Places associated with the Kamakura Shogunate - Visiting places associated with Miura Yoshizumi and Wada Yoshimori
About six months after the start of the NHK Taiga drama "The 13 Lords of the Kamakura" began, Minamoto no Yoritomo, the Lord of the Kamakura, achieved his lifelong goal of defeating the Taira clan, and a political system centered around Minamoto no Yoritomo began.
Among the 13 powerful vassals, we will introduce the places associated with the Miura clan (Miura Yoshizumi) and the Wada clan (Wada Yoshimori), who were rooted in the Miura Peninsula in Kanagawa Prefecture.
Spot 1: Places associated with Miura Yoshizumi: Manshoji Temple, the former site of Yakuoji Temple (the grave of Miura Yoshizumi), Chikata Shrine
Manshoji Temple in Yokosuka City is said to have been founded by Miura Yoshiaki, the father of Miura Yoshizumi, but it is said that it was actually founded by Minamoto no Yoritomo.
Minamoto no Yoritomo never forgot his gratitude to Miura Yoshiaki, who raised an army in response to the Battle of Ishibashiyama and was killed in the series of battles, and made Yoshiaki the founder of the temple.
In front of the main hall, there are azaleas planted by Minamoto no Yoritomo himself, giving a glimpse of how much trust he had in the Miura clan and how well he treated them.
Nearby are the ruins of Yakuoji Temple, said to be the grave of Miura Yoshizumi, and Chikata Shrine, which enshrines Yoshizumi's son, Miura Yoshimura, making this a place that was once the base of the Miura clan.
Manshoji Temple📍 1-5-10 Oyabe, Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Kondono Shrine📍 1-9-3 Oyabe, Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Spot 2: A place associated with Miura Yoshizumi: Abuzuri Castle Ruins
It is said that Abuzuri Castle was located on a small hill across the street from Hikage Chaya, close to Hayama Marina. Climbing the hill leads to a wide open plain, but there are almost no traces that give a glimpse into the past.
It is said that the name "Abizuri" (stirring) came from the fact that when climbing to the castle, one had to climb a steep slope that required the stirrups of a horse to be pushed up.
Abumizuri Castle is the place where Miura Yoshizumi, who was unable to join the Battle of Ishibashiyama, raised his flag and encouraged his allies when he fought against the Oba army, and it is said that it is the place where Ito Sukechika, who was in charge of watching over the exiled Minamoto no Yoritomo and fought against Minamoto no Yoritomo at Ishibashiyama, was entrusted to and later beheaded.It is also the place where Kamenomae, Minamoto no Yoritomo's concubine, was hidden when her mansion was burned down after incurring the wrath of Hojo Masako.
📍 Hayama Town, Miura District, Kanagawa Prefecture
Spot 3: Shirahata Shrine (Miura City), a place associated with Wada Yoshimori
In Wada, Hassei-cho, Miura City, which was the territory of Wada Yoshimori, there is Shirahata Shrine, which enshrines Wada Yoshimori, the first head priest of the Samurai Department, as Shirahata Myojin.
Wada Yoshimori was defeated by Hojo Yoshitoki in the Battle of Wada and met his end with his family at Wadazuka in Kamakura. It is said that the villagers of Wada erected this monument to commemorate his good governance.
📍 1746 Wada, Hatsuse-cho, Miura City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Spot 4: Jorakuji Temple, a place associated with Wada Yoshimori
According to legend, when Shochojuin Temple, which Minamoto no Yoritomo had built in Kamakura to commemorate the soul of his father, Minamoto no Yoshitomo, was damaged by a typhoon, Wada Yoshimori, in cooperation with Hojo Masako, moved it to its current location (Ashina, Yokosuka City).It is said that the purpose of the temple was to pray for victory in the conquest of Oshu, and Wada Yoshimori and his wife were the sponsors of the temple, and it is said that they commissioned the creation of five Buddhist statues by Unkei, a sculptor who was involved in the reconstruction of Kofuku-ji Temple in Nara, which had been burned down, and later traveled to Kamakura.
📍2-30-5 Ashina, Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture
It is said that the Miura clan took on the surname Miura Tamemichi after he was given Miura in Sagami Province by Minamoto no Yoriyoshi as a reward for his achievements in the Battle of Zenkunen.
Wada Yoshimori was a branch of the Miura clan, and both the Miura and Wada clans were highly valued by Minamoto no Yoritomo, and the clans prospered in the Miura Peninsula, not far from Kamakura.
However, after the death of Minamoto no Yoritomo, both clans were wiped out in the midst of a power struggle within Kamakura, but even today in Miura and Yokosuka, you can still recall the power of these two clans in their heyday.
Stay tuned for next time.
*Please note that there are various theories regarding the contents of the column.
Check out past articles
Touring places associated with the Kamakura Shogun
A place associated with Hojo Yoshitoki
Touring places associated with Hojo Tokimasa and Kajiwara Kagetoki
