Virtual Old Kamakura 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #23 Kannon-ji Temple

 

     Kannon-ji Temple was founded by Priest Kojun (?-1639), financially supported by Ando Masayoshi (1604-1666), the third head of the Akuwa-Ando Family.  They were the branch family of the Ando Clan from Mikawa Province and moved to Akuwa Village, Kamakura County, Sagami Province, in 1591, following Tokugawa Ieyasu’s moving to the Kanto Region.

     On July 11, 1630, Kawai Matagoro (1615-1634) killed Watanabe Gendayu in Okayama.  Matagoro ran away, and asked Masayoshi to shelter him.  The Tokugawa Shogunate was following the rule: When two fight, both are to blame.  The lord of the Okayama Domain was moved to Tottori, and Masayoshi was placed on a 100-day suspension in Kanei-ji Temple.  However, Gendayu’s elder brother, Kazuma, kept trying to take revenge.  Finally, on November 7, 1634, Kazuma killed Matagoro at the Kagiya-no-tsuji crossroads, in Iga City, Mie Prefecture today.  It became one of the 3 greatest revenge incidents in Japan.  I can hardly understand why it was so great though.

     Kannon-ji Temple used to be the family temple of the Akuwa-Ando Family, with Masayoshi’s grave at O-Haka-yama (1 Chome−７ Akuwaminami, Seya Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa 246-0026), along with those of his grandfather, Sadatsugu (1540-1600), who was killed in the Siege of Fushimi.  Fushimi Castle was located between Osaka and Kyoto, and was the westernmost military base for Ieyasu.  When the Toyotomi and Tokugawa Clans fought a decisive war in 1600.  The castle garrison dare to hold the castle suicidally.  Ultimately, the castle fell after 10 days, but the 10 days served a crucial role in allowing for greater strategic victories by Ieyasu.

     Masayoshi's father, Masatsugu (1565-1615), who killed himself during the Siege of Osaka.  On August 7, the father attacked the enemy line and was deadly hurt.  Although he was praised by Tokugawa Hidetada (1579-1632), he killed himself in Gansho-ji Temple in Hirano Village near Osaka on 19, realizing he had been injured beyond recovery.

     It might have exerted great pressure on Masayoshi to have such a heroic grandfather and a father.  He showed unnecessary chivalry. 

Address: 1157 Shinbashicho, Izumi Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa 245-0009

Phone: 045-811-1405