Virtual Tama Aqueduct Bando 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #28 Shingan-ji Temple

 

     Shingan-ji Temple was founded in Kitazawa Village, Ebara County, Musashi Province, in 1608 by Priest Sonko (?-1655), supported by the Late Yuki Hideyasu (1574-1607).

     Hideyasu was born as the second son of Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543-1616), by Oman, a handmaiden to Lady Tsukiyama, Ieyasu’s lawful wife.  When Oman became pregnant, Ieyasu feared his wife's wrath, and sheltered Oman in the home of his retainer Honda Shigetsugu (1529-1596).  Oman is said to have given birth to twins, which was believed to be ominous and sinister at the time.  It was not until age three that Hideyasu met Ieyasu.

     Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582) demanded the death of Ieyasu’s first son, Nobuyasu (1559-1579.  After Nobuyasu’s suicide, it was, however, Ieyasu’s third son, Hidetada (1579-1632), who became the heir of the Tokugawa Family’s headship.  Hideyasu, instead, was given in adoption (in reality as a hostage) to the childless Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536-1598) in 1584.  In 1589, a natural son was born to Hideyoshi, and Hideyoshi began to give his adopted sons in adoption to other warlords to avoid a potential conflict over the succession. Hideyasu was given in adoption in 1590 to Yuki Harutomo (1534-1614) of Shimousa Province.  After Ieyasu defeated the Toyotomi Clan in 1600, Hideyasu was given all of Echizen Province as his fief.  In 1604, he was allowed to take the surname Matsudaira.

     Hideyasu died, possibly from syphilis in 1607, at the age of 34.  He was cremated in Koken-ji Temple in Echizen Province, which belonged to Chan Buddhism, in which the Yuki Family had faith, but he had had a wish to build a Pure-Land-Buddhism temple and entomb some of his cremated bones there.  The Tokugawa Family believed in Pure Land Buddhism.  Accordingly, Unsho-ji Temple was founded in Echizen Province, and Shingan-ji Temple was founded near Edo.  Hideyasu might have wanted to die as a member of the Tokugawa Family.

     In the 15th and 16th centuries, the Kitazawa River Valley was developed, and Kitazawa Village was formed.

Address: 3 Chome-27-1 Daizawa, Setagaya City, Tokyo 155-0032

Phone: 03-3421-1730