Virtual Shonai 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #14 Jokei-ji Temple

Virtual Shonai 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #14 Jokei-ji Temple

     Jokei-ji Temple was founded in Amarume Manor in 1416 by Anpo Taro.

     Who were the Ampo Family first of all?

     Anpo Tadazane is said to have started the Anpo Family, based in the Amarume area, which was located between Sakata Port and  Oizumi Manor, and most of which used to be the wild before the Tokugawa Period (1603-1867).  He was a vassal of Ko Moronao (?-1351), a butler of Ashikaga Takauji (1305-1358), the first Shogun of the Ashikaga Shogunate.  The Anpo Family was a member of the Tan Corps, one of the seven Musashi Corps.  For generations, they served for the Minamoto Clan, Hojo Clan, and Ashikaga Clan, achieving military success, and their fiefs were scattered throughout Japan.  Tadazane was the second son of Mitsuyasu, who was the 15th head of the family and who was based in Moto-Abo, Kami County, Musashi Province (present-day Kamikawa-cho, Kodama District, Saitama Prefecture), and who was subject to Moronao.  After the Battle of Shijo Kawara in 1335, Tadazane was given a letter of citation and a sword by Moronao.

     In 1340, Tadazane inherited the Amarume area from Mitsuyasu, but he lived near Shijo- Higashitoin in Kyoto.  Perhaps under the influence of Moronao, he became "basara."  He was even featured in the Basara-e Picture.

     According to the will left by Mitsuyasu, which is dated January 24th, 1340, he distributed his territories to his three sons.  The Amarube territory was also divided into three parts: Amarube Village and Sawada Village were given to the oldest son, Yasunori; Asamaru, Ato, and Fukuro Villages were allocated to his second son, Naozane; and Funakoshi and Sasazaki Villages were allocated to the third son, Mitsutsune.  Due to the death of Mitsutsune in battle, the allocation was revised on August 22nd in the same year.  Naozane Abo was given Asamaru and Bukuro Villages and the third son, Hikogoro, was given Funakoshi and Sasazaki Villages.  All of these names are place names within present-day Amarume Town, and the Anpo Family's territory was the area to the west of Amabe Manor.

     The Anpo Family always stood on the side of the Northern Court, and, in 1350, fought against Kitabatake Akinobu at Tachiyizawa (Shonai, Higashitagawa District, Yamagata 999-6609).  The armies of the Anpo and Yuki Families surrounded Tachiyazawa Fortress, where Akinobu was based in Dewa Province, and defeated those of Akinobu and Prince Morinaga, who were forced to move to Fujishima Fortress.

     The family's consistent political position suggests that not only Oizumi Manor but Amabe Manor was owned by the Jimyoin bloodline and that the family was the local steward of the manor for generations.

     Who were the Jimyoin bloodline?

      Fujiwara Motoyori (1040-1122) established a Buddhist temple in his mansion and named it Jimyoin.  The mansion came to be called Jimyoin mansion, and Motoyori's descendants came to be called the Jimyoin Family.  The mansion was inherited by Emperor Fushimi (1265-1317) through Emperor Go-Horikawa (1212-1234), whose maternal relatives were the members of the Jimyoin Family.  Fushimi's descendants lived in the Jimyoin mansion.  This is the origin of the name the Jimyoin bloodline.

     Before his death, Emperor Go-Shirakawa (1127-1192) handed over his manors to his sixth princess, Princess Kinshi (1181-1252).  In 1251, the princess made Emperor Go-Saga (1220-1272) promise to take over Go-Shirakawa's memorial service in return for transferring the manors to Emperor Go-Fukakusa (1243-1304), Go-Saga's son.  Go-Fukakusa transferred the manors to his son, Emperor Fushimi (1265-1317), who transferred them to Emperor Go-Fushimi (1288-1336).  Then, there came the Southern and Northern Courts Period (1336-1392).  The Jimyo blood line provided the emperors of the Northern Courts.

     In 1398, the Anpo Family founded Amarume-Hachiman Shrine as the guardian shrine in their residence.

     The family tried to invite Priest Monpon (?-1417) from Soji-ji Temple in Noto Province, but he declined for his old age.  Instead, Monpon sent Priest Keigaku (1345-1413) with the calligraphy written by Monpon and dated 1416, which is still kept in the temple as a treasure.

     As there is a letter written by Asakura Yoshikage (1533-1573), the 11th and last head of the Asakura Clan, who ruled Echizen Province, requesting the Irobe Family in Echigo Province, who was in the middle of the trading route, to facilitate the purchase of horses from the Daihoji Family, it is clear Oizumi Manor provided horses or, at least, collected horses.  Judging from its vegetation, the Amarume area also provided horses.

There, but for the salvation of Buddha,

Go we, and we wish

The blessings on the ages to come.

     The Anpo Family survived in the Amarume area for 16 generations till they were destroyed by Daihoji Yoshiuji (1551-1583), who was based in Oizumi Manor, in 1571 at the end of the Warring States Period.

Address: Tate-27 Amarume, Shonai, Higashitagawa District, Yamagata 999-7781

Phone: 0234-42-3410

Fujishima Fortress Ruins

Address: Furutateato, Fujishima, Tsuruoka, Yamagata 999-7601

Phone: 0235-57-4868