妙見閣寺

From the ashes of war, Myōkoku-ji rises. Three times, this Buddhist temple in Sakai, Osaka has been reborn. Three times, the flames of conflict have licked at its walls, threatening to consume its history, only to be met with the unwavering faith of its people. Myōkoku-ji stands as a testament to resilience, a phoenix rising from the embers. Established in 1592 by Nichiko Shonin, Myōkoku-ji became a prominent temple of the Nichiren Sect. But its peaceful existence was shattered in 1615 during the Summer War of Osaka. Fearing their enemy, Ieyasu Tokugawa, was hiding within, Toyotomi forces set Myōkoku-ji ablaze. Rebuilt in 1628, the temple enjoyed a period of tranquility until the ravages of World War II once again reduced it to ruins in July 1945. But like a persistent seed, Myōkoku-ji refused to be buried. It was meticulously reconstructed in 1973, standing proudly once more. Within Myōkoku-ji’s serene embrace lies a survivor of even greater antiquity – the Great Cycad. This ancient tree, over 1,100 years old, whispers tales of powerful warlords and divine intervention. Legend claims that Oda Nobunaga, the ambitious daimyo, transplanted the cycad to his castle. However, a mysterious voice haunted Azuchi Castle each night, pleading, “Take me back to Myōkoku-ji.” An unsettling atmosphere enveloped the castle, disturbing Nobunaga and his men. In a fit of rage, Nobunaga ordered the cycad cut down. The tree is said to have bled, its pain so intense that it resembled a giant serpent, striking fear into the heart of even the fearless Nobunaga. He promptly returned the cycad to Myōkoku-ji. Nichiko Shonin, filled with compassion, prayed for the dying tree, reciting a thousand sutras. A god, with the face of a man and the body of a snake, appeared in his dream, thanking him and promising blessings of eased childbirth, relief from hardship, and happiness for the poor. Myōkoku-ji also bears witness to a darker chapter in history: the Sakai Incident of 1868. French sailors, ashore for sightseeing, clashed with samurai guards from the Tosa clan. Misunderstandings and cultural differences escalated into violence, resulting in the deaths of thirteen French sailors. In the aftermath, Japan paid a hefty sum, and twenty samurai were ordered to commit seppuku. Before witnesses from both nations, the ritual suicide began. Eleven samurai had performed the act before the French, horrified, departed as the sun set, leaving the remaining nine to be exiled. These samurai, like so many others, gave their lives in service of their country, but due to Myōkoku-ji’s imperial designation, they could not be buried on its sacred grounds. Their remains rest nearby, at Hojuin Temple, a poignant reminder of the Sakai Incident’s tragic consequences. Myōkoku-ji stands today, a beacon of faith and resilience, its history echoing through the centuries.