Virtual Arima County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #27 Kinsho-ji Temple

 

     Kuwabara-san Kinsho-ji Temple was founded by Minamoto Mitsunaka (912-997) sometime between 970 and 973, belonging to the Shingon Sect.

  In 1228, when Dogen (1200-1253), the founder of the Caodong Chan School in Japan, returned from Song China at the age of 28, he stopped by Kuwabara to soak in Arima Hotsprings for relaxation.  As the mountain on which the temple stood resembled Mount Bulao (Forever Young) in China, he named the temple Taiso-san Kinsho-ji and converted it to his sect.  So is the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese character Song.  It is unknown where Mount Bulao was, but it is highly probable that he visited today's Nanjing City, which has Bulao Village.  I have visited the city a couple of times but have never been to the village, so I can't tell whether or not the village resembles Kuwabara.  Neither do I guarantee that you’d be forever young by visiting either village.

Address: 866 Kuwabara, Sanda, Hyogo 669-1521

Phone: 079-564-3950

Bulao Village

Address: No. 103 Zhenqi Road, Jiangpu Sub-district, Pukou District