Virtual North Kawachi 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #29 Myoko-ji Temple

 

     It is unknown when Myoko-ji Temple was founded.  Its precincts have Raijin-seki, namely the Thunder God Stone, which was "made" in 1557.  It is a tuff and is supposed to have been the reuse of a stone coffin.  The precincts also have the Thirteen Buddhas Stone Monument, which was also made in 1557 by 19 local samurai before their death to pray for their comfort in the other world after their future death.  It is unknown whether they were made after the foundation of the temple or the temple was founded for them.

     What happened in 1557?

     The Yasumi Family does not appear in historical documents until the mid-16th century.  They are supposed to have had their base near the border between Yamashiro, Kawachi, and Yamato Provinces from the mid-15th century to mid-16th century.

     Yasumi Munefusa first appears in historical documents in 1546.  In September of that year, he marched out to battle as part of the Hatakeyama army on the side of Hosokawa Ujitsuna (1513-1564), along with Takayama Hiroyori (1517-1553), a local powerful samurai in Yamato Province.  In October, together with Hiroyori, he petitioned the Hatakeyama Clan for the positions of the officers of the Upper Three Counties of Yamashiro Province: that is, Kadono, Otokuni, and Kii Counties.  For your information; Uji, Kuse, Tsuzuki, and Soraku Counties were categorized into the Lower Four Counties of Yamashiro Province.  It seems that, by that time, the samurai in the southern part of Yamashiro Province already recognized Munefusa and Hiroyori as de facto local rulers of the area.

    The southern part of Yamashiro Province was originally under the influence of Kizawa Nagamasa (1493-1542), who had hegemony in Kawachi and Yamato Provinces in 1530's.  He expanded his influence even in central politics through the Harakeyama Clan.  Munefusa and Hiroyori are assumed to have been subject to Nagamasa.  Life has its ups and downs.  Miyoshi Nagayoshi (1522-1564) came from Awa Province.  Yuza Naganori (?-1551) also expanded his influence in the Hatakeyama Clan.  Ikeda Nobumasa (?-1548) was on the rise in Settsu Province.  He pursued the support of Hosokawa Masaharu (1514-1563), the Regent of the Muromachi Shogunate, and Ashikaga Yoshiharu (1511-1550), the 12th Shogun of the Muromachi Shogunate, and advanced to Kyoto with his forces.  Masaharu fled to Iwakura in the north of Kyoto, and Yoshiharu escaped to Sakamoto in Omi Province.  Nagamasa was regarded as a rebel against the shogunate.  The shogunate started the campaign to hunt down Nagamasa.  On March, 17th, 1542, he was killed by the allied forces of the Hosokawa Clan, the Miyoshi Family, and Nagayori.  In the battle, Munefusa and Hiroyori served under Harumoto, and later became subject to Naganori.

     After the battle, Naganori was appointed as the acting Samurai Guardian of Kawachi Province, and Munefusa was appointed as the acting Samurai Steward of the northern counties.

     On May 5th, 1551, Yuza Naganori was assassinated.  Kayafuri Katatsugu (?-1552), who was appointed as the samurai steward of the southern counties of Kawachi Province, was suspected of the assasination.  Munefusa, who was residing in Iimori Castle, was in conflict against Katatsugu, who was residing in Takaya Castle.  Munefusa supported Naganori's relative to be the head of the Yuza Family, while Katatsugu supported Naganori's brother.  As Miyoshi Nagayoshi (1522-1564) was Naganori's son-in-law, he intervened and arranged for Munefusa's son to marry Katatsugui's daughter.  On February 21st, 1552, Munefusa invited Katatsugu to Iimori Castle and killed him.  He then entered Takaya Castle and killed those who had supported Katatsugu.  The younger brother of Naganori was also killed by Nagayoshi.  Munefusa, along with Tange Moritomo and Hashirii Morihide (?-1514), appointed Naganori's relative as Naganori's successor.

     The Nojiri Family, who was a local powerful samurai in northern Kawachi, was also purged along with the Kayafuri Family.  Munefusa adopted his son into the Nojiri Family to take over the Family, and gave the son the name Nojiri Mangoro.  After Munefusa purged his enemies in Kawachi Province, Munefusa reached out for Yamato Province.  He came into conflict against Takayama Hiroyori (1517-1553), who was based in Takayama Castle in Soejimo County, Yamato Province.  Munefusa forced Hiroyori to commit suicide at Takaya Castle in May, 1553.  In the same year, when the 13th Shogun of the Muromachi Shogunate, Ashikaga Yoshiteru (1536-1565), fought against Nagayoshi, Munefusa went to reinforce the Miyoshi side together with Tange Moritomo.  This time, Munefusa didn't mind being the enemy of the shogunate.

     The 19 samurai who built the Thirteen Buddhas Stone Monument counted on Buddhism, facing the law of the jungle.  It is unknown how many of them survived after Munefusa was driven out of Iimori Castle by Nagayoshi on May 27th, 1560.  Munefusa survived but never returned to Iimori Castle.  On December 25th, 1577, Munefusa's tea ceremony goods were shown in the tea ceremony gathering held by Tsuda Sokyu (?-1591), one of the 3 great masters of tea ceremony.

Address: 31-6 Uchiage Motomachi, Neyagawa, Osaka 572-0858

Phone: 072-823-1271

Iimori Castle Ruins

Address: 2377 Hojo, Daito, Osaka 574-0011

Phone: 072-870-9105

Takaya Castle Ruins

Address: 5 Chome-6-7 Furuichi, Habikino, Osaka 583-0852

Remains of Takayama-jo Castle

Address: 4737 Takayamacho, Ikoma, Nara 630-0101