Virtual Quasi-Chichibu 34 Kannon Pilgrimage #14 Jufuku-ji Temple

     Jufuku-ji Temple was founded by Priest Man’yo (?-1571).

     In 1560’s, Hojo Ujimasa (1538-1590) was ruling not only Sagami Province but the southern half of Kanto Region.  He brought the largest territory for the Later Hojo Clan.  However, he was not enjoying an airtight defense.

     In 1560, famine and an epidemic spread across the Kanto Region.  Taking advantage of it, was the 1561 Siege of Odawara, Uesugi Kenshin (1530-1578) invaded the region and attacked Odawara Castle.  That was the first of several sieges which would befall Odawara Castle, the home castle of the Later Hojo Clan, in the Warring States Period.

     Kenshin breached the defenses, and burned the castle town. The castle itself however remained unconquered; Kenshin withdrew after two months due to the lack of adequate supplies, and the reappearance of Takeda Shingen (1521-1573), Kenshin's long-time rival, who was threatening his territories.

     The second Siege of Odawara took place in 1569. This time, it was Takeda Shingen who attacked Odawara Castle, as the Later Hojo Clan intervened into Shingen's invasion of Suruga Province.

     Shingen came into Musashi Province from his home province of Kai, attacking Takiyama and Hachigata Castles, where Ujiyasu's sons repulsed them. After failing to take Hachigata and Takiyama Castles, Shingen nevertheless moved to Odawara Castle.  The siege lasted only three days, after which the Takeda forces burned the town to the ground and left.

     Odawara Castle itself did not fall and was still held by the Later Hojo Clan.

     The temple and its stone statue of Cintamanicakra, who usually has 6 arms and holds chintamani (a wish-fulfilling jewel) in one of the six, witnessed those seesaw battles.  What wishes did Priest Man’yo and the villagers have?

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