Virtual Old Kasai 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #15 Zenpuku-in Temple

 

     Wakamiya-Hachiman-gu Shrine was founded in Katsushika County, Shimousa Province, in 1189 by Minamoto Yoritomo (1147-1199) before he started invading the territories of  the Fujiwara Clan in Mutsu Province.  The clan had built a half-independent kingdom there.

     Yoritomo destroyed his rival, the Taira Clan, in 1185, and was going to establish a samurai government.  He instinctively knew a samurai government is the process of permanently organizing samurai.  He needed new territories for samurai to newly possess and rule.  He set his eyes on Mutsu Province.

     In April, 1186, Yoritomo jabbed Fujiwara Hidehira (1122-1187).  Yoritomo had been authorized by the Imperial Court to rule the Tokai and Tozan Regions, through which Hidehira had to send their taxes to the Central Government.  Yoritomo requested that he should pass the taxes forward.  Hidehira couldn't refuse the request.

     In October, 1187, Hidehira died, and Yoritomo put further pressure on Hidehira's son, Yasuhira (1155-1189).  On April 30th, 1189, Yoritomo forced Yasuhira to kill Yoritomo's rival brother, Yoshitsune (1159-1189).  On June 25th, Yoritomo requested the Imperial Court to issue the order to hunt down Yasuhira.  Although the request was turned down, Yoritomo left Kamakura for Mutsu Province with 1000 cavalry.

     It was on this occasion that Yoritomo prayed for his victory to Wakamiya-Hachiman in Katsushika County.

On August 8th, fights in Mutsu Province started.  In those fights, Yoritomo gave chances to those who had surrendered to him in previous battles and wars.  On the 16th, Yasuhira offered peace to Yoritomo, but Yoritomo ignored the proposal .  On the 22nd, he occupied Hiraizumi, the Fujiwara Clan's capital.  On September 2nd, he started advancing to  Kuriyagawa Fortress, where Minamoto Yoriyoshi (988-1075), 5 generations before Yoritomo, beat Abe Sadato (1019-1062), who was the leader of the captive foreigners.  Yoritomo followed a good precedent to show off that he was the legitimate successor of the legendary hero.

     On September 3rd, Yoasuhira was killed by his vassal, Kawata Jiro (?-1189).  On the 9th, the order to hunt down Yasuhira arrived, which was dated July 19th.

     It was Kasai Kiyoshige(1161-1238), the lord of the Western half of Katsushika County, who was appointed as the samurai governor of Mutsu Province on the 22nd.  Shirahige Shrine answered to Yoritomo's prayer.  On October 24th, Yoritomo returned to Kamakura.

     Toshima Kiyomoto was the lord of Toshima County, Musashi Province and also owned Kasai Manor in Katsushika County, Shimousa Province.  His third son, Kiyoshige succeeded the Kasai Manor and started calling his family Kasai.

     When Minamoto Yoritomo raised his army against the Taira Clan, he was defeated at first and fled to Awa Province.  When he was going cross the Sumida River to strike back, Kiyoshige joined the army.  He kept working and fighting for the first 3 generations of the Kamakura Shoguns. 

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