Virtual Old Kamakura 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #11 Tokei-ji Temple

 

     Tokei-ji Temple was founded in 1285 by Nun Kakusan, the wife of Hojo Tokimune (1251–1284).  She was from the Adachi Family.  After Tokimune’s death, her son, Sadatoki (1272-1311), destroyed the family, but she sheltered the children of the family.  She made up her mind to build a shelter for war widows, and founded Tokei-ji Temple.

     Nun Yodo (?-1396), the fifth chief nun, was the daughter of Emperor Go-Daigo (1288-1339).  The emperor was successful in overthrowing the Kamakura Shogunate and restoring the  direct government by an emperor.  However, the royal government was soon overthrown by the Muromachi Shogunate.  Prince Moriyoshi (1308-1335) was confined in a dungeon in Kamakura.  His sister, Yodo, was sheltered in Tokei-ji Temple.

     Nun Kyokuzan (?-1557), who was the 17th chief nun, was the second eldest daughter of Ashikaga Yoshiaki (?-1538), who was killed in the battle against Hojo Ujitsuna(1487-1541).

     When Yoshiaki was killed, his wife and 3 daughters tried get sheltered by the Satomi Clan in Awa Province.  But, under the hard pressure from Ujitsuna,  the Satomi Clan extradited them to the domain of Ujitsuna, Sagami Province, where the four were sheltered or captivated in Tokei-ji Temple.  Ujitsuna might have known the asset effect of the girls with the noble bloodline as a young ladies of the Ashikaga Clan, the shogunate clan.

     After coming of age, the eldest daughter, however, became a nun and moved to Taihei-ji Temple, where she made the chief nun later.  After coming of age, the second daughter also became a nun and stayed in Tokei-ji Temple, where she made the chief nun later.  The youngest daughter alone got married to Uesugi Norihiro (?-1551), the Butler or Regent of Kanto Deputy Shogun.  The elder two could have remembered tragedies of battles too clearly.  So believed the people of the Later Hojo Clan, as well as the second daughter.

     Like a bolt in the blue, in 1556, the eldest eloped from Kamakura with Satomi Yoshihiro(1530-1578), the ruler of Awa Province then.  Hojo Ujiyasu (1515-1571) was ruling Sagami Province, where Kamakura was located.  Ujitsuna refereed to the elopement as "an incomprehensible attempt.”  How did the second daughter assess their attempt?  Taihei-ji Temple was abolished by Ujiyasu out of spite.  Nun Kyokuzan died almost a year later.

     The eldest also “sneaked” the Arya Avalokitesvara statue in Taihei-ji Temple with her.  After her death, the statue was returned to Kamakura to let Ujiyasu save face, and was enshrined in Tokei-ji Temple.  That was years after the death of Nun Kyokuzan.   What did the second feel in her grave with the statue which had gone back and forth?  Or was she already enlightened enough to feel nothing?

     Nun Tenshu, the 20th chief nun, was the daughter of Toyotomi Hideyori (1593-1615).  Hideyori was killed by Tokugawa Ieyasu (1542-1616), but she was sheltered in Tokei-ji Temple.  In 1630’s, she burst a gut.  In the Aizu Domain, the lord, Kato Yoshiaki (1563-1631), came into a conflict with the chief retainer, Hori Mondo.  Mondo ran away from the domain with 300 of his family members and followers, shooting guns against the castle.  He escaped into Mt. Koya, but was arrested and executed with his younger brothers.  His wife escaped into Tokei-ji Temple.  Nun Tensho refused her extradition resolutely.

     The Tokugawa Period enjoyed a long peace, and the shelter changed its character.  In Japan, men could easily divorce their wives but wives had great difficulty divorcing their husbands.  Tokei-ji Temple allowed women to become officially divorced after staying there for two years.  During the Tokugawa period alone, an estimated 2,000 women sought shelter there.

     After the Meiji Restoration, the modern government tried to be almighty, and took away the power from the temple. Since then, we have enjoyed modern governance for centuries.  But I wonder women really don’t need shelters. 

Address: 1367 Yamanouchi, Kamakura, Kanagawa 247-0062

Phone: 0467-22-1663