Virtual Buso 48 Kannon Pilgrimage #48 Ryuzo-ji Temple

 

     Ryuzo-ji Temple was founded by Priest Kyokai (?-1557).

     Emperor Go-Daigo (1288-1339) confined Prince Moriyoshi (1308-1335) in a dungeon in Kamakura, suspecting Moriyoshi’s usurping the throne.  It was Fuchibe Yoshihiro (?-1335) who was ordered to kill Moriyoshi. As Moriyoshi died with a too frantic look to show his head to Yoshihiro’s lord, Ashikaga Tadayoshi (1307-1352).  The fact that Yoshihiro didn’t show Moriyoshi’s head to Tadayoshi derived various spin-off legends.

     First, Moriyoshi’s frantic look rminded Yoshihiro a Chinese story:  Gan Chi was an avenger who wanted to kill the king. As he was known to the king, he found an assassin. The assassin then suggested that Chi surrender his head and sword, and the assassin himself will avenge the king in Chi's place.  The assassin severed Chi's head to the king. The king was uncomfortable with Chi's head staring at him, and the assassin advised the king to have Chi's head boiled.  After boiling it for 40 days, Chi's head was still staring at the king.  The assassin told the king to stare back in order for the head to decompose. The king bent over the cauldron and stared back the head.  The assassin seized the opportunity to decapitate the king.  The king's head fell into the cauldron.  The assassin then cut off his own head, which also fell into the boiling water. The flesh on the 3 heads was boiled away as the assassin suggested.  However, none could tell which head belonged to whom. They decided to bury the 3 heads together at Yichun County, Runan, Henan, and the grave was called "Tomb of Three Kings”.

     Second, Yoshihiro threw away Moriyoshi’s head in a bamboo grove.

     Third, Yoshihiro felt pity for Moriyoshi and let him flee to Ishinomaki, Mutsu Province.  Yoshihiro was afraid that his wife and children would be punished with him, and divorced his wife at the Sakai River.

     Fourth, Yoshihiro killed a dragon with an arrow.  The dragon split into 3.  Yoshihiro built Ryuto-ji Temple, literally Dragon-Head Temple, where the head fell, Ryudo-ji Temple, literally Dragon-Body Temple, where the body fell, and Ryubi-ji Temple, literally Dragon-Tail Temple, where the tail fell.  Later, Ryudo-ji became Ryuzo-ji, and the other 2 temples declined.  Ryuzo-ji Temple still keeps a bone of the dragon and the arrowhead which killed the dragon.

     On November 30, 1351, the battle between Tadayoshi and his elder brother, Takauji (1305-1358) , broke out around the Satta Pass in Suruga Province.  Yoshihiro charged into Takauji’s camp, and was killed in fighting.

     This is the end of the Buso 48 Kannon Pilgrimage. Some say there used to be even a #49, but who cares when the number already far exceeds the usual 33 or 34?

Address: 3-25-1 Higashifuchinobe, Chuo Ward, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-0203

Phone: 042-752-2366