Virtual Buso 48 Kannon Pilgrimage #3 Shogaku-in Temple

 

     According to its official web site, Shogaku-in Temple was founded in 1572 by Ishimaru Arisada (1547-1631).  He invited Priest Chotatsu (?-1601) from Tennei-ji Temple.

     Arisada first worked and fought for Kitabatake Tomonori (1528-1576) in Ise Province.  In 1569, Tomonori was defeated by Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582) and adopted Nobunaga’s 2nd son, Nobukatsu (1558-1630).

     On November 25, 1576, Tomomori was killed by some of his vassals who were ordered by Nobunaga and Nobukatsu.  His 2 young children (Tokumatsumaru and Kamematsumaru), 14 important vassals, and 30 others were killed on the spot too.  Tomomori’s second son, Tomofuji (1552-1576), his 3rd son, Chikanari (1560-1576), his son-in-law, Sakauchi Tomofusa, were invited to Nobukatsu’s castle falsely for a party and were killed there.  Tomofusa’s wife and young child, Senmatsumaru were killed on the spot, and 5 other vassals were killed in the castle.  Ishimaru Arisada survived and became a vassal of Nobukatsu, so he might have belonged to the assassins.

     After Nobunaga was assassinated, Nobukatsu was dismissed and banished in 1591 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1537-1598) to Akita, Dewa Province.  Arisada followed him.

     In 1592, Nobukatsu was pardoned, moved to Yamato Province, and became a lord there.  Arisada didn’t follow him this time, and moved to Nara Village, Tsuzuki County, Musashi Province, with his family.  6 years later, presumably after Hideyoshi’s death, he confined himself in his house for illness.

     Arisada’s son, Sadamasa (1576-1645), became a vassal of Tokugawa Hidetada (1579-1632) in 1597, and fought in the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 and in the Siege of Osaka in 1615 against the Toyotomi Clan.

     Have you noticed something contradictory?  Yes, the temple was founded too early for the whole story to be true.  One possibility is that the temple was founded in Ise Province, and Arisada moved it to Musashi Province.

Address: 2 Chome-4-6 Nara, Aoba Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa 227-0038

Phone: 045-961-4914