Virtual Akigawa 34 Kannon Pilgrimage #23 Kaiko-in Temple

 

     Kaiko-in Temple was founded in 1448.

     Ashikaga Mochiuji (1398-1439), the Kanto Deputy Shogun in Kamakura, was forced to commit suicide by Ashikaga Yoshinori (1394-1441), the Shogun in Kyoto.  Yuki Ujitomo (1402-1441) sheltered Mochiuji’s 2 sons, Shun’o-maru and Yasuo-maru, in his castle, and rebelled against Yoshinori in 1440. On April 16th, 1441, his castle fell and he and his son were killed in the fights.  Shun’o-maru and Yasuo-maru were arrested and were to be transferred to Kyoto.  But on their way, at Tarui, Mino Province, they were killed, with their death poems left:

“Summer weeds,

Their flowers blooming in Aono Field

Who knows their future?” (Shun’o-maru)

 

“Who knows the future?

Our lives are to be limited today

Here away from home.” (Yasuo-maru)

     Their younger brother, Shigeuji (1438-1497), survived.  He became the Kanto Deputy Shogun in 1447, succeeding his late father, Mochiuji.

     The unknown founder of Kaiko-ji Temple must have witnessed all those tragedies.

     In 1476, Nagao Kageharu (1443-1514) started his rebellion against his master, Uesugi Akisada (1454-1510), who was the head of the Yamanouchi-Uesugi Family and who was the Regent of the Kanto Deputy Shogunate.  Kageharu was a pioneer of overpowering superiors in the Kanto Region.  His allies included Toshima Yasutsune, who was based in Nerima and Shakujii Castles, and Yano Hyogo, who was based in Kozukue Castle.  On the other hand, Ota Sukekiyo (1411-1488), who was based in Edo Castle, fought for the Regent and was surrounded by Yasutsune and Hyogo.  Sukekiyo gave up single-combat tactics, which were fashionable in those days, and picked up footsoldier tactics, which would be trendy in the Warring-States Period.  Sukekiyo gradually turned the tables and secured the route to Kawagoe Castle, where the Regent was based.

     On June 16th, 1478, Sukekiyo's son, Sukenaga (1432-1486) left Murayama, went upstream along Aki River, had a rest at Kaiko-in Temple, marched through Hinohara, crossed the Asama Pass, and advanced to Uenohara, Kai Province, to attack Kageharu's allied samurai.  When Sukekiyo compiled his achievement in later years, he described the invasion, "Before dawn, our troop left the Murayama camp, crossed the Kai border on the same day, the 16th, advanced to Kato's fort, and defeated them.  We set fire on Tsuruga and other villages.  Accordingly, the Kai provincial border area became quiet."

Address: 691 Itsukaichi, Akiruno, Tokyo 190-0164

Phone: 042-596-0668

The Asama Pass

Address: Yuzurihara, Uenohara, Yamanashi 409-0111