Virtual Western Edo 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #32 Sensho-ji Temple

 

     At the end of the Warring-States Period, Tsutsui Junkei (1549-1584) was trying to put Yamato Province under his rule.  He, however, had a narrow view of national politics.  In the 1560’s, Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582) was already trying to unify the whole country.  Junkei became subject to Nobunaga through the good offices of Akechi Mitsuhide (1516-1582) on October 25th.  On March 23rd, 1574, Junkei handed his mother into Nobunaga as hostage.  On February 27th, 1575, Junkei was given Nobunaga’s daughter to strengthen their alliance.  On May 22nd, Nobunaga approved Junkei’s rule over Yamato Province with Mitsuhide as a messenger.   On May 22nd, 1576, his mother came back to Junkei.  Junkei’s niece, Asahi (?-1663), seemed to be given to Nobunaga as a concubine on either occasion.

     Mitsuhide assasinated Nobunaga on June 2nd, 1582, but was defeated by Toyotomi Hideyashi (1536-1598) soon.  The relationship between Mitsuhide delayed Junkei’s support to Hideyoshi, which led the Tsutsui Clan extinct as a warlord.  Tsusui Junsai (1551-1610), who was an adopted son of Junkei, however, became a vassal of Tokugawa Ieyasu (1542-1616).  Asahi was supported by Junsai, and moved to Edo. 

     Asahi lived in Shibuya with her Buddhist name Seishin.  One day, she passed by the woods and noticed something sparkled like dew in the morning sun.  She found an Avalokitesvara statue in a grove, and brought it back.  Priest Denkaku changed her hermitage into a temple and named it Sensho-ji.

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