Hachioji — Local services in Kobe

Fukuhara 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #22 Hachio-ji Temple After #25 Manpuku-ji Temple, I crossed not only the highway but also the JR Sanyo Line to visit #22 Hachio-ji Temple. There came another mystery. My first map showed Hachio-ji Temple, but the map I got at Wadamisaki Station insisted it’s a shrine. Yes, if it is Hachio-ji, it can be a temple, but if it’s Hachi-oji, it must be a shrine. Oji used to be branch or station shrines to lead to a main shrine, and Hachi-oji could have been the #8 of those Oji’s. Once I stepped into Hachioji (sorry for not being specific), the mystery was cleared up. At first, it used to be Hachi-oji Shrine. In 1839, a Buddhist priest started residing temporarily in the shrine. He was a good trainer of wandering monks. In 1867, when the next-generation priest was doing religious education there, a member of the Kitakaze Family became a patron of the "temple." He came across a priest-less temple in the northern foot of Mt. Rokko, and moved it not physically but legally to Hachi-oji Shrine. The temple name was Fukusho-ji. In 1952, the temple renamed itself as Hachio-ji. Can you follow the story? By the way, the Kitakaze Family could trace themselves back to mythical times. Either Hikomuraji, the legendary 6th head of the family, or Hikomaro, the legendary 7th head of the family, fought for Okinagatarashi, a legendary empress, made a contribution, and was entrusted with the management of the Owada (or Big Wada) Port. Their descendants lived at the base of Mt. Egoe. The family became a follower of the Fujiwara Clan, the most powerful clan in ancient times, and got their first surname, Shirafuji. Just an aside, we have so many surnames in Japan such as Fuji-something or Something-fuji. They are supposed to have had something to do with the Fujiwara Clan, unless they only pretend to. The Shirafuji Family moved to the coast to participate in the renovation and enlargement of the Owada Port by Taira Kiyomori (1118-1181). In the period of the Northern and Southern Courts, the family contributed to the Southern Court with their expertise in navigation, and was given another surname, Kitakaze, by Nitta Yoshisada (1301-1338), the most powerful general of the Southern Court. The Kitakaze Family declined until 1895, 28 years after the Meiji Restoration. Ironically, the family who entered the history stage by supporting the royal family had to step down from the stage because of the socioeconomic transition caused by the restoration. Anyway, as it was past noon and other member temples were far at the foot of Mt. Rokko, I called it a day and headed to the nearest station, JR...

阪神淡路大震災のときに曹洞宗ボランティア会に登録し、拠点となっていた八王寺さんで２月に３週間ほどお世話になりました。あの時は確か本堂が崩れてらっしゃいました。 神戸に転居したので八王寺さんを訪問しましたが、もう記憶もほとんどなく。一度入らせていただいたドラム缶風呂が気持ち良...

曹洞宗の夏の座禅講座に参加。考えさせら...