Virtual Hiki Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #33 Sukaya-do Temple

 

     The original hermitage of Sukaya-do Temple was founded by Lady Wakasa in Sukayatsu, Hiki County, Musashi Province.

     Lady Wakasa was a daughter of Hiki Yoshikazu (?-1203), who was one of 13 powerful samurai at the beginning of the Kamakura Shogunate (1185-1333).

     Hiki County was established in Musashi Province in the 7th century.  A local powerful family in the county came to be called Hiki.  Hiki Yorshitaka is said to have been the founder of the family, but it is unknown when he lived, or whether he really existed.  They became samurai in the 11th century.

     When Mr. and Mrs. Hiki Tomune had their first girl baby, Minamoto Yoritomo (1147-1199) was born.  Mrs. Hiki became Yoritomo's wet nurse.  When Yoritomo's father, Yoshitomo (1123-1160), was defeated by the Taira Clan in the Heiji Rebellion, Yoritomo was exiled to Izu Province.  Mr. and Mrs. Hiki returned to their homeland, Hiki County, Musashi Province.  Since then, Mrs. Hiki kept sending allowances for 20 years till 1180, when Yoritomo raised an army against the Taira Clan.  Although Mr. Hiki was already dead, Mrs. Hiki, Nun Hiki at the time, persuaded the Hiki Family to join Yoritomo's army.  Yoritomo established the Kamakura Shogunate.

     Yoshikazu's daughter, Lady Wakasa (?-1203), became the wife of the 2nd Shogun, Minamoto Yoriie (1182-1204).  In 1198, she gave birth to Yoriie's first son, Ichiman (1198-1203).  Following this, the Hiki Family wielded considerable political power through their relation to the ruling Minamoto Clan.    After Yoritomo's death, his vassals started their own power games.  The Hiki Family's growing power was faced with opposition, and the family ultimately came into conflict with Hojo Tokimasa (1138-1215), whose daughter was the wife of Yoritomo and the mother of Yoriie.  When Yoriie fell ill in 1203, the power struggle between Yoshikazu and Tokimasa became serious.  Yoshikazu recommended Ichiman while Tokimasa recommended Yoriie's younger brother, Sanetomo (1192-1219), claiming Ichiman to be too young. On October 8th in the year, Tokimasa invited Yoshikazu over for peace talks, but had him assassinated.  Tokimasa massacred the Hiki Family on the same day in a well-prepared manner.

     Wakasa and Ichiman narrowly escaped but Ichiman was killed on November 3rd.  According to local tradition, Wakasa lived a secluded life in Umegayatsu.  She felt pain as if she were coiled around by a snake.  She had an Avalokitesvara image carved, and enshrined it in Sukayatsu.  She founded Jusho-ji Temple after Yoriie's posthumous Buddhist name in Umegayatsu.

     Morikawa Ujitoshi (1545-1598) became the lord of the area, renamed Jusho-ji Sogo-ji after his own Buddhist name, and moved it to its present place.  Later, the Avalokitesvara image in Sukayatsu was moved to Sogo-ji Temple.

Address: 553 Oya, Higashimatsuyama, Saitama 355-0008

Sogo-ji Temple

Address: 400 Oya, Higashimatsuyama, Saitama 355-0008

Phone: 0493-39-0617