Virtual Adachi Bando 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #8 Shobo-in Temple

 

     Shobo-in Temple was founded by Priest Enshun in 1455, supported by Hatogai Saburo.  On December 27th, 1454, Ashikaga Shigeuji (1438-1497), the 5th Kanto Deputy Shogun, assassinated Uesugi Noritada (1433-1454), the Regent of the Kanto Deputy Shogunate and the 9th head of the Yamanouchi-Uesugi Family, in Kamakura.  That was the start of the Kyotoku War, which lasted for 28 years from 1454 to 1482.  Presumably, Saburo was afraid of the coming of a turbulent period.

     In ancient times, there used to be the Musashi Seven Corps. The most part of Musashi Province was plateaus deeply covered with volcanic-ash soil, which was suitable for stock farming, not for rice growing. In ancient times, many of the naturalized Silla people then were sent to Musashi Province, and engaged in the stock farming. That stimulated local people there, and many stock farms were set up, including 6 imperial stock farms. The custodians of those farms later formed small-scale would-be-samurai families. By marriage, those would-be-samurai families composed 7 corps on the Musashi Plateaus. The Noyo Corps was one of the 7.  The Kayama Family was a branch of the corps and was based in Kayama Village, Adachi County, Musashi Province.  The family, however, disappeared in the upheaval of the Southern and Northern Courts Period (1336-1392).  The Hatogai Family moved in from Hatogaya.  In 1381, , Hatogai Yoshikage built a fortress in the village.

In 1570, Kumano Shrine in the precincts of Shobo-ji Temple was either rebuilt or built.  Nabe, a daughter of the then head of the Hatogai Family supported the rebuilding or building.  In Japanese history, 2442 to 3078 Kumano Shrines were invited nationwide.

     Narita Ujinaga (1542-1596), whose family name means Developed Rice Fields, and who was subject to the Later Hojo Clan, ruled the surrounding area, and his vassal, the Kamoda Family, lived in the fortress.  As there was no direct vassal of the Narita Family whose family name was Kamoda, a local samurai might have overpowered the Hatogai Family.  The Later Hojo Clan was destroyed in 1590, and Naito Masanari (1528-1602) moved in, following Tokugawa Ieyasu (1542-1616), who moved to the Kanto Region.  When Mamiya Kotonobu (1777-1841) compiled the New Topography and Chronology of Musashi Province in 1830, Sajiemon was the head of the Kamoda Family, who had become farmers after 1590.  The offspring of the Kamoda Family still live in Kamikayama and Shimokayama.  Kayama means Thatch Room, Hatogai means Dove Well, and Kamoda means Duck Field.  They all sound very rural.  It might have been difficult for any rural family to survive a period of social upheaval.  We, however, don't have to worry about consistency of bloodline, do we?  We are all offspring of Lucy.

Address: 2767 Shobucho Kamikayama, Kuki, Saitama 346-0114

Phone: 0480-85-0494

Hatogaya Hikawa Shrine

Address: 1 Chome-6-2 Hatogayahoncho, Kawaguchi, Saitama 334-0002

Phone: 048-284-3838