Virtual Akigawa 34 Kannon Pilgrimage #25 An'yo-ji Temple

 

     Monk Shugaku traveled through provinces for decades.  He believed in Shingon Shinto, the syncretic school that combined Shinto with the teachings of the Shingon Sect of Buddhism.  The school developed in the 12th century.

     Shungaku carried the Shinto images of Sarutahiko and Konohananosakuyahime, and a Buddhist image of Cintamanicakra, who usually has 6 arms and holds chintamani (a wish-fulfilling jewel) in one of the six.  He settled in Konakano Village, Tama County, Musashino Province, in 1504.  He founded Koyasu Shrine and enshrined the Shinto images in it.  He also founded An'yo-ji Temple and enshrined the Buddhist image in it.

     In the 1470's, Ise Shinkuro (1432-1519) came to the Kanto Region from Kyoto to become a Warring-States-Period hero.  In 1493, he invaded and unified Izu Province.  In 1495, he seized Odawara Castle in Sagami Province.  The castle became a stronghold of his family.  On September 27th, 1504, he fought against Ashikaga Masauji (1462-1531), the second Koga Kanto Deputy Shogun, and Uesugi Akisada (1454-1510), the Regent of the Kanto Deputy Shogunate.  Although Shinkuro was a part of an allied forces, he took a firm step to destroy the ancien regime in the Kanto Region.

     In the latter half of the 12th century, Komiya Michitsune officially became the ruler of Akiru Village as the first official head of the family.  When Tsuneyuki was the third head of the family, his 4 brothers were dispatched to Kyushu as manor stewards there. 

     The Komiya Family became a member of the Musashi Shirahata-ikki or the Musashi White-Flag Commonwealth.  Here, the white flag didn't mean surrender but meant their support for the Mitamoto Clan, to which the Ashikaga and Uesugi Clans belonged.  The Minamoto Clan used white flags against red flags of the Taira Clan at the end of the ancient times.  Anyway, after the collapse of Musashi Hei-ikki in 1368, Musashi Shirahata-ikki organized left-over low-ranking samurai of Musashi Heiikki.  Gradually, Musashi Shirahata-ikki was split up into 3 groups geographically at the turn of the 15th century: Joshu-ikki in Kozuke Province, North Bushu-ikki in the northern part of Musashi Province, and South Bushu-ikki in the southern part of Musashi Province, to which the Komiya Family belonged.

      It was documented that Komiya Noriaki presented a bell to Komiya Shrine in 1463.  At the beginning of the Warring States Period (1467-1568), Noriaki built Tokura Fortress on the east ridge of Mt. Usugi (Hinohara, Nishitama District, Tokyo, Tokyo 190-0200), where Aki River runs out of its gorge into a larger valley.

      How were things going for the Komiya Family in 1504?  Oishi Sadahisa (1491-1549) retired in 1546 and moved to Tokura Fortress.  It means the fortress had become under the Oishi Family, who had been based in the middle reaches of the Aki River.  If it was the Komiya Family who let Shugaku settle in Konakano Village, was the Komiya Family washed away later by the current of the Warring States Period?  If not?

     In 1889, Yozawa Village became Komiya Village, merging part of Otono Village.  The name Komiya revived after about 4 centuries.  An’yo-ji Temple, however, disappeared only with its graveyard left.

Koyasu Shrine

Address: 187 Akiruno, Tokyo 190-0165