Virtual Koma 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #30 Shoon-ji Temple

     Shoon-ji Temple was founded by Priest Kyuan Soka (?-1396), who studied under Priest Muge Myoken, who studied in Yuan China under Zhongfeng Mingben (1263–1323).

Mamiya Kotonobu (1777-1841) said that Soka also studied in Yuan China for 10 years by the order of his father, Uesugi Norimasa (?-1366).  Norimasa died earlier than his father, Noriaki (1306-1368), who became the Regent of the Kanto Deputy Shogunate under the first Kanto Deputy Shogun, Ashikaga Motouji (1340-1367).  Accordingly, Noriaki was succeeded by his nephew, Tomofusa (1335-1391), who also became the Regent of the Kanto Deputy Shogunate.  It is unknown why Soka chose to live as a priest when he was the only son of Norimasa.  Kotonobu wrote in his New Chronology on Musashi Province that Soka died at the age of 78.  Then he was born in 1319, when his grandfather was just 14 years old.  It’s absurd.

     Who was Soka and why again didn’t he become a samurai?

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