Trees In the Town

 

Virtual Miki County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #18 Toryu-ji Temple

 

     It is unknown when Toryu-ji Temple was founded in today's Yokawacho Ooso, Miki, Hyogo.  Its Kannon-do Hall was rebuilt in 1704 by Hibara Daiku, literally Hibara Carpenters, according to a plate the hall had.  So, the temple's foundation must be older than that.

     The beginning of the Hibara Family Genealogy describes their ancestors.  "Our ancestor, Fujiwara Masakiyo, came to Japan from Tang China during the reign (770-781) of Emperor Takatsugi (708-782).  Masakiyo first lived in Kasuga-ri Village, Soekami County, Yamato Province.  He was appointed head carpenter of the Imperial Palace.  Later, during the reign (781-806) of Emperor Yamabe (737-806), he moved to Yamada Village at the foot of Mount Tanjo.  His eldest son, Munetsugu, got the document and drawing of the Great Eight Heavens Pagoda of Chengyang Palace in Tang China, which were brought back by Saicho (767-822)."  The document was written by Munetsugu's greatgrandson, Moriyosh,i in March, 826.  From Munetsugu, they called their family Hibara.

     During the reign of Emperor Takatsugi, when Masakiyo came to Japan, the large temples of Nara, the then capital, held political power and likely needed skilled carpenters for their construction.  This is probably why Masakiyo was invited from Tang China.  However, during the reign of Emperor Yamabe, the emperor disliked interference from the old powers of Nara, and the capital moved to Nagaoka-kyo and then to Heian-kyo in Kyoto.  As a result, the large temples of Nara lost power, and the work for carpenters likely decreased.

     Perhaps for this reason, the second head of the family, Munetsugu, who first adopted the family name Hibara, came to Yamada at the foot of Mount Tanjo.  This was likely for the construction of Myoyo-ji Temple on the summit of the mountain.  At that time, the mountain was in Miki County, and the county's governor was Obi Hirotomi, the head of the Korean-Japanese blacksmiths.  In 789, Hirotomi donated 60,000 bundles of rice for the repair of the Kako Port.  Given his considerable wealth, he should have played a significant role in the construction of Myoyo-ji Temple.

     A document held by the Hakogi family in Yamada, Kita Ward, Kobe, states, "The ridgepole was raised on an auspicious day in April of the third year of Daido, by Tanjo carpenter Hibara."  This is 20 years after 788, so the Hibara carpenter must have referred to the third head of the Hibara Family, Munehisa.  His family continued to work at Myoyo-ji Temple for many generations afterward.  This suggests a deep connection between the Hibara carpenters and the temple.

     The master carpenter of the Toyotomi Clan was Nakai Masakichi (1533-1609), but the head of the Hibara Carpenters, Hibara Morikichi, lived in Nara, Yamato Province, and participated in the construction of the Yakushi-do Hall and the West Gate of Shitenno-ji Temple in Osaka, which were built under the supervision of Katagiri Katsumoto (1556-1615).  Later, when the main hall of Zojo-ji Temple in Edo was built, Morikichi also went to Edo to work.　

     Under the Tokugawa Shogunate, the first head carpenter of Kyoto for the shogunate was the son of Masakichi, Masakiyo (1565-1619).  Starting with the construction of Nijo Castle in 1602, he subsequently undertook major projects for the Tokugawa Shogunate, including the construction of Edo Castle, Chion-in Temple, and Nagoya Castle.  When Masakiyo became the head carpenter of the shogunate, Morikichi gave up working in Osaka and Kyoto, and settled in Osawa Village along Yokawa Valley.

     After settling in Osawa Village, Morikichi built the three-story pagoda of Shakubu-ji Temple, and the bell tower of Jodo-ji Temple.  

     The next generation, Muneie, built the main hall of Renge-ji Temple, the priest's quarters, monks' houses, bell tower, and founder's hall of Hodo-ji Temple, and the gate of Inada Wakamiya Shrine.　

     The next generation, Mitsumasa, repaired the multi-storied pagoda of Toko-ji Temple and built its bell tower, North Storehouse, Upper Storehouse, Middle Storehouse; built Main Hall of Kichijo-ji Temple; and the main hall of Horin-ji Temple.  The fourth generation, Masakatsu, built the Renge-ji Temple pagoda, the main hall and palace of Hoko-ji Temple, the Hachiman Shrine in Ogawa-shimo Village, the Goma Hall of Omiji Temple in Oshibedani, the Amida Hall of Toko-ji Temple, and the main hall of Wada-ji Temple in Taki County.  In 1728, Masakatsu of Nishi-Osawa Village rebuilt the guardian shrine of Renge-ji Temple.  According to the ridge beam inscription left by Mitsumasa, the Hibara Family claimed to belong to the Fujiwara Clan.

     It is unknown whether the Hibara Family was succeeded by bloodline or by apprenticeship, but the family produced many branch families and apprentices.  They are collectively called the Hibara Carpenters.

     The descendants of the Hibara Carpenters, who lived in Ogawa-Osawa for generations, now live in Takarazuka.  Ancient documents such as the Hibara Family Genealogy were discovered in the descendants' home in 1934, and were reported in the newspapers.

      Many records of carpenters named Hibara exist in the Ex-Harima Province, or the southern part of Hyogo Prefecture.  These carpenters were either apprentices of the Hibara Family, or people who falsely used the name to take advantage of the authority the family held for the people of this region.  Therefore, during the Edo Period, many shrines and temples in the areas were built by Hibara Carpenters, making the family name even more famous.

     The Kannon-do Hall of Toryu-ji Temple was rebuilt in 1704, and the ridge beam inscription lists the carpenter as Fujiwara Kogishi.  Kogishi might have been an apprentice of the Hibara Carpenters.

Mount Tanjo

Address: Yamadacho Sakamoto, Kita Ward, Kobe, Hyogo 651-1261

Sites of Tanjo Fortress and Myoyo-ji Temple

Address: 384 Yamadacho, Kita Ward, Kobe, Hyogo 651-1261

Shakubu-ji Temple

Address: 110-1 Ogocho, Kita Ward, Kobe, Hyogo 651-1621

Phone: 078-958-0822

Jodo-ji Temple

Address: 2094 Kiyotanicho, Ono, Hyogo 675-1317

Phone: 0794-62-4318

Renge-ji Temple

Address: 188 Kuchiyokawacho, Miki, Hyogo 673-0734

Phone: 0794-88-0013

Hodo-ji Temple

Address: 758 Nakakunakayasuda, Taka, Taka District, Hyogo 679-1122

Phone: 0795-32-0574

Inada Wakamiya Shrine

Address: 557 Yokawacho Inada, Miki, Hyogo 673-1231

Phone: 0794-72-0056

Toko-ji Temple

Address: 261 Yokawacho Fukuyoshi, Miki, Hyogo 673-1234

Phone: 0794-72-0315

Kichijo-ji Temple

Address: 82 Kuchiyokawacho, Miki, Hyogo 673-0752

Phone: 0794-88-0026

Horin-ji Temple

Address: 567 Hosokawacho, Miki, Hyogo 673-0703

Phone: 0794-88-2004

Trees In the Town

 

Virtual Miki County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #17 Kotaku-ji Temple

 

     It is unknown when Kotaku-ji Temple was founded in Ohata Village, Miki County, Harima Province.  The village appears in the Keicho Kuni-ezu, or the Keicho Maps of the Provinces.

     For your information, Tokugawa Ieyasu (1542-1616), the founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate, followed the example of the Toyotomi administration and 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 Keicho Kuni-ezu, or the Keicho Maps of the Provinces, and Gocho, or the Registers of Villages, are said to have been made based on this survey.  The maps and registers are believed to have been destroyed in fires in Edo Castle, and no original copies exist today.  The only copies that remain are those covering 11 provinces and one island, and are limited to Western Japan.  Some even argue the maps and registers did not cover the entire country, but was limited to western provinces as part of oppressive policies against the western outsiders daimyo.

     Ohata Village belonged to the Himeji Domain, but was transferred to the Akashi Domain in 1617.  The village was first written as Small Field but its notation was later changed as Big Field, presumably for good luck.

     To increase the number of its visitors, the temple opened Kangetsu-an (Kotakuji Udon Noodles) in its precincts, which serves Buddhist vegetarian food.

Address: 558 Yokawacho Ohata, Miki, Hyogo 673-1116

Phone: 0794-73-0169

Trees In the Town

 

Virtual Miki County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #16 Hoko-ji Temple

 

     Tradition says that Hoko-ji Temple was founded by Hodo in 651.  How many times have I mentioned Hodo as a founder of a certain Buddhist temple?

     According to the Wamyo Ruijusho, namely Japanese Names for Things Classified and Annotated,  which was a Japanese dictionary compiled in 938, and which lists Japanese place names from south to north, Yokawa Village was in Minagi County, Settsu Province.  In Medieval days, the village became Yokawa Manor.

     Hoko-ji Temple keeps old documents which date back to 1203 and which talks about Yokawa Manor.  Part of Yokawa Manor became modern Yokawa Village

     The temple area could have been a holy place since ancient times, but it might have been at the turn of the 13th century that the temple was actually founded.

Address: 42 Yokawacho Hokoji, Miki, Hyogo 673-1124

Phone: 0794-73-0083

Trees In the Town

 

Virtual Miki County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #15 Mikkyo-in Zensho-ji Temple

 

     Mikkyo-in Zensho-ji Temple is said to have been founded in 651 Hermit Hodo.  The temple used to have many halls and monks' houses, but was destroyed by fire during the Siege of Miki from 1578 to 1580.

     The temple was subsequently rebuilt and has undergone repairs and reconstructions to reach its present state.  The temple precincts have Zenshoji Chinju-sha Shrine.

     Although the shrine's records were lost in a fire at the temple's living quarters in 1837, it is said to enshrine Kumano Gongen.  It is unknown when the shrine was founded, but the architectural style suggests it dates to the Warring States Period (1467-1568).  According to the inscription on a ridge, renovations were carried out in 1767, including alterations to the portico and roof.  Traces of color remain in the main structure, suggesting it was originally painted in vibrant colors.  Furthermore, its Kasuga-style construction with corner timbers is valuable.  The building has a thatched roof and is designated as a prefectural important cultural property.

     As the gods of Kumano have been invited to over 3,000 Kumano Shrines and the likes in Japan, we can hardly tell what types of people invited them to the area and which is older, the temple or the shrine.

Address: Zenshoji-27-1 Kuchiyokawacho, Miki, Hyogo 673-0754

Phone: 0794-88-0636

Trees In the Town

 

Virtual Miki County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #14 Renge-ji Temple

 

     Renge-ji Temple is said to have been founded in 645 by Hermit Hodo.  It is unknown why Hodo found the area holy or sacred, but the temple has the inner sanctuary.  Something holy could be there.  It is said that Kukai also trained there. The temple once flourished with 18 sub-temples and 33 monasteries.  However, it was destroyed by fire during the Battle of Miki in 1579.  The Main Hall, Pagoda, Bell Tower, and Niomon Gate were all rebuilt during the Edo Period (1603-1867).  According to its inscription, the temple bell in the bell tower was cast in 1346 during the Southern and Northern Courts Period (1336-1392).

Address: 188 Kuchiyokawacho, Miki, Hyogo 673-0734

Phone: 0794-88-0013

Trees In the Town

 

Virtual Miki County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #13 Kyokai-ji Temple

 

     Legend has it that Kyokai-ji Temple was founded in 651 by Hermit Hodo, who traveled from India through Tang China and the Korean kingdom of Baekje to Japan from the 6th to 7th centuries.  The surrounding area has Wakikawa Nenbutsu-sui Spring, Mikoromo Cascade, and Argha Spring.  Hodo could have recognized their fresh water as holy or sacred.

     In 795, Kukai (774-835) trained at the temple for 3 years, and the temple was renamed "Kyokai-ji" according to tradition.  Kukai also briefly went by the name Kyokai.  From 793 to 803, Kukai is said to have trained himself in nature and his footsteps in those days are unknown.  So, it is possible that he trained around the holy springs and cascades.

     Throughout the medieval days, the temple had 48 buildings and its territory was large enough to support tens of monks.  It was burned down during the Battle of Miki in 1580.  Tradition syas, during the Battle of Miki, the monks of Kyokai-ji Temple sent bamboo tubes filled with rice down the Waki River, a tributary of the Mino River, to Miki Castle to help the besieged army of Bessho Nagaharu (1558-1580).  Because they used Japanese umbrella pines which were only found around the temple as a stopper for the bamboo tubes, the sender was discovered, and the temple was burned down.  Later, thanks to the enthusiastic donations of parishioners, reconstruction gradually progressed, and Daishi-do Hall, or Kukai's Memorial Hall, was built in 1615.

     Kyokai-ji Temple's Buddhist tanka poem is:

My prayers have been answered.

The waterfall echoes to this side of the mountain

From where the spring water flows.

Address: Wakigawa-354 Hosokawacho, Miki, Hyogo 673-0722

Phone: 0794-86-2295

Wakikawa Nenbutsu-sui Spring

Address: Wakigawa-345 Hosokawacho, Miki, Hyogo 673-0722

Mikoromo Cascade

Address: Hosokawacho, Miki, Hyogo 673-0722

Argha Spring

Address: Hosokawacho, Miki, Hyogo 673-0722

Kagamiiwa

Address: Hosokawacho, Miki, Hyogo 673-0722

Trees In the Town

 

Virtual Miki County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #12 An'yo-ji Temple

 

     It is unknown when An’yo-ji Temple was founded in Hosokawa-Naka Village.

It is unknown when Hosokawa Manor was developed along the Mino and Ogawa Rivers.  The manor was first documented in 1212, when its ownership was transferred from Kenshunmonin Chunagon (1157-?), the 1st daughter of Fujiwara Toshinari (1114-1204), to Fujiwara Teika (1162-1241), Toshinari's 2nd son, in the Meigetsuki, the diary of Teika.  Meigetsuki literally means Bright Moon Journal.

     Hosokawa-Naka Village first appears in the Keicho Kuni-ezu, or the Keicho Maps of the Provinces.

     For your information, Tokugawa Ieyasu (1542-1616), the founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate, followed the example of the Toyotomi administration and 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 Keicho Kuni-ezu, or the Keicho Maps of the Provinces, and Gocho, or the Registers of Villages, are said to have been made based on this survey.  The maps and registers are believed to have been destroyed in fires in Edo Castle, and no original copies exist today.  The only copies that remain are those covering 11 provinces and one island, and are limited to Western Japan.  Some even argue the maps and registers did not cover the entire country, but was limited to western provinces as part of oppressive policies against the western outsiders daimyo.

     In 1617, the village was transferred from Himeji Domain to Akashi Domain.  So, when the Miki County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage was organized in 1707, it belonged to Akashi Domain.

Address: Hosokawanaka-1722 Hosokawacho, Miki, Hyogo 673-0714

Phone: 079-253-5015