Virtual Musashino 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #29 Chonen-ji Temple

 

     Chonen-ji Temple was founded in Shirako Village, Koma County, Musashi Province, supposedly in the 13th century since its precincts have an old itabi dated 1299.

     The Northern and Southern Courts Period lasted from 1337 to 1392.  The Northern Court was led by the Ashikaga Clan.  However, on November 30th, 1351, the battle between Ashikaga Takauji (1305-1358) and his younger brother, Tadayoshi (1306-1352), broke out around the Satta Pass in Suruga Province.  On January 5th, 1352, Tadayoshi surrendered to Takauji, was confined to Jomyo-ji Temple in Kamakura, and died suddenly on February 26th.  It is unknown whether Tadayoshi died of a disease or was poisoned as “Taiheiki” (“Chronicle of Great Peace”, a Japanese historical military epic written in the late 14th century) writes.

     The Southern Court took full advantage of the breakup of the Ashikaga Clan, and occupied Kamakura on Leap February 15th.  A series of battles were fought in Musashi and Sagami Provinces, and finally Takauji regained Kamakura on March 12th.

     In July 1353, Takauji returned to Kyoto and left Kamakura to Ashikaga Motouji (1340-1367), the first Kanto Deputy Shogun.  Motouji pitched camp along the Iruma River, a strategic line to defend Kamakura.  He had to stay there for 9 years to fight against the Southern Court.  As the Iruma River ran near Koma County, the county became under the direct control of the Kanto Deputy Shogunate, and Chonen-ji Temple became a focal temple in the area.

     Generation by generation, the Kanto Deputy Shogunate declined, so Chonen-ji Temple was forgotten.

     It was Oishi Sadahisa (1491-1549) who revived Chonen-ji Temple.  He was the lord of Takiyama Fortress.  Sadahisa ordered Shirako Village to pay an annual land tax to Chonen-ji Temple on July 1st, 1543.  3 years later, he was forced to adopt Hojo Ujiteru (1542-1590), marrying his daughter, Hisa (?-1590), to Ujiteru.  The Oishi Family was practically swallowed by the Later Hojo Clan.  On January 13th, 1566, Ujiteru exempted Chonen-ji Temple from annual land taxes.  On March 3rd, 1579, Matsuda Naohide (?-1614) gave what small portion of the Oishi Family he had gotten to his vassal, Yamaguchi Shigeaki.  Norihide seems to have gotten small portions of the territories the Later Hojo Clan occupied.  As Shigeaki's offspring offered his 75-centimeter-long sword to Takehata-Yokote Shrine, he might have also been interested in ruling Yokote Village.  Hisa was said to have killed herself when Hachioji Castle fell in 1590.

     In 1598, Priest Genitsu (?-1603) revived the temple, converting it to the Soto Chan School.

     Some argue the place name Shirako comes from Silla.

There used to be the Three Kingdoms Period in the Korean Peninsula from the 1st century BC till the 7th century.  The Three Kingdoms consisted of Goguryeo, Silla, and Baekje.

     According to Nihon Shoki (the Chronicle of Japan), in 601, a Silla spy was caught and sent to Kozuke Province.  In 666, more than 2,000 Baekje people were transferred to the Eastern Provinces.  In 684, 23 Baekje men and women were transferred to Musashi Province.  In 687, 56 Goguryeo people were transferred to Hitachi Province.  14 Silla people were transferred to Shimotsuke Province, and 22 were transferred to Musashi Province.  In 689, Silla people were transferred to Shimotsuke Province.  In 690, 12 Silla people were transferred to Musashi Province, and some others were transferred to Shimotsuke Province.  In 716, 1799 Goguryeo people, who had lived in Suruga, Sagami, Kai, Kazusa, Shimousa, Hitachi and Shimotsuke Provinces, were transferred to Musashi Province, and Goguryeo County was set up there.  In 758, 32 priests, 2 nuns, 19 men and 21 women, who were all from Silla, were transferred to Musashi Province, and Silla County was set up.  In 760,naturalized 131 Silla people were transferred to Musashi Province.

Chonen-ji Temple is also the #27 member of the Koma 33 Kannon Pilgrimage.

Address: 260 Shirako, Hanno, Saitama 357-0205

Phone: 042-978-2062

Takehata-Yokote Shrine

Address: 509 Yokote, Hidaka, Saitama 350-1257

Phone: 042-982-3139