Virtual Eastern Edo 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #8 Kakuzen-in Temple

 

     Kakuzen-in Temple was founded by Tada Noritsuna (?-1234) as a branch temple of Senso-ji Temple with his family member, Nobutsuna, as its priest.

     When Oe Hiromoto(1148-1225), who was married with Noritsuna's daughter, was appointed to be a guardian samurai of Sagae Manor, which was owned by the Fujiwara Clan, the top aristocrats, in Murayama County, Dewa Province, it was Noritsuna who actually went to the manor to rule it as a samurai.

     In that way, powerful samurai founded branch temples of Senso-ji Temple as they liked to contribute their manors, and more than 100 branch temples crowded into the precincts.

     Kakuzen-in Temple was one of the 21 branch temples for the monks who prayed.

     Hojo Ujitsuna (1487-1541, the second head of the Later Hojo Clan, not only revived Senso-ji Temple but also controlled it.  Ujitsuna ordered Daidoji Morimasa (1495-1556) in 1539 to rebuild buildings for Senso-ji Temple.  Ujitsuna also appointed Chugo, a family member of Toyama Naokage (?-1533), to be the head priest of Senso-ji Temple.  The branch temples of Senso-ji Temple had increased to over 100.  Chugo organized them into 12 branch temples for the monks who studied Buddhism, and 21 branch temples for the monks who prayed.

     It wasn't recorded when Kakuzen-in Temple was abolished, but it might have been after the Meiji Restoration.