Virtual Kameda Domain 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #18 Saiho-ji Temple

 

     Saiho-ji Temple was founded by Priest Ryokan in 1087, when the Later Three-Year War ended.  The war was fought in the northeastern part of Japan in the late 1080s.  It was a kind of internal strife within the Kiyohara Clan.  First, Kiyohara Iehira (?-1087) and Kiyohira (1056-1128) fought against Sanehira (?-1083).  After Sanehira’s death, Iehira clashed against Kiyohira.  From the central government, Minamoto Yoshiie (1039-1106) intervened in the conflict.  Iehira was based in Kanezawa-saku Fortress.  The fortress had been built by the latter half of the 9th century at the latest along the route between Taga Castle, where Mutsu Provincial Government office was located, and Akita Fortress, where that of Ideha Province was located.  In August, 1087, Yoshiie and Kiyohira put Kanezawa-saku Fortress under siege.  They cut off Iehira's food supply.  In winter, women and children surrendered, but Yoshiie killed them all.  The fortress fell by the end of the year.  Yoshiie's intervention brought victory to Kiyohira, who then picked up his paternal family name, Fujiwara, and the Kiyohara Clan disappeared in 1087.

     It is unknown what Ryokan founded Saiho-ji Temple for.  Saiho means West, and Saiho-ji Temple is located about 50 kilometers west-north-west from Kanezawa-saku Fortress.

Address: Morishita-103 Iwakishimokurokawa, Yurihonjo, Akita 018-1226

Phone: 0184-72-2125

Kanezawa-saku Fortress

Address: Kanearaizawa Kanezawanakano, Yokote, Akita 013-0813