21‏/08‏/2013

Shuzen-ji Shigetsu-den Temple

Samurai tragedy and a Chinese priest

By Tomoko Kamishima

Community writer

Lotus flower in front of the small temple “Shigetsu-den”

Issan Ichinei’s inscription is in a very unique style

Stone tablet erected for the repose of Yoriie’s spirit

Image of Yoriie (from the leaflet of Shuzen-ji Temple)

Michelin’s Green Guide introduced this small temple in the middle of Izu Peninsula as a two-star destination in Japan. Shigetsu-den Temple was built for the repose of Minamoto Yoriie (2nd Shogun of Kamakura Shogunate) by his mother Hojo Masako. Yoriie took on the position of Shogun when he was 18, but opposing samurai clans fought to push aside him. Eventually, Yoriie was assassinated while bathing here in Shuzen-ji. 95 years later, when the Chinese priest Issan Ichinei was confined in Shuzen-ji on suspicion of committing espionage, he wrote out the calligraphy for “Shigetsu-den” in a very unique style. I wonder how a high level Zen priest saw the bloody world of the samurai.