【Yokai & Mystery】 The vengeful spirit of Nitta Shrine (Tokyo pref.)
Nitta Yoshioki was a warrior of the Southern Court during the Nanboku-ch? period, but he was driven to Musashi Province, the edge of the Kanto region, by the Northern Court army led by Ashikaga Takauji.
Yoshioki was then ambushed by his former subordinates who had defected to the Northern Court army, and as a result, he committed suicide. Naturally, his vengeful spirit was tremendous, giving rise to several legends.
This time, we visited the Nitta Shrine, which was built to appease Yoshioki's vengeful spirit. (Nihedon @ KesaranPasaran Lab)
It is said that on January 10th and October 10th, when the festivals of Nitta Shrine are held, the Hatakeyama clan, who betrayed Yoshioki, visit and "let out growls."
This mound is said to be the burial site of Yoshioki's remains. It's also known as the "Lost Mound," as it's said that anyone who enters it will never be able to leave.
The single cedar tree in the center of the mound is said to be a remnant of the ship Yoshioki was on, or perhaps a transformed piece of his armor.
The bamboo grove here is said to be the root of the white flag of the Minamoto clan that was erected in this area, and there's a legend that it splits in two with a loud noise when thunder strikes. It seems that Mr. Hiraga Gennai considered selling protective arrows made from the bamboo found here.
Legend says that Yoshioki became the "God of Thunder" after his death, and it seems he even struck this sacred tree with lightning.
The Legend of Shojo no Tsubone at Onazuka Shrine:
Shojo no Tsubone was a beautiful 16-year-old girl offered by Takezawa Ukyo-nosuke (Yoshioki's former subordinate) to assassinate Yoshioki.
She was ordered to invite Yoshioki to a banquet to assassinate him, but Shojo no Tsubone, having fallen in love with him, prevented him from going.
Later, she was brutally murdered by Ukyo-nosuke and her body was thrown into the Tama River. Onazuka Shrine, also known as the "Shrine of Love," was built on the spot where her remains washed ashore.
Toyose Shrine: This shrine is dedicated to the warriors who fought to protect Yoshioki until the very end and died in battle.
Tonbei Jizo: The boatman, ordered by Ukyo-no-suke and others to drill a hole in the bottom of the ship carrying Yoshioki, was later cursed and killed by Yoshioki's vengeful spirit.
This Jizo statue is dedicated to that boatman, but perhaps due to Yoshioki's vengeful spirit, it crumbles apart no matter how many times it is rebuilt, and is therefore called the "Melting Jizo."
Komyoji Temple, Kannon Hall: Edo Tominokami, who, along with Ukyonosuke, tricked and killed Yoshioki, was pierced by a seven-foot arrow fired by the spirit of Yoshioki, who appeared with thunder and was riding a "horse with horns."
He lost consciousness and, at Komyoji Temple's Kannon Hall (or Enmeiji Temple), he struggled and suffered for seven days as if drowning before finally dying.