Virtual Bando 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #11 Anraku-ji Temple

 

     Sokusho-in Temple was founded sometime between 729 and 749.  Sakanoue Tamuramaro (758-811) prayed for victory in his invasion of the North-Eastern Region.  Yoshimi Yoritsuna, who was subject to Minamoto Yoritomo (1147-1199), built a Kannon-do Hall in the precincts of the temple.  At the turn of the 15th century, Priest Ryokei moved Sokusho-in Temple to its present place with the Kannon-do-Hall left behind.  Anraku-ji Temple was founded in its present place to take care of the hall.

     The temple burned down when the Later Hojo Clan attacked the Uesugi Clan in 1537.

When Uesugi Tomooki (1488-1537), the head of the Ogigayatsu-Uesugi Family, died, Uesugi Tomosada (1525-1546), who was 13 years old, became the head of the family.  Hojo Ujitsuna (1487-1541), who had been planning to advance into the central part of Musashi Province, took advantage of this opportunity and departed from Odawara Castle with a force more than 7,000 strong and succeeded in capturing Kawagoe Castle.  On the other hand, Tomosada, who was unable to fulfill his father Tomooki's will to defend Kawagoe Castle to the death, retreated to Matsuyama Castle, the stronghold of his senior vassal Nambata Norishige, and reorganized his army.  As a result of the brave fighting of Nambata and others, they succeeded in repelling the Hojo army.

     It is said that the following tanka poems were exchanged between Norishige, who was about to return to the castle after striking out from the castle gate to drive off the Hojo army, and Yamanaka Shuzen, who was subject to Ujitsuna.

Shuzen:

No good! Fight for good.

Why on earth does Nambata collapse?

Nambata:

My heart is with my lord in the castle.

Even waves go over into the castle.

 

Address: 374 Gosho, Yoshimi, Hiki District, Saitama 355-0151

Phone: 0493-54-2898

Sokusho-in Temple

Address: 146-1 Gosho, Yoshimi, Hiki District, Saitama 355-0151