Virtual Bando 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #15 Chokoku-ji Temple

 

     It is unknown when Chokoku-ji Temple was founded.  Some say its foundation dates back to the 8th century.  Both Chokoku-ji and Hase-dera utilizes the same Chinese-character notation, and we have more than 240 Chokoku-ji or Hase-dera Temples in Japan, and all of them enshrine Eleven-Faced Ekadasamukha, and might have something to do with Hase-dera Temple in Nara Prefecture.  Anyway, Chokoku-ji Temple in Kozuke Province was burned down when Takeda Harunobu (1521-1573) seized Minowa Castle in 1566.

     Gunma County and its surrounding area was ruled by the Nagano Family, who were based in Minowa Castle, which was built in 1512 with Harunashira River in the west and Lake Haruna in the south as natural moats.  Nagano Narimasa (1491-1561) claimed they were descendants of Arihara Narihira (825-880), who was believed to be a main character of the Tale of Ise. As the main character visited the Eastern Provinces, Narihira was believed to have visited the Eastern Provinces. In reality, the Nagano Family was a powerful local family who actually ruled the western half of Kozuke Province. When Narimasa died, he left his last words to his son, Ujinari (1544-1566), the last head of the family:

After my death, just make a small grave like a milestone. Hold no Buddhist memorial service for me. Just offer as many heads of our enemies to my grave. If your luck runs out, gracefully die in battle. That will be the best devotion and dedication to me. Nothing will be better than that.

     When Ujinari lost to Takeda Harunobu (1521-1573) on September 29th, 1566, he committed suicide in front of Narimasa's Buddhist memorial tablet in the Buddhist Hall in the castle, with his death poem left:

In the mountains of Minowa,

All the flowers were blown off,

Only with their names left.

Address: 448 Shiroiwamachi, Takasaki, Gunma 370-3332

Phone: 027-343-0349