Virtual Hiki Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #22 Kochozen-ji Temple

 

     Archaeologically speaking, Fukugon-ji Temple was founded at the beginning of the 7th century in Haneo Village, Hiki County, Musashi Province.

     In the 1560's, Takeda Harunobu (1521-1573) in Kai Province invaded the Kanto Region to solve the domestic starvation.  In September, 1569, for example, the Takeda army invaded Musashi Province.  The Takeda Clan, who actively attempted to advance into the Kanto Region, mainly used the Usui Pass between Shinano and Kozuke Provinces, but their troops also used Karisaka Pass between Kai Province and Chichibu County.  To counter the Takeda army, Hojo Ujikuni (1548-1597) held Hachigata Fortress and Hojo Ujiteru (1542-1590) held Takiyama Fortress.  The Takeda army neglected the 2 fortresses and continued southwards, and besieged Odawara Castle on October 1st.  Hojo Ujiyasu (1515-1571) firmly held the castle.  The Takeda army besieged the castle just four days, they set fire to the castle town, and withdrew.  The Takeda army's strategic purpose of the invasion became clear after 3 years.  On October 3rd, 1572, Harunobu departed from Kai Province in response to the call of the Shogun, Ashikaga Yoshiaki (1537-1597), to subjugate Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582), who had militarily supported Yoshiaki and even sent him back to Kyoto.

     Anyway, the Takeda army burned down Fukugon-ji Temple on their way to Odawara Castle.

     Priest Hoi (?-1585) revived the temple.  Kato Masatsugu (1549-1613) became the lord of Hiki County after Tokugawa Ieyasu (1542-1616) moved to the Kanto Region in 1590, and supported the temple.  It is unknown whether the temple was renamed Kochozen-ji on the occasion of its revival or when Masatsugu renamed it.

     Who was Masatsugu?

     At first, Takemoto Masatsugu served Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582).  As his uncle Kato Toshimasa served Tokugawa Ieyasu  (1542-1616), Masatsugu changed his lords in 1568, relying on Masatsugu's connections and changed his surname to Kato too.  In the Battle of Anegawa in 1570, he made a distinguished military achievement by defeating enemy samurai who had hidden themselves among the Tokugawa army.  In 1573, when his cousin Kato Masanobu died in the Battle of Mikatagahara, he married Masanobu's sister and became the head of the Kato Family.  After that, he fought in the Battle of Nagashino, the Battle of Komaki and Nagakute, and the siege of Odawara Castle.  In 1590, when Ieyasu moved to the Kanto Region, Masatsugu was awarded Hiki County in Musashi Province and Boda County in Kazusa Province.  In 1600, he served as a messenger in the War of Sekigahara.  After the war, he worked as the guard of Kyoto under Okudaira Nobumasa (1555-1615), who had married Ieyasu's eldest daughter, Kame (1560-1625).  In the following year, Masanobu was dismissed from his post and placed under house arrest.  He was pardoned by 1603, and accompanied Ieyasu to Kyoto in the same year.

Address: 4717 Haneo, Namegawa, Hiki District, Saitama 355-0811

Phone: 0493-56-2107