尼崎市指定文化財 鐘楼 Stele

Stepping back in time, imagine Amagasaki during the Edo period. Before you stands the Honkōji Sharōtō, the Honkōji Bell Tower Stele, designated as an important cultural asset by Hyōgo Prefecture. Honkōji Sharōtō isn’t just a stele. It’s a silent storyteller, whispering tales of the past. The stele itself is a single structure, located at 3-13 Kaimei-cho, Amagasaki City. It belongs to the Honkōji Temple. The stele’s inscription commemorates the building of the Honkōji Sharōtō or bell tower, a three-bay, two-beam structure with a hip-and-gable irimoya roof. It featured a unique hakama-goshi style, where the lower roof extended beyond the upper roof. This stele marks a moment frozen in time, the completion of the bell tower on a specific date: March 25th in the 15th year of the Kanei era, which translates to 1638. The bell tower stele of Honkōji Sharōtō isn’t merely a stone marker. It’s a tangible link to Amagasaki’s Edo past, a testament to the city’s enduring spirit. The Honkōji Temple grounds, including this stele, offer a serene escape from the modern world. They invite you to reflect on the passage of time and the stories etched in stone, like the one held within the Honkōji Sharōtō.