Kanshinji monastery, (in) Kawaranagano, Osaka Prefecture, JP

Raw data

“During the Nara period (646-794 A.D.) sorcerer and ascetic Enno Ozunu founded this temple, and in the year 827 a disciple of Kobo Daishi [Kûkai (774–835) – lhp], Jitsu-e, constructed the temple buildings. This temple was a place of study for the young Kusunoki Masashige, and is known to have been strongly linked to the southern court of the imperial house.”
- “The main hall of Kanshinji Temple” http://www.city.kawachinagano.osaka.jp/english/Kanshinji.html

Kanshinji was near the Koya Highway. “The Koya Highway was the main road to Koyasan (an area filled with key Buddhist temples), and was frequented by many travelers.”
-“History” http://www.city.kawachinagano.osaka.jp/english/History.html

The main object of worship is a Heian-period sculpture of Nyoirin Kannon that has been designated a national treasure. Kûkai is said to have carved the Nyoirin Kannon sculpture and given the temple its present name in 808. Disciples Jitsue and Shinshô rebuilt it to perform rituals to protect the realm.
The present golden (main) hall, also a national treasure, was first built by Kusunoki Masashige during the war between the Northern and Southern Courts (Nanboku era, 1333–13336). It is considered to be the oldest wooden building in Osaka Prefecture.
- “Kanshinji ni tsuite” http://www.kanshinji.com/rekisi.html
- Uryû (2003: 212)

Input by: Lizbeth H. Piel, Aug 20, 2010

Final data (and their sources)

Last updated: 03 Jun 2013

Lat/Long coordinates' accuracy:
The monastery in question is assumed to be situated actually no farther than 200 m from the point defined by the coordinates below.

Location of Kanshinji monastery, JP.

General location of the Kanshinji monastery, JP.
Lat 34.4373 Long 135.5986
Mapping & images: Falling Rain Genomics (http://www.fallingrain.com), 2010.


Google Map link:

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=34.4373+135.5986+(Approx.%20loc.%20of%20the%20Kanshinji%20monastery,%20JP)&ll=34.4373,135.5986&spn=05.0,05.0&t=k&hl=en


Final data - explanatory notes

1. Monastery's name

  • Kanshinji 観心寺. Alternative English spelling: Kanshin-ji

2. Monastery's modern country & province

  • Japan: Osaka Prefecture

3. Monastery's alternative/historical names

  • Unshinji - Uryû (2003: 212)
  • Hinoosan - Uryû (2003: 212)

4. Monastery's lat/long coordinates

  • Approx., Lat 34.4373 Long 135.5986 - based on the visual indentification of the monastery in satellite imagery, maps.google.com - tmciolek, 22 Aug 2010.

5. Other known nearby Buddhist monasteries


6. Modern name of the known nearest city, town, or village

  • Osaka-fu, Kawaranagano-shi (Kawaranagano City), Teramoto

7. The settlement's alternative/historical names


8. The settlement's coordinates


9. Monastery's major Buddhist tradition

  • Mahayana

10. Monastery's Buddhist sub-tradition

  • Shingon

11. Date-early

  • MBM chrono-tag: 0700-32c - tmciolek 03 Jun 2013
  • 0700-32c 0733-66c 0767-99c 0800-32c 0833-66c 0867-99c 0900-32c 0933-66c 0967-99c 1000-32c 1033-66c 1067-99c 1100-32c 1133-66c 1167-99c 1200=> dated-el

12. Date-intermediate


13. Date-late

  • 1333–1336 - Uryû (2003: 212)
  • MBM chrono-tag: 1200=> - tmciolek 03 Jun 2013

14. Details of contacts with other monasteries

  • A branch temple of Kôyasan - Uryû (2003: 212)

15. Type of evidence regarding the monastery

  • Architecture, documents

16. Additional notes

  • [missing data] (incl. details of the size of the monastic population)

17. Corrections & addenda to this page were kindly provided by

  • [missing data]

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