The Mogami family crest at the entrance to Kozenji Temple

[Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture] Kozenji, the family temple of Yoshimitsu Mogami, who built the largest estate of the Mogami family with 570,000 koku of Dewa

Edit3.51
2023.11.08
Last updated: 2024.08.6

table of contents

1 Who is Mogami Yoshimitsu?
2 Kozenji Temple is located in Teppocho, the center of Yamagata City.
3 summary
- 3.1 Information

Kozen-ji Temple, the family temple of Mogami Yoshimitsu, who established the largest feudal status as a Sengoku daimyo in Dewa Province (present-day Yamagata Prefecture) from the Sengoku period to the Edo period, is located in Teppo-cho, the center of Yamagata City.

Who is Mogami Yoshimitsu?

Yoshiaki Mogami the 11th head of the Mogami family, a Sengoku daimyo in Dewa Province , and the first head of the Dewa Yamagata domain .

Mogami Yoshimitsu statue at Yamagata Castle ruins

He reached Genpuku in 1560 at the age of 15. In the same year the Sagae clan , and after that he of Kokujin the Mogami Yatsudate , including the Tendo , Nobezawa , and Obanazawa clans, and conquered Dewa Province. It will calm down.

After that, he traveled to the Shonai region, which is now Yamagata Prefecture's coast of the Sea of Japan, and fought with the Daihoji clan and the Uesugi clan of Echigo

the Uesugi army led by Naoe Kanetsugu invaded the Mogami territory, and the so-called ``Battle of Keicho Dewa'' broke out. They successfully repulsed this enemy and gained possession of the Shonai region. became the first lord of the Dewa Yamagata domain, which had an income of 570,000 koku (570,000 koku) and whose territory included all of present-day Yamagata prefecture except Okitama district and part of Akita prefecture

Incidentally, Mogami Yoshimitsu's younger sister, Yoshihime (later Hoshunin), was the mother of Date Masamune

Kozenji Temple is located in Teppocho, the center of Yamagata City.

Kozenji is a Soto sect temple located in Teppocho, Yamagata City, and its mountain name is Mt. Tentaki .

Kozenji temple entrance — At the entrance is the Mogami family crest (Ashikaga two pull).

Originally named Keichoji, it was renamed Kozenji by Mogami Iechika,

Yoshimitsu Mogami himself opened this temple by inviting a man named Shunrin Zento

the Mogami family was relocated due to an internal conflict over the successor (Mogami Disturbance) It was moved to its current location by Tadamasa Torii, who transferred from the Iwaki Taira domain as a successor

At the time of the move, 500 to 600 ronin from the former Mogami clan gathered and carried the remains of Yoshimitsu and the deceased to the current Kozenji Temple.The temple has been protected by former vassals to the present day.

Sun ancestor god? A hall where Memyo Bodhisattva is enshrined

As you walk up the approach, the first thing you will see is Umanai Bodhisattva, which . I thought it was Dosojin, but his first letter is wrong...I can't read it. I looked it up and it seems like it's ``insect'' under ``god,'' and it's pronounced ``san.''

Memyo Bodhisattva is a bodhisattva that originates from Chinese folk beliefs and is said to be worshiped as the god of sericulture and textiles Judging from the characters, the ``mushi'' in ``kami'' may mean ``silkworms.'' It's just my imagination...

Sansojin of Kozenji Temple — Sun ancestor god? Hall of Bodhisattva Memyo with the inscription

If you go a little further, you will see a magnificent stone bridge spanning the temple grounds.

Bridge in the precincts of Kozenji Temple — Kozenji stone bridge

The 23rd sacred site of Yamagata 108 Jizo statues

Immediately on the left after crossing the stone bridge is the Hall of Enmei , the 23rd sacred site of Yamagata's 108 Jizo statues

It is one of the Jizo Bodhisattva pilgrimage sacred sites in the Mogami and Murayama regions of inland Yamagata Prefecture, including Yamagata, Murayama, Tendo, Sagae, Mogami, Obanazawa, Higashine, and Shinjo.

The 23rd Sacred Site of Yamagata 108 Jizo Sons at Kozenji Temple — Yamagata 108 Jizo statues No. 23 Sacred Site

You can see a magnificent bell tower on the right side of the bridge.

Kozenji main hall

Front of main hall. There are no flashy decorations, giving it a solemn impression.

However, there was a beautiful dragon sculpture on the front.

Sculptures in the main hall of Kozenji Temple — Dragon sculpture in the main hall of Kozenji Temple

For some reason, the Mogami family crest is tilted 90 degrees at the bottom of the pillars that support both sides. It must mean something.

Pillars of the main hall of Kozenji Temple — The Mogami family crest placed at a 90 degree angle (Ashikaga double pull)

Kozenji Garden

If you go to the back from the left side of the main hall, you will see the entrance to the Kozenji Garden

This Enshu-style garden said to have been created in the early Edo period approximately 900 tsubo in size . It has been designated as a scenic spot in Yamagata City.

Although the exact year it was created and its creator are unknown, it is said to be one of the oldest gardens in Yamagata Prefecture.

Mogami Yoshimitsu Grave

If you go further from the Kozenji garden, you will see the grave of Mogami Yoshimitsu

Kozenji Temple (Tomb of Mogami Yoshimitsu) — Tomb of Yoshimitsu Mogami

In addition to Lord Yoshimitsu, this is the grave of the 12th generation of , Lord Iechika, and the 13th generation well as the governors of Sagae Hizen , Sagae Jubei , and Nagaoka Tajima, who died following Yoshimitsu's death. There are also the graves of four vassals of Yamaga Kawachi no kami

Explanation board for the three generations of the Mogami family at Kozenji Temple — Explanation board for three generations of the Mogami family

summary

Thanks to the skills of the Sengoku feudal lord, Yoshimitsu Mogami, the Yamagata domain grew into one of the largest domains in the Edo shogunate, with a power of 570,000 koku. However, just nine years after Yoshimitsu's death, he had the trouble of having his entire territory confiscated due to the , a succession dispute involving his vassals

It seems like it rose and fell, but its great power can be seen from Yamagata Castle, also known as Kasumi Castle.