Virtual Yokohama City 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #32 Muryo-ji Temple

     Muryo-ji Temple was founded in 1209 by Priest Jogyo (1186-1231), the 3rd of the 4 sons of Minamoto Yoritomo (1147-1199), the founder and the first shogun of the Kamakura Shogunate.  Why in 1209?  What happened in 1209 or before?

     The second shogun, Yoriie (1182-1204) was assassinated by the Hojo Clan.  Yoriie’s younger brother, Sanetomo (1192-1219), the 4th son of Yoritomo and the third shogun, got smallpox.  At the time, the case fatality risk was very high.  Hojo Tokimasa (1138-1215), a kind of a co-founder of the Kamakura Shogunate and the first regent of the shogunate government, was worried about or ready for Sanetomo’s death.  Sanetomo survived the disease, but, a decade later, was killed by Priest Kugyo (1200-1219), Yoriie’s son, who might have been trapped into the assassination by Tokimasa. 

     Jogyo survived as a priest.

     Jogyo was an illegitimate son of Yoritomo.  His mother was working as a maid in the shogunate residence, and won Yoritomo’s favor.  Yoritomo’s lawful wife, Hojo Masako (1157-1225), got furious.  Jogyo's mother escaped and gave birth to him in the house of Nagato Kageto, who was forced to retire later.  Jogyo left for Kyoto to become a priest in Ninna-ji Temple on May 19, 1192, 3 months before Masako gave birth to Sanetomo.  Yoritomo secretly visited Jogyo on the previous night and gave a sword to him.

     Legend has it that Hojo Tokimasa (1138-1215), the first regent of the Kamakura Shogunate, invited Jogyo to Kamakura to appoint him the 4th shogun.  Jogyo stayed at Makita, and Acalanatha appeared in his dream and said to him, “You are getting into Kamakura, but the Hojo Clan holds all the power there.  You will suffer a misfortune within ten days.  You had better avert the misfortune and walk toward bodhi.”  Jogyo clearly see the situation, gave up getting into Kamakura, and told Tokimasa his determination.  Tokimasa praised his devotion, built a temple, and put Acalanatha its main deity.

     Jogyo died in Mt. Koya at the age of 46 on February 22, 1231.  Rumor says that Jogyo committed suicide.  Why?

In 1230 and 1231, the Great Kanki Famine hit Japan.  On June 7, 1230, it snowed in Musashi Province.  On July 16, there was frost.  By the spring, 1231, people had eaten up food, and one third of people had died.  It was on one of those days that Jogyo died.  Did he kill himself, despairing of life?  In 1232, Hojo Yasutoki (1183-1242), the third regent of the Kamakura Shogunate, promulgated the Formulary of Adjudications, the legal code of the Kamakura shogunate, to stabilize the samurai society.  Did Yasutoki assassinated Jogyo, the only living heir of Yoritomo, on the process of stabilizing the samurai society?

     Acalanatha had given Jogyo blessings anyway.  Thanks to Acalanatha’s advice, he could live over a decade longer.

Address: 174 Maitacho, Minami Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa 232-0043Phone: 045-731-1910