Virtual Sayama 33 Kannon Pilgrimag #4 Shochi-an Temple

 

     Shochi-an Temple was founded by Priest Hakuei (?-1757) presumably as his retreat.  After his death, in 1760 precisely, Shoko-ji Temple came to administer it.

     As its precincts have 3 old itabi which date between 1334 and 1336, and between 1469 and 1487, the precincts must have been a holy place at least since the 14th century.

     The older itabi was built in disorder after the collapse of the Kamakura Shogunate in 1333.  In 1336, the Kenmu War was fought between the Imperial Court led by Emperor Go-Daigo (1288-1339) and the Ashikaga Clan led by Ashikaga Takauji (1305-1358)

     The newer itabi was built when the Kyotoku War was in its second half.

     The Kyotoku War lasted for 28 years from 1454 to 1482.  During the war, Ashikaga Shigeuji (1438-1497), the Kanto Deputy Shogun in Kamakura, relinquished Kamakura and moved to Koga in 1457.  In 1458, the Muromachi Shogunate sent out another deputy shogun, Ashikaga Masatomo (1435-1491), from Kyoto for Kamakura, but he couldn’t enter Kamakura and stayed in Horikoshi, Izu Province.  From then on, there were Koga Kanto Deputy Shogun and Horikoshi Kanto Deputy Shogun in the Kanto Region.  On October 14, 1459, the 2 camps had a big battle in Ota Manor, Musashi Province. That was the start of the Warring States Period in the region.

     The local samurai in Yamaguchi Village were involved in those wars.

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