Virtual Shimousa 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #9 Tozen-ji Temple

     Tozen-ji Temple was founded in Negiuchi in 1481 by Priest Gutei.  At the time, Takagi Tanesada (?-1546) was the lord of Negiuchi Castle.

     Gutei was born a samurai's son in Seba Village, Chikuma County, Shinano Province.  5 generations before, his family fought for Minamoto Yoshinaka (1154-1184).  When Yoshinaka was defeated, their family temple, Saiko-ji, burned down.  Gutei revived the temple and renamed it Tozen-ji, which is still in Seba, Shiojiri City, Nagano Prefecture.

     At the beginning of the 1460's, Gutei suddenly moved to Washinoya in Shimousa Village.  It is unknown why he moved.  Washinoya had a hermitage with a Bhaisajyaguru statue at the foot of Washinoya Castle.  He revived the hermitage and named it Io-ji (Address: 510 Washinoya, Kashiwa, Chiba 270-1443).  The castle commanded the northern half of Lake Tega-numa, and was owned by the Someya Family, who were subject to the Takagi Family.  Presumably, the Someya Family recommended Gutei to the Takagi Family.

     Tanesada's son, Taneyoshi (1501-1565), moved his base from Negiuchi Castle to Kogane Castle, which commanded Edo, Naka, and Ara Rivers.  Taneyoshi controlled the inland waterway between Edo Bay and the northern part of the Kanto Region.

     Taneyoshi also moved Tozen-ji Temple to the new castle town.  When Uesugi Terutora (1530-1578) invaded the Kanto Region, Teneyoshi successfully held Kogane Castle.  He also owned Gyotoku Saltern, the largest saltworks in the Kanto Region.

Address: 359 Kogane, Matsudo, Chiba 270-0014

Phone: 047-345-1517