, I saw men in chihaya (ceremonial overcoats) arriving from the north gate, carrying chests filled with dark red robes and glossed silk attire (cloth beaten to a sheen). While it was not a rare sight in itself, the significance of the location made it feel extraordinary. My attendants were bustling with excitement, chattering away as if they were witnessing something miraculous, but I alone felt no interest in anything I saw. To the south, as was customary, there stood a row of banners depicting the Yatagarasu (three-legged crow) and various mythical creatures, along with the Ogashira (ceremonial poles decorated with horse tails). It all felt like a dream.

     I had so often read descriptions of these very things in old tales, wondering what they might actually look like. You can imagine how I felt, now seeing them so vividly before my very eyes.

     As the sun rose higher, a great commotion erupted with the announcement, "The Emperor has arrived!" I had never witnessed such a spectacle: high-ranking courtiers and retired officials wearing jade crowns and brocade robes, and officers of the Imperial Guard clad in formal armor. It was as if a Chinese-style folding screen had come to life before the midday throne; I was overwhelmed with emotion.

     Then, the subordinate officer Fujiwara Akitaka (1072–1129) began grandly urging us, shouting, "The ceremony begins! Quickly, quickly!" He looked for all the world like the deity Bishamonten himself. In a frenzy, feeling dizzy and disoriented, I climbed the stairs. Although my task was called "raising the curtain," I was merely required to place my hands upon it as a formality, while a lady-in-waiting with her hair swept up came to pin it in place. I couldn't help but think, "It wouldn't have mattered at all if I weren't here—why must everything be so meticulously arranged?"

     My heart pounded as I gazed upon the new Emperor, seated within the Takamikura (Imperial Throne), looking so tiny and adorable in his formal robes. My vision blurred, and I was seized by such a profound sense of awkwardness and sorrow that I could not even bring myself to look clearly at his face. Once the ceremony concluded, I quietly withdrew to the waiting area.

     I returned home that night in a state of near-unconsciousness. Those who saw me noticed something strange in my expression and whispered to one another:

"Her face looks ghastly—what could have happened?"

Hearing this, I realized that the wound in my heart had not yet begun to heal, and I broke into uncontrollable sobs.

Trees In the Town

 

Virtual New Innami County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #4 Saiko-ji Temple

 

The Mystery of Priest Jido: Why Did He Cross the Sea to Harima?

     Saikoji Temple was founded in 1549 by Priest Jido, who arrived from Awaji Island during the reign of the 13th Shogun, Ashikaga Yoshiteru (1536-1565). While the official reason for his journey was to spread Pure Land Buddhism, the historical context of the mid-16th century suggests a deeper geopolitical motivation involving the rise of the Miyoshi clan.

The Rise of the Miyoshi and the Shifting Power Balance

     The 15th and 16th centuries saw the dramatic decline of the Hosokawa clan and the meteoric rise of their former vassals, the Miyoshi. Emerging from the rugged terrain of Awa Province, the Miyoshi family—led by figures like Miyoshi Yukinaga (1458-1520) and later Nagayoshi (1522-1564)—transformed from local officials into central power brokers. By the 1550s, Miyoshi Nagayoshi’s influence spanned across Settsu, Yamashiro, Tamba, Izumi, and notably, Eastern Harima.

     This expansion was not merely a result of military prowess but was driven by the control of maritime trade routes. As the primary trade artery with China shifted from the heart of the Seto Inland Sea toward the Kii Channel, the Miyoshi’s stronghold over Awa and Awaji Provinces gave them strategic dominance over these lucrative sea lanes.

Salt, Power, and the Awaji Connection

     It is within this "Miyoshi Era" that Priest Jido’s arrival in Harima must be understood. The Oshio area (literally "Big Salt") was a premier center for salt production. For the Miyoshi clan, who relied on naval strength and "pirate" (suigun) networks, controlling a vital commodity like salt was essential.

     The establishment of Saiko-ji in 1549 coincides with the peak of the Miyoshi clan's expansion into Harima. It is highly plausible that Jido's mission from Awaji was not an isolated religious act, but part of a broader migration of people, resources, and influence from the Miyoshi-controlled Awaji/Awa region into the salt-producing heartlands of Harima. Where today solar power plants cover the landscape, there once stood a strategic intersection of faith, industry, and samurai ambition.

     In 1660, during the time of the 5th priest, Kanryu, the original main hall was rebuilt. Later, by the mid-Edo period, the temple gate, the living quarter, and Chann Hall (a guest hall) were completed.  In 1877, when Chosho-ji Temple, which was the shrine temple of Oshio-Tenman-gu Shrine, was abolished due to the anti-Buddhist movement, its main hall and treasures were moved to Saiko-ji Temple.  In 1947, the temple moved a monument to the war dead from the town to its precincts.  The main hall was rebuilt in 1984, and the living quarter was rebuilt at the turn of the 21st century. The temple gate, built when Kakudo was the 9th priest from 1706 to 1727, and the bell tower, built in 1762, have been repaired and remain in their original form to this day.

Address: 229 Oshiocho, Himeji, Hyogo 671-0101

Phone: 079-254-0351

Oshio Solar Power Plant

Address: Oshiocho, Himeji, Hyogo 671-0123

Nakashima Energy Solar Power Plant

Address: Nishihama-2217 Oshiocho, Himeji, Hyogo 671-0101

Hyogo Himeji Mega Solar Power Plant

Address: 1981-1 Oshiocho, Himeji, Hyogo 671-0101

Ex-Oshio-Tenman-gu Shrine Site

Address: 443 Oshiocho, Himeji, Hyogo 671-0101