Virtual Gyotoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #9 Ryugon-ji Temple

 

     Ryugon-ji Temple was founded in 1450 by Yoyo.

     When Ashikaga Yoshinori (1394-1441), the 6th Shogun of Muromachi Shogunate, forced Ashikaga Mochiuji (1398-1439), the 4th Kanto Deputy Shogun, into suicide, Chiba Tanenao (1419-1455) was on Yoshinori's side.  Yuki Ujitomo (1402-1441) sheltered Mochiuji’s 2 sons, Shun'o-maru and Yasuo-maru, in his castle, and rebelled against Yoshinori in March, 1440.  On July 29, Yuki Castle was surrounded by the overwhelming strength of the shogunate army, which Tanenao joined.  The outcome was self-evident from the very beginning.  Yet, the Yuki Family held the castle for nearly a year.  On April 16, 1441, the castle finally fell.  Ujitomo and his son were killed in fighting.  Shun'o-maru and Yasuo-maru were arrested and were to be transferred to Kyoto.  On their way, at Tarui, Mino Province, however, they were killed and left their death poems:

“Summer weeds,

Their flowers blooming in Aono Field

Who knows their future?” (Shuno-maru)

“Who knows the future?

Our lives are to be limited today

Here away from home.” (Yasuo-maru)

     Mochiuji’s youngest son, Eiju-maru, survived, became the 5th Kanto Deputy Shogun in 1449, and was given an adult name Shigeuji.  Tanenao supported Shigeuji this time.

     Ryugon-ji Temple used to be located where New Edo River runs today.  When they built the drainage canal, Priest Yudo merged it to Fukuo-ji Temple and renamed it Sorin-ji.

Sorin-ji Temple

Address: 3 Chome-10-2 Tokagi, Ichikawa, Chiba 272-0024

Phone: 047-377-1243