01History of Chosenji Temple

It is said that this temple was built in 1366 during the Nanbokucho period by Gensho Kihon Buddhist priest. In ancient times, it was called “Seigoji” and later became the Soto sect “Chosenji”. In the 10th year of Tensho (1582) during the Azuchi-Momoyama period, the building was destroyed by fire during the battle between Yoshimasa Kiso and Katsuyori Takeda. It was rebuilt in the first year of Bunroku (1592), but it has been rebuilt several times due to repeated relocations and fires, such as being burnt down again in the great fire of Tenpo in Narai in the late Edo period. The current main hall was built in 1866 at the end of the Edo period. The main gate was relocated as the gate of this temple when the main camp of Narai-juku was dismantled. The gables, thatched roofs, Ichinohe, and Yakui Gate are valuable remains that survived the great fire.

Principal image
Shakyamuni Buddha
Kaisan
Jouji 5th year(1366)Genshow kihon Buddhist priest
Kaisan
Eiroku 11(1568)Kigaimonnou Buddhist priest
Kaiki
Notonokami Fujita Nobuyoshi(Sengoku, military commander of the Edo period)
Honzan
Eiheiji Temple, Fukui Prefecture / Sojiji Temple, Yokohama City
Dragon's large ceiling painting

02About ceiling painting

Dragon’s large ceiling painting

The principal image is the Buddha. The building was built about 150 years ago.
The painting of dragon on the ceiling was painted by YAMAGUCHI Gonnokami [real name:Gonzo] who is artisan in Hida, Gifu prefecture.
That was painted about 130 years ago.
20 meters in length, 3.5 meters in width Dragon is a symbol of water god and god watching over trainee monk.
This painting was called “Naki-Ryu”. It means roaring dragon. When someone clapped hands, it resounded unique sound Unfortunately, because of becoming superannuated structure we cannot listen to the sound now.
Palanquin that is hung down from the celling was actually used in the Edo period.
That was got in FUKUZAKI Sitinojo who is a samurai in Satsuma, Kyusyu.
He died of an illness at a daimyo’s processin while staying Narai in 1853.
You can take picture in this area.

tea leaf jars

03About tea leaf jars

On the way to the tea leaf jar

During the Edo period, the finest Uji tea leaves were packed in jars and transported to Edo castle (located in the former capital Edo, the modern-day Tokyo) for the consumption of the shogun.
This tradition was institutionalized in 1633 and continued until the end of the Edo period in the mid-1800s to demonstrate the absolute authority of the shogun.
The journey of over 500km started in Uji and took the Nakasendo road, one of the two roads that connected Edo and Kyoto.
On arrival in the Naraijuku area, Chosenji temple was the designated accommodation for the crew.
There are records at the temple stating that as part of their responsibility, to “offer accommodation space for the procession of the Ocha-tsubo-dou-chu”.
Many restrictions were imposed when the procession was passing, from children playing on the road, releasing smoke from cooking and even prohibited from working on a farm during the farming season.
Watch and experience the reenactment of a procession at Naraijuku departing Chosenji temple at noon on the last day of the Naraijuku festival held annually in June.

Tomb of Notonokami Nobuyoshi Fujita

04About Chosenji Chuko Kaiki

Tomb of Notonokami Nobuyoshi Fujita

Nobuyoshi Fujita, who was a powerful family in Musashi Province, changed his lord to the Hojo clan, Takeda clan, and Uesugi clan according to the tradition of the Warring States period, and finally became the Tokugawa daimyo. is.
He served as Numata Castle under Mr. Hojo, but since his relatives died a mysterious death that seems to be due to Mr. Hojo’s plot, he accepted Masayuki Sanada’s plan and surrendered Numata Castle, Takeda. I came to serve Katsuyori. Then, given the Takeda family’s character, “Shin,” he welcomes Shingen Takeda’s granddaughter as his wife.
In the 10th year of Tensho (1582), in the battle between Katsuyori Takeda and Yoshimasa Kiso at the Torii Pass, Narai was also struck by fire and Chosenji was destroyed by fire. Nobuyoshi, who was devoted to Osho Yamato, the chief priest of Chosenji Temple, later revived the temple’s sangharama. It became the foundation of Chuko Kaiki.
After the fall of the Takeda clan, he served the Uesugi clan in Echigo and played an active part in various battles, and was ranked fifth in the ranking of the Uesugi clan after Kanetsugu Naoe. After the death of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Tokugawa Ieyasu’s solo run became conspicuous, but Kagekatsu Uesugi and Kanetsugu Naoe did not change their minds to reward the late Hideyoshi’s treatment and showed their willingness to resist Ieyasu.
In the New Year of Keicho 5 (1600), Nobuyoshi went up to Osaka on behalf of the scenic spot and greeted Hideyori Toyotomi and Ieyasu Tokugawa for the New Year. At that time, Ieyasu is said to have said, “Tell me that Ieyasu should go up and discuss national affairs together.” In order to avoid unnecessary wars and protect the people, and to protect the Uesugi family, Nobuyoshi recommended reconciliation with Tokugawa, but Kagekatsu and Kanetsugu will continue to go through the war. Around this time, the wind on Nobuyoshi on the peace line became stronger, and he was removed from the forefront of the Uesugi Corps. In addition, because there were rumors that Kanetsugu was aiming for his life, he left Aizu with the clan party, leaving a letter of invocation saying that the Uesugi family had no two hearts. After that, I shaved my hair at Daitokuji Temple in Kyoto and lived there. At the time of the conquest of Aizu, which triggered the Battle of Sekigahara, Ieyasu ordered directions, but he resigned, saying, “The Uesugi family has no two hearts.” Later, Ieyasu repeatedly called out to serve Tokugawa, and Nobuyoshi, who was defeated, became the daimyo of Shimono Nishikataban 15,000 stones. It is said that Ieyasu found utility value in Nobuyoshi’s relationship with Takeda, Sanada, and Uesugi, and also bought the ability as a tactician and a castle builder.

He joined the winter and summer camps in Osaka, and suffered a great deal of damage in the summer camp, so he asked the shogunate to take a bath and healed at Shinshu Suwa Onsen. However, the wound was unexpectedly heavy, and he was buried at Chosenji Temple in Narai at the end. Nobuyoshi’s legal name is “Jikishiin-den Ichihiki Genshin-shi”. Since he left a will to the priest of the temple to call himself “Fujita”, his last name, the chief priests who entered Chosenji kept giving their surname Fujita until the Meiji era.

* Reference materials “Old Temple Documents / Others” “Nobuyoshi Fujita Notomori (Heiji Shimura / Rekishigaku Kenkyusho)” “Mr. Kitakami and Mr. Fujita Musashi (Motoki Kuroda / Naomi Asakura / Iwata Shoin)” “Mr. Uesugi Chronology (Susumu Ike, Toshifumi Yada ed./Koshishoin) “

Sadaji's Stone Buddha

05About Sadaji’s Stone Buddha

Enmei Jizo Daibosatsu

In the Edo period, the masons of the Takato clan (currently Ina City), who were called “Takato Stonemasons” and were famous all over the country, have excellent skills and go to various places to make various stone masons. I did.
Among them, Sadaji Moriya (1765-1832) was called a rare master craftsman. Sadaji’s works are located all over the prefecture, and he has left more than 300 works in his lifetime. Which is said to be the most beautiful figure in Kiso Valley.