Didn’t they build that expressway just over there recently? The construction of the Hanshin Expressway near Kyosenji altered this townscape a bit nearly 20 years ago. Yet Kyosenji stands firm.
Let’s talk about Kyosenji a temple of the Jodo Shinshu Honganji school. It has deep roots in this community. The temple’s main hall serves as a community center called Oaza Hall. This close bond shows the strong connection between the temple and its people.
An inscription on an image of Shinran Shonin at Kyosenji reads “Kyoshoji Temple Daio Village, Tanba County, Kawachi Province”. It dates back to February 12 1752. The principal image of Amida Nyorai is considered a work from the mid-Edo period.
Inside the main hall are assembled pagoda bodies and foundation stones of a treasure tower. They bear dates from 1764, 1780, and 1801. These dates suggest that Kyosenji had already taken shape as a temple for the Oaza community by the mid-18th century.
In Kyoto’s Nishi Honganji is a registry of temples from 1792. It lists “Kyoshoji Temple Daio Village, Tamba County”. This confirms Kyosenji as a place of worship for the families of Daio Village. Many also followed the Shinshu temples such as Kakumeiji in Ibaraki City and Koenji in Hirano Ward, Osaka City.
The temple’s mountain name is Kisho-zan. It possibly got its name after 1704. That’s when the Yamato River’s course was altered to flow west north of the temple. It seems the name reflects the riverbank. Preserved in front of the main hall are old roof tiles with the mountain name.
Beneath Kyosenji’s main hall hangs a bell. The Oaza family dedicated it in October 1900 for their ancestors. To the side of the main gate is the Jizo Hall. It houses stone statues. Originally a wooden Jizo Bodhisattva was placed there. But after repeated thefts, four stone Jizo statues were placed instead.
Among them is an Amida Nyorai seated statue in a boat-shaped relief. It dates from the late Kamakura to Nanbokucho periods. Also there, is a standing Jizo Bodhisattva statue with a gem and a staff. A stone incense stand bears an inscription from 1862.
It is worth noting that present-day Nakano Elementary School traces its roots to Daio Elementary School. It was established at Kyosenji in 1874.
According to “The History of Kyosho-ji Temple” Kyosenji began when Wakata Yu received a sacred name from Saint Rennyo between 1469-1486.
In 1673 Kyosenji received an image of Amida Nyorai. The temple name was officially recognized in 1683. Construction of the previous main hall began in 1699 and completed in 1702.
In 1864, the 14th Shogun Tokugawa Iemochi rested at Kyosenji on his way to Osaka. The shogun who was ill, was offered honey-flavored water. The vessel used at that time remains at the temple today.
In 1994 the head priest of Nishi Honganji visited Kyosenji. In 2006 a renovation of Kyosenji’s main hall and bell tower was completed. In 2017 artifacts from Kyosenji were displayed at the Wakayama City Museum. These artifacts included the shogun’s water vessel.
Kyosenji has stood for centuries. It has seen changes in leadership. Also various renovations. Kyosenji remains a vital part of the community. It is a place of worship and gathering. The temple and its people are connected.