A 103-Metre Earthen Wall Along the East Bank
Kongoji Temple Amano River East Bank Former Sub-Temple Earthen Wall (金剛寺天野川東岸旧子院築地塀, Kongō-ji Amanogawa Tōgan Kyūshiin Tsuiji-bei) is a mid-Edo earthen wall (1661 to 1751) at Amanosan Kongoji in Amanocho, Kawachinagano City, Osaka Prefecture, and it was listed as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on June 28, 2017.
Kongoji's central halls stand west of the Amano River, and sub-temples once filled the east bank. The Kongoji Temple Amano River East Bank Former Sub-Temple Earthen Wall was built facing the river to mark off that group of east-bank buildings, and it runs for 103 metres in total.
The east-bank sub-temples dwindled after the Meiji Restoration: Shinpuku-in was merged into Kongoji in 1888 and Rishu-in in 1911. Most of their buildings are gone, but the line of the wall still traces how the land was divided.
Stone, Earth, and Plaster from the Early Modern Precinct
The Kongoji Temple Amano River East Bank Former Sub-Temple Earthen Wall was registered for its contribution to the historic landscape. The Agency for Cultural Affairs notes that it was built as the enclosure of the former east-bank sub-temples and still conveys how the precinct looked in the early modern period.
It stands on a riverside stone base. On top rises an earthen wall about 0.8 to 1.3 metres high, finished in lime plaster and capped with pantiles.
The temple's conservation plan says the earthen walls and bridges along the Amano River preserve, more vividly than anything else, the scenery of a mountain temple complex handed down from the medieval period. River, stone base, white wall, and the old sub-temple plots behind it: that layering is the heart of its value.
Condition and Repairs, Section by Section
The conservation plan the temple published in 2025 records the Kongoji Temple Amano River East Bank Former Sub-Temple Earthen Wall in four sections by lot number. The section on lots 1008 and 1009-3 carries the total length of 103 metres and shows plaster peeling near its base.
The section on lot 992 sits on the stone base in front of the refectory and was repaired in February 2021. According to the plan, part of the wall south of the yakuimon gate there has collapsed, while the stretch north of the gate has been repaired. The section on lot 988, northeast of the sports ground, is described as badly damaged.
The plan gives section heights of 1.50 to 1.80 metres, which differ from the Agency's wall height of 0.8 to 1.3 metres. Whether the plan includes the stone base cannot be determined from the documents; this article follows the Agency for structural figures.
Seeing the Kongoji Temple Amano River East Bank Former Sub-Temple Earthen Wall
The Kongoji Temple Amano River East Bank Former Sub-Temple Earthen Wall is an outdoor structure facing the Amano River, so you see it from the riverside. Behind it lie the former sub-temple plots, where access varies from place to place.
Walking along it, you can watch the wall height, the stonework, and the condition of the plaster change from section to section. Keep a respectful distance from the badly damaged stretches, and ask at reception about photography. Directions, opening hours, and admission for the whole precinct are on the Amanosan Kongoji Temple page.
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Q&A
- How long is the Kongoji Temple Amano River East Bank Former Sub-Temple Earthen Wall?
- According to the Agency for Cultural Affairs, it runs for 103 metres along the east bank of the Amano River.
- When was the Kongoji Temple Amano River East Bank Former Sub-Temple Earthen Wall built?
- The Agency dates it to the mid-Edo period, 1661 to 1751. It was built as the enclosure of the former east-bank sub-temples.
- How is the Kongoji Temple Amano River East Bank Former Sub-Temple Earthen Wall constructed?
- An earthen wall about 0.8 to 1.3 metres high stands on a stone base, finished in lime plaster and capped with pantiles.
- Has the Kongoji Temple Amano River East Bank Former Sub-Temple Earthen Wall been repaired?
- The conservation plan records a repair to the section on lot 992 in February 2021, and it reports plaster peeling and heavy damage in other sections.
- Where can I see the Kongoji Temple Amano River East Bank Former Sub-Temple Earthen Wall?
- It faces the Amano River and can be viewed from the riverside. Access to the former sub-temple plots behind it varies by location.
Basic Information
| Name | Kongoji Temple Amano River East Bank Former Sub-Temple Earthen Wall (金剛寺天野川東岸旧子院築地塀) |
|---|---|
| Location | 992 and other lots, Amanocho, Kawachinagano City, Osaka Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | 2017 (Heisei 29) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Earthen wall, tiled; total length 103 metres |
| Owner | Amanosan Kongoji (religious corporation) |
| Public Access | Outdoor structure; exterior viewable |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties: Kongoji Amanogawa Togan Kyushiin Tsuijibei (Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00011765
- Cultural Heritage Online: Kongoji Amanogawa Togan Kyushiin Tsuijibei
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/247061
- Historic Site Kongoji Precinct Conservation and Utilization Plan, cover to chapter 5 (PDF)
- https://amanosan-kongoji.jp/site/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/%E5%8F%B2%E8%B7%A1%E9%87%91%E5%89%9B%E5%AF%BA%E5%A2%83%E5%86%85%E4%BF%9D%E5%AD%98%E6%B4%BB%E7%94%A8%E8%A8%88%E7%94%BB_%E8%BB%BD%E9%87%8F%E7%89%88%EF%BC%88%E8%A1%A8%E7%B4%99%EF%BD%9E%E7%AC%AC5%E7%AB%A0%EF%BC%89.pdf
- Historic Site Kongoji Precinct Conservation and Utilization Plan, chapter 6-2 (PDF)
- https://amanosan-kongoji.jp/site/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/%E5%8F%B2%E8%B7%A1%E9%87%91%E5%89%9B%E5%AF%BA%E5%A2%83%E5%86%85%E4%BF%9D%E5%AD%98%E6%B4%BB%E7%94%A8%E8%A8%88%E7%94%BB_%E8%BB%BD%E9%87%8F%E7%89%88%EF%BC%88%E7%AC%AC6%E7%AB%A0-2%EF%BC%89.pdf
Last verified: 2026.09.15
