The silence of the depths of Kamakura

The roots of the Mori clan: Oe Hiromoto

In the inner sanctum of Kamakura, in the town of Juniso, there was once the mansion of Oe Hiromoto, Minamoto no Yoritomo's trusted advisor.





The photo above shows the grave believed to be that of Oe Hiromoto, located on the mountain behind Myooin Temple in the same Juniso area.

In Juniso, there's a historical marker detailing the residence of Oe Hiromoto, pictured above. Reading this, we learn that Oe Hiromoto was an ancestor of the Mori clan, a powerful feudal lord during the Sengoku period. The Oe clan was granted the land of Mori in Sagami Province and adopted the place name as their surname. I don't know how it happened, but they moved to the mountainous region of what is now Hiroshima Prefecture. During the reign of Motonari, they defeated the neighboring Takahashi clan, which became a turning point for them to slay the Amago clan, seize the Iwami Silver Mine, and become the rulers of the Chugoku region. The Mori clan's glory didn't stop there; they played a major role in Japan's modernization since the Meiji Restoration.





The Mori clan traces its roots back to Oe Hiromoto, who lived in Juniso.

In the inner sanctum of Kamakura, in the town of Juniso

Juniso is a mountainous area rich in nature. Fireflies fly, cuckoos sing, owls hoot, and hawks soar overhead. Old temples and shrines nestle quietly among the mountains. Among them is Kosokuji Temple, which is tucked away in a secluded area of Kamakura and has many attractions.

The following is a list of the temple treasures of Kosokuji Temple.





A statue of Kannon Bodhisattva made by Jocho; a statue of the Cheek-burned Amida Buddha; a picture scroll of the Legend of the Cheek-burned Amida Buddha; the head of a large Buddha statue said to have been enshrined at Daijiji Temple, which was built by Minamoto no Sanetomo; a Zushi (miniature shrine) said to have been donated by Ashikaga Mochiuji, the Fourth Kamakura Governor and a key figure in the Eikyo Rebellion; an imperial plaque from Emperor Godaigo; and a Jizo statue licking salt.





Some of them have been designated as important cultural properties of the country.





Incidentally, Daijiji Temple, which was built by Minamoto no Sanetomo, was once located in the Juniso area. It was apparently quite large. Now, there are no remains except for a historical landmark sign.

The Cheek-burned Amida and the Licking Salt Jizo statues have unique legends. The Cheek-burned Amida is said to have been branded in place of a virtuous monk, leaving a mark on its cheek. The picture scroll Legend of the Cheek-burned Amida Buddha depicts this event, while the salt offered before the Licking Salt Jizo statue always disappears. The statue is located at Kosokuji Temple, which is situated along the old Mutsuura Road (now the Kanazawa Kaido Road). This location is said to be evidence that salt once flowed in from the Kanazawa area of Yokohama.　

Advance reservations are required for a visit to Kosokuji Temple.　

Lab Deep in Kamakura　Juei Masuda