Virtual Old Kamakura 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #10 Hatto Hall

 

     Hatto Hall was built in 1275, 12 years after Hojo Tokiyori (1227-1263) died. We often have a Buddhist memorial service for the dead 2 years ater their death, sometimes after 6 years, and rarely after 12 years.  Tokiyori must have been very memorable.  In fact, he was a very popular statesman who built a welfare-warfare shogunate.  His popularity spinned off the Noh play, Hachinoki:

     At dusk with snow falling heavily, a traveling monk appeared at the hermitage on the outskirts of Sano Village and asked for a night’s lodging. The resident samurai once refused.  He was too poor to entertain him.  But he let the monk in, who was suffering from the snowy road.  He served a small meal. His name was Sano Genzaemon.  He said that he formerly owned more than 30 villages, but that he was deprived of everything by the embezzlement of his relatives and fell down like this. As he talked, all the firewood was exhausted and the fire was about to go out, but there was no firewood to add. Genzaemon brought three pots of pine, plum, and cherry, which were a proudest boast that had been collected in the old days when he prospered.  He found them useless now, and used them as firewood.  He broke them and put the pieces on the fire. Although he had lost everything, he still kept his armor, naginata and an old horse.  He said that once he was summoned from Kamakura, he would ride on his horse, rush to Kamakura with his naginata as soon as possible and fight for his life.

     In the new year, spring came, and suddenly Kamakura called for an emergency call. Genzaemon put on old armor, carried a rusty naginata on his back, and rushed on a thin horse.  When he arrived in Kamakura, he was summoned before Hojo Tokiyori. While the generals were lined up, Tokiyori said to Genzaemon who prostrated in torn armor, "Do you remember the monk traveling in the snowy night? That wa actually me.  I'm glad that you've come so early."  Tokiyori not only returned Genzaemon his former territories, but also gave him three territories (the territory of Umeda Manor in Kaga Province, Sakurai Manor in Etchu Province, and Matsuida Manor in Kozuke Province) as new prizes. Genzaemon gratefully withdrew and returned to Sano Village cheerfully.

Address: 8 Yamanouchi, Kamakura, Kanagawa 247-0062

Phone: 0467-22-0981