Virtual Kesen 33 Kannon Pigrimage #14 Manzo-ji Temple

 

     Asonuma Shigenori was based in Setamai Fortress.  He built a hermitage as his retirement and named it Manzo-an.

     Heyako Aritsuna (?-1186) had at least 11 sons and a daughter.  His 4th son, Hirotsuna, fought for Minamoto Yoritomo (1147-1199).  Hirotsuna was based in Asanuma Village, Aso County, Shimotsuke Province, and called his family Asonuma.  When Yoritomo destroyed the North Fujiwara Clan in Mutsu Province in 1189, Aritsuna contributed to Yoritomo's triumph and was given Tono Village, Hei County, Mutsu Province.  Aritsuna's second son, Chikatsuna, succceeded the village.  Although Chikatsuna lived in Kamakura, his offspring moved to Tono Village.  Later, a branch of the Asonuma Family advanced to Setamai Village, Kesen County, Mutsu Province.

     At the end of the Warring States Period, Asonuma Hironaga of Tono married a daughter of the Asonuma Family of Setamai.  While Hironaga was fighting for Nanbu Toshinao (1576-1632) against Uesugi Kagekatsu (1556-1623) in 1590, Hironaga was betrayed by his relatives.  Tono was robbed by them and his wife and children were killed.  He escaped to Setamai, counting on his wife's family.  His betrayers were killed by Toshinao, who refused Hironaga's return and annexed Tono as his territory.

     Doesn't this story sound rather fishy?  Hironaga asked for the support of the Date Clan, and attacked Tono 3 times in vain.

     In the middle of the 17th century, the Tokugawa Shogunate established the danka system, and every citizen in Japan was supposed to belong to a Buddhist temple.  The people in Honmachi made Manzo-an their temple. 

Address: Motomachi-29 Setamai, Sumita, Kesen District, Iwate 029-2311

Phone: 0192-46-2146

Setamai Fortress Site

Address: Setamai, Sumita, Kesen District, Iwate 029-2311