Virtual Shinobu Chichibu 34 Kannon Pilgrimage #18 Kannon-ji Temple

 

     Kannon-ji Temple was founded at the turn of the 17th century in Yagita Village.

     Ina 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  (1542-1616) 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).

     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 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 was sent into banishment, 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 post name.  The Bizen Flume, which runs through Yagita, was built from 1604 to 1605.  Kannon-ji Temple was founded almost simultaneously.  It suggests the development of Yagita Village largely depended on the water from the flume.

     Today, water is taken from the Tone River at San'odo of Honjo City, flows into Fukaya City and Kumagaya City, joins the Fuku River, and flows into the Tone River.  At the time of its construction, there were no accurate maps, so he walked and surveyed the area where the waterway was to be excavated.  At night, he used lanterns to measure the difference in altitude.  They dug with plows and hoes, and transported the soil with rope baskets.

     Tadatsugu 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 after him.  How could he be so multi-talented?

     Kannon-ji Temple is known for its beautiful lotus flowers.  A lotus grows up from mud, but it doesn't adjust or adapt itself to mud.  Tadatugu might have groveled in mud, but didn't adjust or adapt himself to mud.  He absorbed the nutrients from mud.

Address: 198 Yagita, Kumagaya, Saitama 360-0233

Phone: 048-588-1206