Located not far from Hase Station in Kamakura is a small temple known as Shugenji Temple.
The location is the former resident of Shijo Kingo, a samurai and vassal of Ema Mitsuoki (the Ema family was a branch of the ruling Hojo clan) and a faithful believer of the religion of Nicheren that he made up his mind to die a martyr to Nichiren when he was persecuted in 1271.
When Nichiren was taken to Tatsunokuchi to be beheaded in 1271, Shijo Kingo accompanied him and was prepared to die by his side.
According to legend, while Nichiren was about to be executed, a light appeared and although it was midnight, the sky went as bright as day, which left people frightened.
But because of this, Nicheren was spared. But seeing how far Shijo Kingo would go to show his loyalty to him and his teachings left a major impact.
Nichiren was exiled to Sado Island and Shijo Kingo sent a messenger to him with various offerings.
As Nichiren’s environment was bad, as he lived in a shack with barely any food, Kingo would send offerings to make sure Nichiren was fed. Through this messenger, Nichiren entrusted Shijo Kingo with his treatise “The Opening of the Eyes” (Kingo would be the recipient of 29 of Nichiren’s writings). Nichiren said that he was able to recite the Lotus Sutra because of Shijo Kingo and his assistance.
While Shijo Kingo tried to convert his lord, Ema, on Nichiren, Ema was a believer of the Pure Land (Jodo) school and followed priest Ryokan of Gokuraku-ji temple. Ryokan disliked Nichiren and Lord Ema did not like that his retainer supported the Lotus Sutra and supported Nichiren.
Despite Lord Ema threatening to confiscate Shijo’s fief (an estate of land), even fellow samurai tried to discredit him to Lord Ema and even attacked him.
But despite this, Kingo remained both loyal to Nichiren and also Lord Ema.
A tragic illness plagued Kamkura and those who supported priest Ryokan grew ill, the colleagues who committed slander against Kingo would break away from one another and Lord Ema who believed in the slanders made by the samurai grew ill.
When Ema grew ill, Kingo stood by his lord and nursed him back to health, which restored Ema’s trust and also making him regret for putting Shijo Kingo through deep suffering and granted him a fief three times larger than what was originally promised.
Nichiren Buddhism is a branch of Mahayana Buddhism based on the teachings of the 13th century by Japanese Buddhist priest Nichiren (1222-1282). And their teachings focus on the Lotus Sutra doctrine that all people have an innate Buddha-nature and are therefore inherently capably of attaining enlightenment in their current form and present lifetime.
Shijo Kingo was one of the four big supporting members of Nichiren. In the Edo Period, his residence was remodeled into the current temple as a holy place of the Nichiren sect.
For me, it was cool to visit the residence where Shijo Kingo and family had lived. Not only was Kingo knowledgeable about medical science and martial arts, but he was a positive figure.
It’s also surprising that the temple is located on the strip where so many restaurants and ice cream shops are located but because of its location, it is quite a unique thing to see until you get to the end of the strip and see the giant Buddha at Kotoku-in.
While a small temple, it’s no doubt a location with so much history.
