Virtual Akigawa 34 Kannon Pilgrimage #21 Daihigan-ji Temple

 

     Daihigan-ji Temple was founded in 1191 by Hirayama Sueshige (1140-1212), who invited Priest Choshu, with Minamoto Yoritomo (1147-1199) as a dana-pati.

     The 4th priest, Chohen, revived the temple, supported by Ashikaga Motouji (1340-1367), the first Kanto Deputy Shogun, and his son, Ujimitsu (1359-1398), the second Kanto Deputy Shogun.  The Ashikaga Family prided themselves on being legitimate successors of Yoritomo, the commander in chief of the samurai clans and families.

     Hirayama Sueshige (1140-1212) fought for Minamoto Yoshitomo (1123-1160) in the Hogen War in 1156, and in the Heiji War in 1159.  Yoshitomo was defeated and killed by the Taira Clan.  Then, he followed the Taira Clan and lived a peaceful life as a local samurai.  However, when Yoshitomo's son, Yoritomo (1147-1199), who had been exiled to Izu Province, raised an army in 1180, Sueshige fought for Yoritomo.  When Yoritomo dispatched his younger brother, Yoshitsune (1159-1189), to Kyoto to hunt down the Taira Clan, Sueshige followed Yoshitsune and achieved outstanding military service in 1184 and 1185.

     After the war, Sueshige was given a government post by the Cloistered Emperor Goshirakawa (1127-1192) without permission of Yoritomo, who got angry.  Yoritomo criticized Sueshige along with other samurai who were appointed without Yoritomo’s permission, saying, “Hirayama Sueshige has a fluffy face and got an outrageous appointment.”  In spite of giving up his government post, he was appointed by Yoritomo as the steward of Harada Manor, Mikasa County, Chikuzen Province.

     In 1189, Sueshige participated in the Battle of Mutsu with his son, Shigemura.  Sueshige did a distinguished war service there and became a senior statesman of the Kamakura Shogunate.

     In 1366, Hirayama Ujishige copied the Large Prajnaparamita Sutras and presented them to Daihigan-ji Temple.

Address: 134 Yokosawa, Akiruno, Tokyo 190-0141

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