[Hiraizumi Town, Iwate Prefecture] ``The remains of summer grass and soldiers' dreams.'' Takadate, the final resting place of Minamoto no Yoshitsune

Takadachi (Iwate Ken Hiraizumi-cho, Iwate Prefecture) is the place where Minamoto no Yoshitsune (1159-1189) ended his life of 31 years.

Yoshitsune was chased by his older brother Yoritomo and fled to Hiraizumi.

Although Yoshitsune won the Battle of Dannoura in Nagatonokuni (present-day Yamaguchi Prefecture) in 1185 and destroyed the Taira clan, Yoshitsune lost control of his older brother Yoritomo. ) and fled to Hiraizumi, where he had spent his childhood, to Fujiwara no Hidehira (1122? - November 30, 1187), the third head of the Oshu Fujiwara clan.

Hidehira built a mansion (Koromogawa no Tachi) in Takadachi along the Kitakami River, close to his residence (Hiraizumi no Tachi/Yanagi no Gosho). / Hankankan [Hagandate/Hogandate]) and hid him there. However, in February 1187, Yoritomo discovered that Yoshitsune was with Hidehira and demanded that Hidehira hand over Yoshitsune.

Yoshitsune committed suicide after being attacked by Fujiwara Yasuhira (Battle of Kinugawa)

Hidehira did not comply with the request, but in November of that year, Hidehira died, and his successor, Fujiwara no Yasuhira, gradually became unable to withstand Yoritomo's pressure, and in 1189 On the 15th day of the month (the 30th day of April in the lunar calendar), he dispatched troops to subjugate Yoshitsune.

*Leap April is the month that falls between April and May, which used to occur once every three years in the lunar calendar. Therefore, a leap year in the lunar calendar had 13 months.)

This was the "Battle of Koromogawa", and Yoshitsune's army fought desperately, but was outnumbered and defeated by Musashibo Benkei (~June 15, 1189?). His vassals, including , were killed in battle. Yoshitsune set the mansion on fire and entered the Jibutsu-do Hall (a hall or Buddhist hall where the memorial tablets of ancestors are enshrined), and first visited his 22-year-old lawful wife, Satogozen (June 15, 1168-1189). It is said that he killed his father (Japanese) and his 4-year-old daughter with his own hands, and then committed suicide.

Takadate Yoshitsune Hall was built by Date Tsunamura in memory of Yoshitsune.

``Takadachi Gikeido'' is a hilly area where Yoshitsune's residence was located, and on the top of Takadate, Date Tsunamura, the fourth lord of the Sendai domain, was built by Yoshitsune. This is a temple built in memory of. A wooden statue of Yoshitsune that was made at the time of the temple's founding is enshrined inside the hall.

"Takadate Gikeido" and Takadate are currently part of the enclave precincts of "Motsuji", a world cultural heritage site in Hiraizumi. is not a registered property of the World Heritage Site).

Memorial tower for Gozen and his daughter “Grave of Minamoto no Yoshitsune’s wife and children”

The ``Tomb of Minamoto no Yoshitsune's wife and children'' is located northwest of ``Takadate Yoshitsune-do,'' next to ``Senju-do,'' which stands at the foot of Mt. Kinkeisan in the center of Hiraizumi. It is said to be the grave of Yoshitsune's lawful wife Gogozen, who he killed himself when he was cornered, and his own daughter, and there are two Gorinto towers (towers made of five parts) standing side by side. Free to visit.

The ``Senju-do'' hall enshrines Fujiwara Hidehira's guardian deity, Senju Kannon, and a wooden statue of Hidehira. Jinkeisan is a component of the World Cultural Heritage Site.

Tomb of Minamoto no Yoshitsune's wife and children＜Information＞

• Facility name: Tomb of Minamoto no Yoshitsune's wife and children
• Address: 4-62 Hiraizumi Hanatate, Hiraizumi-cho, Nishiiwai-gun, Iwate Prefecture
• Phone number: 0191-46-5572 (Hiraizumi Town Tourism and Commerce Division)

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The grave of Benkei, who risked his life to protect Yoshitsune

``Den Benkei's Tomb (Musashibo Benkei Tombstone)'' is located at the entrance to the approach to Chusonji, a world cultural heritage site.

Musashibo Benkei was a man who met Ushiwakamaru (Yoshitsune's childhood name) on a bridge in Gojo, Kyoto, and asked him to help him.He has always supported Yoshitsune as a loyal vassal, and in the ``Battle of Kinogawa,'' he fought against the enemy in order to protect Yoshitsune. He was a hero who is said to have died while standing even after being hit by countless arrows (Benkei no Tachioujo).

``Den Benkei's tomb'' stands surrounded by pine trees where his remains are said to have been buried, and the stone monument reads ``Musashibo, home of the pine tree that never changes color'' and depicts Socho, a monk of Chusonji Temple. It has a poem engraved on it. Unfortunately, most of Benkei's stories of heroism are the creations of later generations. Free to visit.

Den Benkei's grave＜Information＞

• Facility name: Den Benkei's Tomb (Musashibo Benkei Tombstone)
• Address: Hiraizumi Kinoseki, Hiraizumi-cho, Nishiiwai-gun, Iwate Prefecture
• Phone number: 0191-46-5572 (Hiraizumi Town Tourism and Commerce Division)

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Chusonji ``Benkei-do'', where there is a statue of Benkei standing still

Benkeido, where the wooden statues of Yoshitsune and Benkei are enshrined, is located along the approach to Chuson-ji Temple. Rebuilt in 1826, it is a splendid one-story hall made entirely of cypress, and enshrines the wooden statues of Yoshitsune and Benkei. The statue of Benkei is in the form of ``Benkei stuck''. The principal image is the Victorious Jizo Bodhisattva (Victory Buddha).

Tomb of Minamoto no Yoshitsune's wife and children＜Information＞

• Facility name: Chusonji Benkeido
• Address: 202 Hiraizumi Kinoseki, Hiraizumi-cho, Nishiiwai-gun, Iwate Prefecture
• Phone number: 0191-46-2211
• Chusonji Temple visiting hours: March 1st to November 3rd / 8:30 to 17:00 November 4th to the end of February / 8:30 to 16:30
• Chusonji Temple admission fee: Adults 800 yen, High school students 500 yen, Junior high school students 300 yen, Elementary school students 200 yen
• Closed days: No holidays URL: Chusonji homepage

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The view from Takadate, where Matsuo Basho's famous poem was written

Fujiwara Yasuhira, who was supposed to gain Yoritomo's trust by defeating Yoshitsune, was killed by Yoritomo's army on September 3, 1189, just three months after Yoshitsune's defeat. ). As a result, the Oshu Fujiwara clan, which had lasted for about 100 years through four generations from the first Fujiwara no Kiyohira (founded Chusonji Temple), came to an end. The mummified corpses of the first generation Kiyohira, the second generation Kiyohira who built Motsuji Temple, and the third generation Hidehira, as well as the head of the fourth generation Yasuhira are buried in the Kinchuson-ji Color Hall.

Matsuo Basho (1644-1694), a haiku poet of the Edo period, was on the road to the Oku no Hosomichi (Oku no Hosomichi) with his disciple Sora (1649-1710) in 1689. I visited Hiraizumi on the 29th of May. He climbs up to Takadate and looks at the battle site of Yoshitsune and Yasuhira spreading out on the banks of the Kitakami River, and makes the famous ``Natsukusa and the soldiers are the remains of his dreams.'' I left behind the phrase.

Mt. Sakura (Tabashineyama, 596 m above sea level), where over 10,000 cherry blossoms are said to have bloomed during the Oshu Fujiwara period, can be seen on the opposite bank of Takadate and the Kitakami River, and Mt. It has been designated as a national scenic spot.

summary

In Hiraizumi, the sad story of Minamoto no Yoshitsune's master and servant remains, as well as the many legacies of the rise and fall of the Oshu Fujiwara clan. The National Treasure “Chusonji Konjikido” which is registered as a World Cultural Heritage Site, the special scenic spot “Motsuji Garden”, the special historic site “Chusonji Precincts”, the special historic site “Motsuji Precincts Adjoined Shrine Ruins”, the special historic site “Muryokoin” There are too many attractions to list, including Mt. Kinkeisan and the Yanagi no Gosho/Hiraizumi Ruins, a historical site that is aiming to be registered as a heritage site. Please come and see for yourself. The view that Basho saw from Takadate still conveys the regrets of Yoshitsune and Yasuhira.