Virtrual Shinobu Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #33 Renge-in Temple

 

     Renge-in Temple was founded by Nakamura Kyuemon in the 1630's.  Kyuemon was an offspring of Nakamura Hidemitsu, who was subject to Ashikaga Masauji (1462-1531), the second Koga Kanto Deputy Shogun.  As its name, literally Mid-Village, suggests Hidemitsu wasn't a high-ranking samurai.

     Ashikaga Masauji (1462-1531) became the second Koga Kanto Deputy Shogun in 1489.  First, he cooperated with Uesugi Sadamasa (1446-1494), who was the head of the Ogigayatsu-Uesugi Family, but after Sadamasa’s death, Masauji went over to the Regent of the Kanto Deputy Shogunate, Uesugi Akisada (1454-1510), who was the head of the Yamanouchi-Uesugi Family.  In 1496, Masauji fought against Sadamasa's son, Tomoyoshi (1473-1518), in the Battle of Musashi-Kashiwara.  On November 13th, 1504, Masauji fought against Tomoyoshi again in the Battle of Tachikawanohara.  Those battles were part of the Chokyo War fought in the Kanto Region from 1487 to 1505 between the Yamanouchi-Uesugi and Ogigayatsu-Uesugi Families.  After the 2 families were reconciled in 1505, however, Masauji had to realize he had been made use of as a banner.  His first son, Takamoto (1485-1535), and his second son, Yoshiaki (?-1538), parted from him to be another Kanto Deputy Shogun.  Masauji's important and powerful vassals left him one after another.  In the 1510's, he was forced to resign.  Ironically enough, he counted on Tomoyoshi and moved to Kuki, Musashi Province, only with lesser and weak vassals.  Hidemitsu was one of them.  Masauji changed his residence into a temple and named it Kanto-in.

     Hidemitsu's offspring claimed that the Nakamura Family was the offspring of Kamata Masakiyo (1123-1160), who was loyal to Minamoto Yoshitomo (1123-1160).  Yoshitomo lost to the Taira Clan in the Heiji Rebellion on December 27th, 1160, and fled east.  3 days later, when he was assassinated in Noma, Chita County, Owari Province, Masakiyo was the only vassal who had followed Yoshitomo so far.  Masakiyo's loyalty caused the Nakamura Family to have a sense of closeness to Masakiyo, although Masakiyo had only a daughter, who became a nun. 

Address: 725 Shimohayami, Kuki, Saitama 346-0022

Phone: 0480-21-2636

Kanto-in Temple

Address: 7 Chome-2-18 Honcho, Kuki, Saitama 346-0005

Phone: 0480-23-1678