Where is Oharida no Miya?

　Kōgenji temple in Asuka is thought to be Toyura no Miya (the palace where Kashikiya Hime was coronated). It is easy to guess that Oharida no Miya was nearby, and for a long time it was thought that Kokyū Iseki was its site. The place is next to Kōgenji, and the idea that Toyura no Miya expanded and the area next to it became Oharida no Miya is reasonable based on political circumstances described in the Shoki.

　 However, after that an earthenware vessel was discovered with the words Oharida on it written in ink from a Nara period well at Ikazuchi no Oka Tōhō, leading to the interpretation that the site of Oharida no Miya was at Ikazuchi no Oka Tōhō, and not at the traditional Kokyū Iseki.The east of Ikazuchi no Oka Tōhō is beyond the Asuka River on the opposite bank from Kokyū Iseki, about 300–400m from it.

　Those who were used to thinking that Kokyū Iseki was Oharida no Miya found the idea of Ikazuchi no Oka Tōhō a bit hard to accept. I considering how to explain the interesting discovery of an earthenware vessel with the words Oharida written on it from a Nara period well.Kokyū Iseki and Ikazuchi no Oka Tōhō: which was the site of Oharida no Miya in the time of Shōtoku Taishi?

　 I thought no definitive proof had been found.Oharida no Miya, where there was probably a big fuss when welcoming the Envoy to Sui China.Just thinking that the picture is of Ikazuchi no Oka Tōhō excites my imagination.A summary of the archaeological excavation follows.

　Kokyū Iseki, early 7th century: remains of a garden, excavations of a group of buildings.

　Ikazuchi no Oka Tōhō, Nara period well: earthenware vessel with the inked words “Oharida.”

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The picture is of Ikazuchi no Oka Tōhō.