Virtual Shinobu Chichibu 34 Kannon Pilgrimage #2 Shogan-ji Temple

 

     Shogan-ji Temple was founded by Priest Kian (?-1656) in Ishihara Village, Osato County, Musashi Province, in 1596.

     According to Azumakagami, which was a chronology compiled after 1266 under the directive of the Regent of the Kamakura Shogunate, the Ishihara Family lived in Ishihara Village, and was a magistrate of the maintenance of the water supply facilities in Musashi Province.  They had their residence where Tozen-ji Temple is located, and a fort where Shogan-ji Temple is located.

     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 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.

Some say the Seven Corps were the Yokoyama, Inomata, Kodama, Tan, Nishi, Noyo, and Murayama Corps.  Others include Tsuzuki and Kisai Corps, replacing the Noyo and Murayama Corps.

     As the Kumagai Family, the most powerful samurai family around Kumagai, belonged to the Kisai Corps, the Ishihara Family might have also belonged to the same corps.

     On August 14th, 1945, 91 Boeing B-29 bombers launched from bases in Guam.  Four aircraft were forced to abort due to mechanical issues, and the remaining 89 aircraft arrived over target at 00:23 on the 15th.  Bombing continued to 01:39.  The resultant firestorm destroyed 74 percent of Kumagaya, including Shogan-ji Temple.  The Japanese made no resistance, and all attacking aircraft returned safely.  The Emperor’s announcement confirming acceptance of the surrender of Japan was broadcast at 12:00 of the day.  266 civilians missed listening to the broadcast due to their death under the air raid.

     Tsuboi Sakae (1899-1967) published her novel Motherless Children and Childless Mother in 1951, depicting 2 boys who evacuated from Kumagai to Shodoshima Island

Address: 1 Chome-102 Hongoku, Kumagaya, Saitama 360-0815

Phone: 048-522-1812

Tozen-ji Temple

Address: 334 Ishihara, Kumagaya, Saitama 360-0816