Virtual Adachi Bando 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #11 Kannon-ji Temple

 

     Kannon-ji Temple was founded by Kato Yoshifuji in Nakamaru Village, Adachi County, Musashi Province, sometime between 1592 and 1595.  It means its foundation was after the collapse of the Later Hojo Clan in 1590.  Presumably, the Kato Family became farmers and Yoshifuji founded a temple, despairing of life and feeling empty.  His offspring still live in Nakamaru, maintaining the #11 deity of the Adachi Bando 33 Kannon Pilgrimage, although the temple has been abolished.  Individual glory might be fleeting, but inheriting life isn't so fragile.

     The Oike Family lived in Oike Village, Hidaka County, Kii Province.  When Ise Shinkuro (1432-1519) came from Kyoto to Suruga Province in 1469 to make a warring-state-period hero, a member of the Oike Family followed him.  In the 1540's, Hojo Ujiyasu (1515-1571) invaded the north-eastern area of Musashi Province.  In 1551, Ujiyasu ordered Oike Hisamune to advance to the area as a farmer-soldier.  Hisamune developed the Konosu area, built the Konosu Fortress, and became the lord of the area and the fortress. In 1558, Ujiyasu deployed 30000-strong forces and destroyed the Uesugi Clan.  Hisamune might have been one of the 30000 samurai.  One of Hisamune's sons, Muneyasu, was adopted by the Kato Family in Nakamaru.  The Oike Family steadily expanded their power.  However, an earth-shaking incident for the family happened in 1590.  The Later Hojo Clan was destroyed by Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536-1598), and Tokugawa Ieyasu (1542-1616) moved into the Kanto Region.  The Oike Family became farmers.  In 1593, Oike Hayatonosuke was ordered by Ina Tadatsugu (1550-1610) to rebuild the fortress into a residence and to entertain Ieyasu with falconry.

     Tadatsugu (1550-1610) was born to Tadaie (1528-1607), the lord of Ojima Castle, Hazu County, Mikawa Province.  In 1563, Tadaie took part in the revolt organized by the True Pure Land Buddhism and fought against Tokugawa Ieyasu in the Battle of Azukizaka in 1564.  The revolt was defeated, and Tadaie left Ieyasu with his family.  In 1575, when Ieyasu fought the Battle of Nagashino with Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582) against Takeda Katsuyori (1546-1582), Tadaie and Tadatsugu rushed to help Ieyasu in the decisive battle.  After the battle they worked and fought for Ieyasu's son, Nobuyasu (1559-1579).  However, Nobunaga suspected Nobuyasu of having secret communication with Katsuyori, and forced Nobuyasu to commit suicide by the sword on September, 15th, 1579.  Tadaie and Tadatsugu left Mikawa Province and lived in Sakai, Izumi Province, counting on Tadaie's elder brother, Sadakichi, who had left Mikawa Province soon after the Battle of Azukizaka and who had quitted being a samurai.

     Nobunaga, however, was killed in Honno-ji Temple by his vassal, Akechi Mitsuhide (1516-1582), on June 2nd, 1582, unluckily for Ieyasu, who was going sightseeing in Sakai and who ran about in confusion trying to get away from Sakai to Mikawa Province.  Tadatsugu helped Ieyasu escape through Yamato, Iga, and Ise Provinces to Mikawa Province, crossing the Ise Bay, instead of directly sailing back to Mikawa, which had a possibility of being attacked by pirates off Kumano.

     After they returned to Mikawa Province, Tadaie worked and fought for Nobunaga's second son, Nobukatsu (1558-1630), and Tadatsugu for Ieyasu.  After Nobukatsu fell, Tadaie depended on Tadatsugu.  Tadatsugu, in wartime, operated sending military provisions and maintaining their routes for large armies.  After Ieyasu moved to the Kanto Region in 1590, Tadatsugu managed river improvements, farm development, and land surveys.  The river improvements included changing the waterways of the Old Tone and Ara Rivers.  The Bizen Flumes and Bizen Levees in the Kanto Region were named after his posthumous Buddhist name.  He also taught farmers how to grow mulberry trees, hemp, and paper mulberries, and encouraged them in charcoal making, silk producing, and salt manufacturing.  Ina in Adachi County, Musashi Province, was named so after him.

     Was Tadatsugu more capable than Yoshifuji, or just luckier than Yoshifuji?  Today, Yoshifuji's grave stands side by side with that of his father in the precincts of An'yo-in Temple in Nakamaru.  An'yo-in Temple was founded by Hisamune's wife, who was from the Kato Family.  After the collapse of the Later Hojo Clan, Hisamune might have depended on Yoshifuji.  Both Tadatsugu and Yoshifuji took good care of their fathers.

Address: 10 Chome-520 Nakamaru Kitamoto, Saitama 364-0013

An'yo-in Temple

Address: 8 Chome−8−20 Nakamaru, Kitamoto, Saitama 364-0013

Phone: 048-591-5366