Two Towers of Shinano July 2015

Yoshimasa Hojo(1243-1282) was the grandson of the regent(Shikken) Yoshitoki and rose to the level of cosigner as a court official of the Hojo clan, but he suddenly became a priest and retired to his domain of Shiota (present-day Ueda City, Nagano Prefecture). Since then, his family line has been called the Shiota-ryu Hojo clan, but when Kamakura fell (Toshoji Rebellion), his family rushed to the Shogunate side, and together with the Hojo clan, they committed suicide and perished. "Iza Kamakura" is gokenin(vassals)'s virtue, which means they should be back to Kamakura asap once when it faces crisis, and they just followed their way of lives.

The Shiota Hojo clan protected Buddhism and cultural properties, and this area was called the Kamakura in Shinano. The two towers we visited were both built during the Shiota Hojo era and have been designated as national treasures. Although the local rulers later passed to the Murakami clan and the Sanada clan (Takeda clan), we are grateful that the temple has not been destroyed by war and could be worshiped safely for 700 years.

① Anrakuji Octagonal Three-Storied Pagoda

An octagonal pagoda once existed at Hoshoji Temple in Kyoto and Saidaiji Temple in Nara, but this pagoda is the only one remaining in Japan. It is said to have been built by Yoshimasa around 1290.

② Daihoji three-storied pagoda

It was built in 1333 (Shokei 2), the year of the fall of the Kamakura Shogunate. Yoshimasa's son Kunitoki went to war with his two sons (Toshitoki and Fujitoki), but did he see the completion of this tower?