Makinoodera Temple

The Makinoodera Temple is a Buddhist temple in Osaka Prefecture, Japan. During the Sengoku period, it was part of the mountainous region of Kawachi Heights within the region of Izumi Settsu.

History[edit | edit source]

By 1581, the temple served as the home of the monk Sorin and his apprentice Junjiro. In late September, they brought a heavily-wounded Fujibayashi Naoe to the temple after finding her outside Katano Castle. Over the following months, they tended to her injuries and helped her recover,^[1] while Sorin secretly encouraged Junjiro to forgive Naoe for unknowingly killing his father, Ido Yoshihiro.^[2]

The boy was eventually able to overcome his anger and grief and befriended Naoe, who left the temple in early 1582 after completing her recovery, in order to pursue vengeance against the Shinbakufu for killing her father Nagato.^[1] Not long after, Sorin and Junjiro also left the temple, with the former going on a pilgrimage while the latter was left in Naoe and Tomiko's care at the latter's homestead.^[3]

In 1582, Naoe met with Junjiro and fellow Kakushiba ikki member and samurai Yasuke as they traveled to the temple to witness and learn from the Bō master Meiran. When he arrived, the master introduced himself and talked about his style with the bō. While Yasuke remained skeptical, Naoe promised to keep an eye on Meiran and Junjiro. After Naoe dueled against other novice monks, she made her way to spar with Meiran himself. Showing prowess against the master, their duel was interrupted by an onslaught of bandits.^[4]

Fortunately, Naoe, Meiran, and the students were able to best and kill their attackers. When Naoe realized the legend was true, Meiran admitted that his reluctance to fight came from his desire to avoid killing. When Junjiro came and offered to be of help, Meiran reminded him to think accordingly before looking at the dead bandits. After telling Naoe that he would pray, Naoe commended his grace, but Meiran told her that he would not pray for them.^[4]

At some point, Naoe and Yasuke revisited the temple and collected three lost pages scattered around its grounds. They also made their way up a wayward tree to oversee the province.^[5]