Virtual Upper Tada Manor 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #13 Tosen-ji Temple

 

     Tosen-ji Temple was founded at the beginning of the Muromachi Period (1336-1573) by the Hirao Family, who invited Jisho, the 7th priest of Yotaku-ji Temple, which had been founded around 1370.

     Who were the Hirao Family?

     Saiin had Yoda Manor in Chiisagata County, Shinano Province.  Saiin were female relatives of the Emperors, and they served as High Priestesses in Kami-Kamo and Shimo-Kamo Shrines.  Minamoto Tametomo (1005-1075) fought in the Former Nine Years' War, which was fought in Mutsu Province from 1051 to 1062.  For his military achievements, he was appointed to be the zuryo in Shinano Province after the war.  In the meanwhile, presumably before 1053, he lived in Ina County, Shinano Province.  He is supposed to become a county officer there.  His 6th son, Tamezane, lived in the Yoda Manor and called his family Yoda.  When Minamoto Yoshinaka (1154-1184) raised an army to fight the Taira Clan in 1180, he was based in Yoda Castle.  The Yoda Family followed Yoshinaka to Kyoto.  After Yoshinaka was killed by the other Minamoto forces in 1184, the Yoda Family lost the Yoda Manor and scattered across provinces.  Some of them called themselves the Hirao Family and settled in Kawabe County, Settsu Province.  It is unknown whether they called themselves Hirao before they followed Yoshinaka or after Yoshinaka's death. 

     Tametomo's father was Tamemitsu.  Tamemitsu's father was Mitsukuni, who built his residence in Shukuno (today's Shukuno, Nose, Toyono District, Osaka 563-0341), Nose County.  Mitsukuni's father was Mitsusuke, whose eldest brother was Mitsunaka.  The Hirao Family might have relied on their blood relationship and local ties.

     Tosen-ji Temple could have been damaged, destroyed, or abolished during the Warring States Period (1467-1568).  It was revived in 1597, when Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1537-1598) carried out his 2nd invasion of Korea.  The wood in the area could have sold well to build warships.

Address: Tsuboguchihayashi 3, Nijoji, Inagawa, Kawabe District, Hyogo 666-0211

Phone: 072-769-0011

Yotaku-ji Temple

Address: 210 Eitakuji, Sanda, Hyogo 669-1502

Phone: 079-566-0401

Yoda Castle Ruins

Address: Mitakedo, Ueda, Nagano 386-0412

Kamigamo Shrine

Address: 339 Kamigamo Motoyama, Kita Ward, Kyoto, 603-8047

Phone: 075-781-0011

Shimogamo Shrine

Address: 59 Shimogamo Izumikawacho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto 606-0807

Phone: 075-781-0010