The four heavenly Kings of Yoshitsune, the Sato Tsunenobu and Tadanobu brothers and their families, Ioji Temple (Fukushima Prefecture)

On the way from Fukushima Station to Iizaka Onsen, if you take the Fukushima Transportation Iizaka Line and get off at Ioji-mae station, Sato Tsugunobu and Sato Tadanobu, who were counted among the Four Heavenly Kings of Minamoto no Yoshitsune and their families are buried.

Rurikozan Ioji Temple

Iouji Temple is a Shingon Buddhist temple located in Iizaka-cho, Fukushima City, near Fukushima Iizaka Onsen. According to the temple's legend, it was founded in 826 by Kobo Daishi Kukai.

It is the family temple of the Sato clan a branch of the Oshu Fujiwara clan that ruled the area of ​​Shinobu (present-day Fukushima City to Date City) is also a special sacred site of the Thirty-Three Kannon Bodhisattvas of Oshu

The temple's name is Rurikozan, and the "Io" in is another name for Yakushi Nyorai. Apart from the main hall, there is an inner sanctuary called "Saba no Yakushido," which is the principal image of Yakushi.

There are a group of stone tablets surrounding the Yakushido Hall, which is said to be the burial site of the Shinobu Shoji family

In addition to the gravestones of the brothers Tsugunobu and Tadanobu Sato, there are also gravestones for their father, Motoharu Sato, and their mother, Otowa. An old camellia tree located right next to Otowa's gravestone is "Otowa's Camellia," and it is said that some of its flowers fall off without opening, as if to represent the mother's grief at losing her two sons.

The Sato brothers' gravestone is currently protected by a fence, but in the past, people believed that carving the stone and drinking its contents would cure illnesses, in honour of the two brave samurai, and there are traces of carving that remain

Matsuo Basho also stopped here during his journey on the Oku-no-Hosomichi

In 1689, Matsuo Basho also visited this place on his journey to Oku-no-Hosomichi

He wrote the poem, "Both the backpack and the sword are decorated with paper banners in May."

Tohoku Rokken Trivia Media NEFT

[Serialization: Following the narrow path in the back part 1] Your trip to Tohoku begins with "crossing the Shirakawa barrier"

https://jp.neft.asia/archives/25118

In the Edo period, when there were no airplanes, bullet trains, or automobiles, traveling on foot was the norm, and it was a life-threatening journey that was fraught with great hardship. (Basho) Matsuo Basho not only traveled on foot in Tohoku during this period, but also left behind his travelogue along with his haiku poems for future generations. Even today, it is so highly regarded that it is included in school textbooks, and you have probably all come across famous prefaces and haiku at least once. Here, we will follow the footprints that Basho left in the Tohoku region, and introduce seven articles about the current state of the places he visited and the haiku poems published in "Oku no Hosomichi." The narrow road in the back...

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It is said that Basho shed tears a total of four times during his journey along the Oku-no-Hosomichi, and one of those times was at Ioji Temple, when he heard the tragic story of his mother and her two wives who had lost the Sato brothers in battle

The Sato Brothers, the Four Heavenly Kings of Yoshitsune, and the Sato Clan that Ruled Shinobu for Generations

The Sato clan is said by Fujiwara no Chizune, the second son of Fujiwara no Hidesato, a descendant of Fujiwara no Kamatari are called the Shinobu Sato clan because they ruled the Shinobu area (present-day Fukushima City and Date City)

It is said that Eisaku Sato, the Prime Minister of the Showa era, was also a descendant of Nobuo Sato

The Sato brothers Tsugunobu and Tadanobu, who were active as one of Yoshitsune's four heavenly kings

In 1180, Minamoto no Yoshitsune, the younger brother of Minamoto and was protected by Fujiwara no Hidehira Sato Tsugunobu and Sato Tadanobu, , accompany Yoshitsune as his "assistants."

The Sato brothers assisted Minamoto no Yoshitsune and played a major role in the Genpei War, and are counted among the "Four Heavenly Kings of Yoshitsune"

The tragic story of Basho's mother and two wives that brought him to tears

The Sato brothers continued to be active, but in 1185, the Battle of Yashima . In 1186, the younger brother Tadanobu was attacked while hiding in Kyoto, and although he fought bravely, he was unable to overcome the superior numbers and committed suicide.

The Sato brothers were never able to see the land of Shinobu again, and their mother, Otowa Gozen, was filled with grief upon learning of the deaths of her two sons.

Seeing this, Tsugunobu's wife Wakasakura and Tadanobu's wife Kaede suppressed their own grief, donned their husbands' armor, and appeared before Otowa as warriors, saying, "Tsugunobu and Tadanobu have just returned in triumph," thus cheering him up.

When Matsuo Basho heard this story, he was moved to tears, saying, "How can such a brave name have become known to the world?" Dolls of Wakasakura and Kaede dressed as warriors from this time are enshrined in the main hall of Ioji Temple

• Link: Iouji Temple – About Iouji Temple

summary

Iouji Temple is not only historic, but also a very beautiful temple that is well maintained and well-maintained, and is one of the places you should definitely visit if you have the opportunity to visit Iizaka Onsen

Rurikoden on the grounds , where you can see treasures related to the Sato brothers Tsugunobu and Tadanobu, and Musashibo Benkei, including important cultural properties of the prefecture and tangible cultural properties designated by the city.

Especially for Satos all over the country, this may be a place that becomes their roots!

Ioji Temple <Information>

• Name: Rurikozan Iouji Temple
• Address: 45 Hiranojimae, Iizaka-cho, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture, 960-0231
• Phone number: 024-542-3797
• Official URL: https://www.iou-ji.or.jp/

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Aoiwa

Traveling around the Tohoku region, I enjoy drinking delicious sake and exploring the local history, traditions, and customs. I write articles based on my interests. I'm currently interested in folk performing arts, local toys, and folk beliefs.