Kuinji temple |
空印寺 |
There used to be the residence of the governor of Wakasa Province at the site of this temple.
After completion of Obama castle in the modern period, Kuinji Temple became the family temple of Tadakatsu Sakai, the domain lord of Obama Domain, who gave the present temple name. |
Unfortunately, various magnificent halls worthy to be called the family temple of the domain lord were destroyed by repeated fires. However, the Yakuimon gate ( High ranking samurai Yakuimon gate ), the only relic of this old temple, tells us the stately architectural style of this temple constructed in the Edo Period.
At the back of the main hall lies the graveyard of successive domain lords of Sakai Family.
At the back of the main hall lies the graveyard of successive domain lords of Sakai Family.
At the temple gate is a cave where Happyaku Bikuni passed away who was related to the legend of Miketsukuni, or the ancient provinces such as Wakasa province supplying food and marine products to the Imperial family and court in Kyoto, an ancient capital of Japan.
Graves of the Sakai Clan
Sakaike Bosho (Graves of the Sakai Clan) 空印寺(酒井家墓所)
The grounds of Kuinji Temple and Obama Elementary School, where Sakaike Bosho is located, were once the stronghold of power over the area, starting when Takeda Motomitsu built his strong fortress (the old Obama Castle), followed by construction of Nochiseyama Castle in Taiei Year 2 (1552), and up until Kyogoku Takatsugu built Unpin Castle. |
After the death of Takatsugu, his heir Tadataka made this former property a monument to his father, building Taiunji here. But in Kan'ei Year 1 (1634), he moved to Matsue. Sakai Tadakatsu, who took his place the same year, moved the remains of his father Tadatoshi here and renamed the temple Kenkoji. During the Kambun Era, when the temple hall was undergoing repairs, Tadanao Sakai II renamed it Kenkoyama Kuinji, using the posthumous Buddhist name of his grandfather, and so it has remained until this very day. |
The graves of Tadatoshi Sakai and his wife were located in south and the most right hand corner.
Other graves of generations are located in order: 1. Tadakatsu Sakai, 2. Tadanao Sakai, 3. Tadataka Sakai, 4. Tadasono Sakai, 5. Tadaoto Sakai, 6. Tadaakira Sakai and until 7. Tadamochi Sakai. However from the grave of 8. Tadayoshi Sakai, 9. Tadatsura Sakai, 10. Tadayuki Sakai, 11. Tadayori Sakai and 13. Tadauchi Sakai are located differently. These graves are made with granite. The most of two stepped stage are made with one piece. The name after their death, rank and the year of their death were engraved behind. The grave engraved "Sakai family's grave" was built in Taisho 13 (1924) with repairing the graveyard in Tokyo. |
Happyaku Bikuni |
人魚 |
Ningyo (人魚, "human fish", often translated as "mermaid") Happyaku Bikuni One of the most famous folk stories concerning ningyo is called Yao Bikuni (八百比丘尼, "eight-hundred (years) Buddhist priestess") or Happyaku Bikuni. The story tells how a fisherman who lived in Wakasa Province once caught an unusual fish. In all his years fishing, he had never seen anything like it, so he invited his friends over to sample its meat. One of the guests, however, peeked into the kitchen, noticed that the head of this fish had a human face, and warned the others not to eat it. So when the fisherman finished cooking and offered his guests the ningyo's grilled flesh, they secretly wrapped it in paper and hid it on their persons so that it could be discarded on the way home. |
But one man, drunk on sake, forgot to throw the strange fish away. This man had a little daughter, who demanded a present when her father arrived home, and he carelessly gave her the fish. Coming to his senses, the father tried to stop her from eating it, fearing she would be poisoned, but he was too late and she finished it all. But as nothing particularly bad seemed to happen to the girl afterwards, the man did not worry about it for long.
Years passed, and the girl grew up and was married. But after that she did not age any more; she kept the same youthful appearance while her husband grew old and died. After many years of perpetual youth and being widowed again and again, the woman became a nun and wandered through various countries. Finally she returned to her hometown in Wakasa, where she ended her life at an age of 800 years.
Years passed, and the girl grew up and was married. But after that she did not age any more; she kept the same youthful appearance while her husband grew old and died. After many years of perpetual youth and being widowed again and again, the woman became a nun and wandered through various countries. Finally she returned to her hometown in Wakasa, where she ended her life at an age of 800 years.