Places associated with Kamakura-dono: Visiting places related to Tokimasa Hojo and Kagetoki Kajiwara
This time, he is the father of the main character Hojo Yoshitoki, ``Hojo Tokimasa,'' and he is given an important position by Yoritomo, and serves as Umaya Betto (chief and manager who manages the horses he raises) and Samurai Shoshi (vice minister who assists Betto). We will introduce places related to Kajiwara Kagetoki.
Spot 1 Place related to Hojo Tokimasa: Ishibashiyama old battlefield
Enter the side road from National Route 135, go about 100m, and you will see a stone monument of "Ishibashiyama Battlefield" on a hill overlooking Sagami Bay. This is the place where Yoritomo fought against Oba Kagechika's army.
In response to Prince Mochihito's decree to hunt down and kill the Taira clan, Minamoto no Yoritomo raised an army at Nirayama in Izu, won the first battle against the Yamaki clan, advanced to Yugawara in Sagami Province, where he confronted Kagechika Oba's army, and fought on Mount Ishibashi. battle of
This battle begins with a "word battle" between Hojo Tokimasa and Oba Kagechika. Tokimasa HOJO said, 'Oba should have followed Genji, so why did he bow to MINAMOTO no Yoritomo, the main line of Genji?' The debt of gratitude is enormous, and I cannot easily betray it." (There are many memorable episodes about Hojo Tokimasa, but I personally feel that this battle of words is one of his greatest highlights.)
The battle began, and Minamoto-no-Yoritomo's army of 300 fought bravely against the 3,000-man Oba army, but they were outnumbered and lost the battle. They will die in battle.
📍Ishibashi, Odawara City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Spot 2 Place related to Hojo Tokimasa: Enoshima Iwaya
Located in the deepest part of Enoshima, this cave is said to have been the place where Kobo Daishi and Nichiren Shonin practiced in ancient times.
Hojo Tokimasa is said to have confined himself to this Iwaya and prayed for the prosperity of his descendants. Then, a celestial maiden appeared in front of Tokimasa and told her that her clan would prosper as the ruler of Japan. It is said that Tokimasa, who was very pleased with the prophecy, used the scales as his family crest and created the famous Mitsuuroko crest of the Hojo clan.
📍 2 Enoshima, Fujisawa City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Spot 3 A place related to Kagetoki Kajiwara: Shitodo Cave
Stone lanterns and stone Buddhas are lined up on both sides of the steep mountain path, and even in the daytime it is not popular, and it is a quiet place.
Several Buddha statues are enshrined in the cave, and a thin waterfall flows from above, so the sound echoes in the cave, making it a very mysterious place.
Minamoto no Yoritomo, who was defeated in the Battle of Ishibashiyama, escaped with a few companions and hid himself in Shitodo Cave. Kagechika Oba's army conducts a thorough search, and Kajiwara Kagetoki discovers Yoritomo's group hiding in a cave. Yoritomo was about to commit suicide, saying, ``This is the end. I tell him, and he misses Yoritomo. However, Kagechika Oba thought that the cave was still suspicious and tried to go inside, but Kagetoki insisted, "Are you doubting me?", and Yoritomo narrowly escaped death.
The exact reason why Kagetoki overlooked Yoritomo is unknown, but there are various theories, such as ``It was because of the Kajiwara clan's affection because they served Genji,'' and ``I was impressed by Yoritomo's dignified appearance.'' It seems that there is. Later on, Kagetoki was given a higher position than Yoritomo, which may have been because Yoritomo did not forget his kindness at that time.
📍Blacksmith, Yugawara Town, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa Prefecture
Spot 4 Kajiwara Kagetoki: Kenchoji Temple
Heading north from Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, the center of Kamakura, you will find Kenchoji Temple, the head temple of the Kenchoji school of the Rinzai sect, which ranks first among the five great temples of Kamakura.
Every year on July 15th, the Segakie* is held twice at Kenchoji Temple. *It is said that Segaki-e is a ceremony to provide food and hold a memorial service for the spirits of the deceased who have fallen into Gaki-dō due to their misdeeds during their lifetime and are suffering from hunger and thirst.
One is the Sanmon Segaki-e and the other is the Kajiwara Segaki-e to mourn for the ghost of Kagetoki Kajiwara. It is said that on July 15th, shortly after Kencho-ji Temple opened, the samurai appeared immediately after the Segaki-e was held as usual. When the warrior learned that the meeting had already ended, he was very disappointed and tried to leave. However, Daikaku Zenji stopped the warrior and held another Segaki-e. It is said that the warrior said, "I am the spirit of Kagetoki Kajiwara," and disappeared. Since then, Kajiwara Segaki-e has been held separately from Segaki-e at Kencho-ji Temple.
📍8 Yamanouchi, Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture
This time, we introduced places related to the first regent of the Kamakura Shogunate, Tokimasa Hojo, and senior vassal Kagetoki Kajiwara.
Next time we look forward to.
*Please note that there are various theories regarding the content of the columns.
Also check past articles
Visiting places related to Kamakura-dono
Place related to Hojo Yoshitoki
