Virtual Musashino 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #27 Shoon-ji Temple

 

     It is unknown when Shoon-ji Temple was founded in Kurihara Village, Koma County, Musashi Province, by Priest Soka (?-1396), who was supported by his father, Uesugi Norimasa (?-1366).  According to the family tree, Soka was the only son of Norimasa.  Why didn't he become a samurai?

     Norimasa was born to Noriaki (1306-1368) as his first son.  In 1342, Uesugi Kiyoko (1270-1342) died.  She was the mother of Ashikaga Takauji (1305-1358), the first Shogun of the Ashikaga Shogunate.  Noriaki was busy fighting against the Southern Court in Echigo Province as the Guardian Samurai of the province.  Norimasa took part in her funeral as the agent of his father.

     When the Kanno Disturbance or Kanno Incident, which was a civil war developed from conflicts between Ashikaga Takauji (1305-1358), the first Shogun of the Ashikaga Shogunate, and his brother, Tadayoshi (1306-1352), broke out in 1350, Norimasa and his father, Noriaki, fought for Tadayoshi, who went over from the Northern Court to the Southern Court to gain momentum.  Norimasa, accordingly, fought against the Northern Court Army in Echigo Province in the year.  Next year, he moved to Kai Province to attack Ko Morofuyu (?-1351), a vassal of Takauji.  Norimasa cornered Morofuyu in Susawa Fortress, where Morofuyu killed himself on January 17th.

      November the 30th, 1351, the battle between Takauji and Tadayoshi broke out around the Satta Pass in Suruga Province at the dawn of the Muromachi Shogunate under the Ashikaga Clan,and Shigetomo took Tadayoshi’s side.  By another ill chance, on January 5th, 1352, Tadayoshi surrendered to Takauji, was confined to Jomyo-ji Temple in Kamakura, and died a sudden death on February 26th.  No matter whether Tadayoshi died of a disease or was poisoned to death as “Taiheiki” (“Chronicle of Great Peace”, a Japanese historical military epic written in the late 14th century) writes.

     After the defeat in the Battle of Satta Pass, Noriaki and Norimasa kept guerilla-like fightings.  After the death of Takauji in 1358, Hatakeyama Kunikiyo (?-1362), the Regent of the Kanto Deputy Shogunate, lost his position in 1361, and Noriaki became the Guardian Samurai of Echigo and Kozuke Provinces as well as the Regent.  Noriaki and Norimasa laid the foundation for the prosperity of the Uesugi Clan in the Kanto Region.  Norimasa, however, died in 1366.

     Soka studied under Priest Muge Myoken (?-1369), who studied in Yuan China under Zhongfeng Mingben (1263–1323).  After his father's death, Soka went to Yuan China and studied there for 10 years.  He came back to Japan in 1378.  Then, the foundation of Shoon-ji Temple must have been before Norimasa died in 1366.

     Noriaki was succeeded by his nephew, Tomofusa (1335-1391), who also became the Regent of the Kanto Deputy Shogunate.  It is unknown why Soka chose to live as a priest.

     Kuritsubo, namely Chestnut Pot, Village was named so because the area was famous for its chestnuts.  The villagers stored chestnuts in pots.

     Shoon-ji Temple is also the #30 member of the Koma 33 Kannon Pilgrimage.

Address: 184 Kuritsubo, Hidaka, Saitama 350-1245

Phone: 042-985-4589

The Site of Susawa Fortress

Address: Oarashi, Minami-Alps, Yamanashi 400-0234