Trees in the Town

 

Virtual Kako County Chichibu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #32 Shomyo-ji Temple

 

     Legend has it that Saiko-ji Temple was founded by Prince Shotoku (547-622).  During the Kamakura Period (1185-1333), Kasuya Arinori, the lord of Gannan Manor, today's western Kakogawa City, built Kakogawa Fortress and made Saiko-ji Temple the family temple of the Kasuya Family.  In August, 1358, all 7 temple buildings were washed away by a great flood, but they were rebuilt around April, 1363, by Yasutsura, Arinori's great-grandson.  Later, it was damaged by fire during wartime, but Kasuya Takenori (1562-?), the 12th lord of the fortress, donated a guest hall.  On March 3rd, 1603, Priest Kankai renamed it Shomyo-in Temple, but it was later renamed Shomyo-ji Temple.  On September 27th, 1606, Nakamura Masakatsu, the magistrate of Ikeda Terumasa (1565-1613), donated 3 areas of rice fields.  On October 22nd, 1619, Itakura Katsushige (1545-1624) donated the temple rice fields worth 6 people’s annual living expenses.  The temple was later destroyed by fire again, but the current temple buildings were rebuilt in 1691.

     It is unknown why Katsushige contributed.  He had nothing to do with the Himeji Domain, let alone with Shomyo-ji Temple.

     Katsushige served in the Tokugawa Shogunate as the 2nd Kyoto Shoshidai, who was responsible for maintaining good relations and open communication between the shogunate and the imperial court, holding office in the period spanning the years from 1601 through 1620.

     In 1619, the Oyotsu Lady-in-Waiting Incident broke out.

     Yotsutsuji Yotsuko (?–1639) served as a lady-in-waiting to Emperor Go-Mizunoo (1596-1680).  Her father was Yotsutsuji Kimito (1540-1595), a Seior Second Rank Provisional Grand Councilor.  Her posthumous name was Myokyoin.  Her older sister was Keigan’in (?-1604), a concubine of Uesugi Kagekatsu (1556-1623).  Her brothers included Washio Takanao (1566-1608), Yotsutsuji Suetsugu (1581-1639), Inokuma Noritoshi (1583-1609), and Yabu Tsuguyoshi (1593-1653).

     Yotsuko initially served Kanshuji Haruko (1553-1620) and was known as Ayanokoji, but, around 1618, she served Emperor Go-Mizunoo as a lady-in-waiting, giving birth to one son and one daughter: Prince Kamo (1618-1622) and Princess Bunchi (1619-1697).

     When Tokugawa Kazuko (1607-1678) entered the Imperial Court as the Consort of Emperor Go-Mizunoo, Yotsuko was pressured by the Shogunate to be kept away from the Emperor and banished from the Imperial Palace (the Oyotsu Lady-in-Waiting Incident).  Soon after, she is said to have renounced worldly life, taken the Buddhist name Myokyoin, and lived in seclusion in Saga.

     In September, 1619, Madenokoji Atsufusa (1562-1626), who was the counselor of the first rank in the Imperial court, was held responsible for his supervisory duties and was exiled to the Tanba Sasayama Domain.  Yotsuko's older brothers, Suetsugu and Tsuguyoshi, were exiled to Bungo Province.  Furthermore, Nakamikado Naoyoshi (q590-1641), Horikawa Yasutane (1592-1673), and Tsuchimikado Hisanaga (1560-1625), who were close aides of the Emperor, were suspended from their duties.

     Anyway, no Royal Family member, no high-ranking noble, none of Yotsuko’s relatives were exiled to Shomyo-ji Temple.  Presumably, someone obscure could have been secluded in the temple.

     Shomyo-ji Temple is also the 26th station of the Innami County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage.

 

Address: Honmachi-313 Kakogawacho, Kakogawa, Hyogo 675-0037

Phone: 079-422-2262

Trees in the Town

 

Virtual Kako County Chichibu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #31 Nyoi-ji Temple

 

     Nyoi-ji Temple is said to have been founded sometime between the end of the Kamakura Period (1185-1333) and the beginning of the Muromachi Period (1336-1573), ignoring the legend that it was founded by Hermit Hodo.

     In 1339, Oi Tsukasa became the steward samurai of the Gannan Manor and built Ishihajiki Fortress, which later became Tomari Shrine.  Nyoi-ji Temple could have been founded in those days.  In 1375, Tsukasa's 5th son, Isamu, became the head of the family.  His 1st son, Osa, called himself Kimura Gentaro in 1454.  In 1455, Isamu was killed in battle.  The fortress was seized by Yamana Mochitoyo (1404-1473) in 1459, and Gentaro was killed in battle.

     Nyoi-ji Temple is also the 27th station of the Innami County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage.

 

Address: Kimura-602 Kakogawacho, Kakogawa, Hyogo 675-0038

Phone: 079-423-6961

Tomari Shrine

Address: Kimura-658 Kakogawacho, Kakogawa, Hyogo 675-0038

Phone: 079-422-4813

Trees in the Town

 

Virtual Kako County Chichibu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #30 Fukuden-ji Temple

 

     Fukuden-ji Temple is said to have been founded in 606 by Prince Shotoku (574-622).

 Inaya Village was first documented in 1326.  During the Southern and Northern Courts Period (1337-1392) and the Muromachi Period (1336-1573), it received the patronage of the Akamatsu Clan, and it is believed that Akamatsu Norimura (1277-1350) and Akamatsu Masanori (1455-1496) built and renovated the temple buildings.

     It was destroyed by fire during the Warring States Period (1467-1573), and was converted to the Caodong Chan Sect sometime between 1592 and 1596.

     The place name Inaya means Rice Warehouse and the temple name Fukuden means Fortune Fields.  The names suggest what it looked like around the area in ancient times, when the temple was founded.  In the medieval days, the Inaya Fortress was built in the grounds of Fukuden-ji Temple.

     One intriguing mystery surrounding Fukuden-ji is its dual role in local pilgrimage routes: it is designated as both the 30th station of the Kako County Chichibu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage and the 28th station of the Innami County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage.

     Historically, the Kako River formed the natural boundary between Kako County on the left bank and Innami County on the right. Interestingly, Fukuden-ji is not alone—a total of five stations of the Innami County Pilgrimage are located on the left bank today. This strongly indicates that in ancient times, the main stream of the Kako River flowed much further to the east. As the river shifted its course westward over centuries—and was eventually fully straightened in the early 20th century—this entire area was left on the left bank, preserving the memory of the ancient landscape through its sacred pilgrimage sites.

Address: Inaya-607 Kakogawacho, Kakogawa, Hyogo 675-0034

Phone: 079-422-5848

Inaya Fortress Site

Address: Inaya-584-1 Kakogawacho, Kakogawa, Hyogo 675-0034

Trees in the Town

 

Virtual Kako County Chichibu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #29 Amida -do Hall

 

     Kakurin-ji Temple’s Jogyo-do Hall is commonly called Amida-do.  The hall is believed to have been built around 1112, at the same time as its twin hall, Taishi-do, was built.

     A Jogyo-do hall is also referred to as a 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 pyramidal roof.

Jogyo-do Hall, Kakurin-ji

Address: Kitazaike-424 Kakogawacho, Kakogawa, Hyogo 675-0031

Trees in the Town

 

Virtual Kako County Chichibu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #28 Jotoku-ji Temple

 

     It is unknown when Jotoku-ji Temple was founded in Awazu Village, Kako County, Harima Province.  Awazu Village was first documented in Kakurin-ji Temple's list of its land in 1515.  As Jotoku-ji Temple belongs to Shingon sect when Kakurin-ji Temple belongs to Tiantai sect, Jotoku-ji Temple couldn't be founded as a branch of Kakurin-ji Temple. 

Address: Awazu-377 Kakogawacho, Kakogawa, Hyogo 675-0039

Phone: 079-422-7695

Trees in the Town

 

Virtual Kako County Chichibu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #27 Shoko-ji Temple

 

     Shoko-ji Temple was founded during the Muromachi period (1336–1573) in Yamanoue Village, Kako County, Harima Province, though its exact founding date remains unknown. The temple was destroyed by fire in the early Edo period (1603–1867), during which its historical documents were likely lost to ashes. After centuries of natural wear, the main hall was fully rebuilt in 2019.

     Historical records show that Yamanoue Village was part of the Ae Manor (Ae-no-sho) and first appeared in written documents in 1354. Given that the Yamanoue Community Center stands directly adjacent to the temple, this surrounding area is believed to have been the central hub of the village.

Address: Yamanoue-434 Hiraokacho, Kakogawa, Hyogo 675-0112

Phone: 079-424-6954

Yamanoue Community Center

Address: Yamanoue-434 Hiraokacho, Kakogawa, Hyogo 675-0112

Trees in the Town

 

Virtual Kako County Chichibu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #26 Zuio-ji Temple

 

     It is unknown when Zuio-ji Temple was founded in Furuta Village, Kako County, Harima Province.

     The village was relatively newly developed in the Edo period (1603-1867). In 1654, the region suffered a severe drought through spring and summer; the rice paddies cracked, seedlings withered, and the villagers were left without even enough seed rice for the following spring. Witnessing this devastation, Imazato Denbei (1610–1660) repeatedly surveyed the area on foot, meticulously mapping out water routes, elevations, and existing channels. Armed with his diagrams, he gathered the headmen of 23 neighboring villages to explain the critical need for a new water source. Moved by his presentation, all the headmen signed a petition and pledged their full cooperation.

     Denbei then petitioned Sakakibara Tadatsugu (1605–1665), the lord of the Himeji Domain, for the construction of the Shin'yu Canal. Recognizing the merit, Tadatsugu commissioned Denbei to lead the survey and launched the construction as a domain-sponsored project. The design was finalized by the end of that year, and construction began the following year.

     The project faced immense engineering hurdles, including excavating hard bedrock at Nishinoyama (today's Nishinoyama Kannocho, Kakogawa, Hyogo 675-0007) and Hiokayama, and channeling water under the Kise Riverbed via a buried conduit—even forcing water to flow uphill. Denbei was so committed that he reportedly declared, "If this new canal fails to deliver water, I will gladly accept the death penalty along with my family." He oversaw the site day and night. The domain provided cooked rice for the workforce, which totaled 164,000 laborers, averaging 400 to 500 people per day.

     After 15 months of grueling work, the canal was successfully opened. Deeply impressed, Lord Tadatsugu praised Denbei and asked how he wished to be rewarded. Denbei replied, "Having witnessed such a great blessing, I desire nothing for myself. My only sincere wish is that this new canal flows forever."

     Zuio-ji Temple could have been founded after 1666.

Address: 3 Chome-16-1 Furuta, Harima, Kako District, Hyogo 675-0146

Phone: 079-435-1369

Fukusho-ji Temple

Address: 3 Chome-13-11 Furuta, Harima, Kako District, Hyogo 675-0146