Places associated with the Kamakura Shogunate – A tour of places associated with Oe no Hiromoto and Adachi no Morinaga
The NHK Taiga drama "The 13 Lords of Kamakura" is now entering its second half, and from here on, a fierce power struggle filled with intrigue and manipulation will begin. In the midst of this power struggle, the way Hojo Yoshitoki consolidates power will be shown.
I can't wait to see how it all unfolds from here on out.
This time, we will introduce places associated with two of the 13 individuals: the Oe clan (Oe Hiromoto) and the Adachi clan (Adachi Morinaga).
<Places associated with Oe no Hiromoto>
Oe no Hiromoto was originally a lower-ranking nobleman in Kyoto, but his older brother Nakahara was also one of the 13 senior retainers.
Through his connection with Chikayoshi, he moved to Kamakura. He was appointed as the head of the Mandokoro (administrative office) and is said to have made significant contributions to negotiations with the imperial court and the establishment of the political system. In particular, his achievements in "establishing shugo and jito throughout the country" and "advocating for the swift dispatch of troops to Kyoto and the suppression of the rebellion during the Jokyu War, when many people were opting for a wait-and-see approach" seem to have stood out. From these examples, it can be seen that Oe no Hiromoto was a person with excellent foresight and the ability to read the trends of the times.
Spot 1: The grave of Oe no Hiromoto
About 200 meters east of Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, nearby are the tombs of Minamoto no Yoritomo and Hojo Yoshitoki (site of the Hokkedo Hall), and beyond the steep stairs behind Yoshitoki's tomb lies the tomb of Oe no Hiromoto. Oe no Hiromoto is said to have died in 1225 at the age of 78, and while many powerful samurai families were being destroyed at the time, he lived a full life and was buried very close to the tombs of the Kamakura Shogun and the second regent, which speaks to the power and influence Oe no Hiromoto wielded during that period.
Grave of Oe no Hiromoto 📍 2-7-9 Nishimikado, Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Spot 2: Ooe Inari Shrine
The Ooe Inari Shrine is located in Jūnisō, about 2.5 kilometers east of Tsurugaoka Hachimangū Shrine along the Kanazawa Highway. It is said that the shrine came to be called Ooe Inari because Ooe Hiromoto himself was enshrined at the Inari shrine that was located at his nearby residence, but the exact origin is unknown. The enshrined object is a statue of Ooe Hiromoto, which is usually kept at Myōōin Temple, also located in Jūnisō.
Ooe Inari Shrine 📍114 Junisho, Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Oe no Hiromoto was apparently a man who possessed not only knowledge and expertise, but also a keen ability to read the trends of the times. With his knowledge and keen insight, he saved the Kamakura Shogunate many times, surviving the early period of the shogunate, which was rife with political intrigue and manipulation.
<Places associated with Adachi Morinaga>
Adachi Morinaga served as a close confidant of Minamoto no Yoritomo from the time he was in exile. Although he never held an official position throughout his life, if you were to ask who Minamoto no Yoritomo's most loyal retainer was, Adachi Morinaga would surely come out on top of that.
It is said that Adachi Morinaga supported Minamoto no Yoritomo both personally and professionally, and that he also facilitated his relationship with Hojo Masako. Records indicate that even after moving to Kamakura, Minamoto no Yoritomo frequently visited Adachi Morinaga's residence for personal reasons, suggesting that Morinaga was a person who supported Yoritomo both as a retainer and a friend, earning his unparalleled trust.
Spot 3: Amanawa Shinmei Shrine
It is located about 2 kilometers from Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, very close to Hase-dera Temple. It is said to be the oldest shrine in Kamakura and was deeply revered by the Minamoto clan. Within the shrine grounds there is also a monument to the residence of Adachi Morinaga, and Adachi Morinaga's
It is also believed that there was a mansion there.
Amanawa Shinmei Shrine 📍 1-12-1 Hase, Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Spot 4: Kongoji Temple (Atsugi City)
It is located in Atsugi City, in central Kanagawa Prefecture, near the entrance to the Iiyama Onsenkyo hot spring area. It has a very long history, and is said to have been founded around 810 by Kobo Daishi Kukai. (It later converted to the Soto Zen sect.) There is a pagoda here that is said to be the tomb of Adachi Morinaga.
Kongoji Temple 📍 5456 Iiyama, Atsugi City, Kanagawa Prefecture
In the NHK historical drama "The 13 Lords of Kamakura," when Minamoto no Yoritomo passed away, there was a line that said, "Aside from his family, only a very small number of people mourn his death." While the veracity of this statement is uncertain, Adachi Morinaga is surely among those "very few." Perhaps Adachi Morinaga served Minamoto no Yoritomo not out of a relationship of obligation and service, but because he respected him as a person and stayed by his side as a friend.
Stay tuned for the next episode!
*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
A tour of places associated with Hojo Tokimasa and Kajiwara Kagetoki
Places associated with the Kamakura Shogunate – A tour of places associated with Miura Yoshizumi and Wada Yoshimori
