English

History of Negoro

Negoro Temple is the general name for more than 500 temples in NEGORO district.
Negoro Temple is a representative treasure of cultural properties in Iwade City.
Formal name is Ichijozan Denpo-in Negoro Temple KAKUBAN , the founder of New (=Shinghi) School of Shingon shu, built this temple.
It’s said at first he built Dai Denpo-in Mitsu-gon-in at KOYASAN in 1130 .
But Buddhists in KOYASAN had resisted to this new school, so the head master RAIYU moved this temple to NEGORO in 1288.
At the end of MUROMACHI period it’s said as, golden age, lodgings were more than 2700, received 720 thousand koku(29,600,000 litters)of rice(cf. Duke of TOKUGAWA of KISHU, got only 550 thousand koku)
Armed buddhists with guns(called as Negoro Shu)were more than ten thousands.
This temple was a huge military base, with lots of priests and colleges.
This is very similar to VATICAN in ROME.
Negoro Had resisted to ODA NOBUNAGA and TOYOTOMI HIDEYOSHI, but in 1585, HIDEYOSHI subdued Negoro.
He fired almost all, except TAISHIDO and DAITO.
Restored in EDO period, Negoro Templeis still now as the head temple of Shinghi Shingon shu, Negoro is continuously keeping its tradition more than 850 years.

*Introduction of guns

In 1543, MIN(CHINA)ship appeared in TANEGASHIMA.
Three Portuguese introduced guns , gunpowder and Western Civilization.
TSUDA KENMOTSU at Negoro Temple, went to TANEGASHIMA, learned how to product gun and powder, then got back to Negoro. The first product of gun in Mainland Japan, was made by SHIBATSUJI SEIEMON who lived at Negoro.

*TSUDA KENMOTSU

By “ TEPPO-KI” of Duke of TANEGASHIMA family , it’s said he was ordered by Duke of TANEGASHIMA, sent to Negoro as a messenger to SUGHINOBO(one temple in NEGORO), carrying an original gun of Portuguy.
In 1544, he ordered SEIEMON who was a swordsmith, to copy the Portuguese gun.
One of the first product of Mainland Japanese gun(called HINAWA-JYU)was born under the produce of KENMOTSU, at West Sakamoto, Negoro.
KENMOTSU was also a founder of gunnery instruction, ‘TSUDA-RYU’.
He founded a gun unit called TEPPO-TAI.
Through EIROKU, GHENKI and TENSHO period, he fought severely between Wakayam and Osaka.
TSUDA FAMILY originally started from KAWACHI, Osaka, moved to OGURA, Wakayama City.
He was conferred by SHOGUN YOSHIHARU with degree, later became a head of SUGHINOBO.
After that, SUGHINOBOH‘s military had been organized by TSUDA FAMILY.
He sleeps in peace at ARAKAWA , Kinokawa City, without knowing the tragic fall of Negoro Temple.

*NOBUNAGA’ s ATTACK to SAIKA,then NEGORO

Through Civil War period, the power of Negoro Temple was spread all over from South KAWACHI to IZUMI, KISHIWADA area(Osaka).
The powerful armed colony which was quickly adopted with guns, couldn’t be ignored by DAIMYOs(Dukes)in this period.
NOBUNAGA who intended to unify under heaven, tried to conquer ISHIYAMA HONGANJI TEMPLE, unsuccessfully.
At TENSHO 5, he attacked SAIKA GROUP (originally born in Wakayama, called SAIKA SHU) who had joined HONGANJI TEMPLE
At this time, repelled a wish of KEN-NYO SHONIN, SUGHINOBO group entered on the side of NOBUNAGA, as to keep their concessions.
As the result of this, SAIKA SHU under the command of SUZUKI MAGOICHI, surrendered to NOBUNAGA.
Driving on without a stop, NOBUNAGA attacked KOYASAN, but conscious about the power of Negoro , he couldn’t do a definite decision.

*HIDEYOSHI’s ATTACK to KISHU(Wakayama)

After NOBUNAGA’s death, HIDEYOSHI started to unify under heaven.
He attacked the ally(TOKUGAWA  IEYASU and ODA  NOBUO) in OWARI(Nagoya).
At this time, Negoro corps had expected HIDEYOSHI’s intension, attacked KISHIWADA CASTLE with ally, but defeated.
In next year, TENSHO 13, HIDEYOSHI who had reconciled with TOKUGAWA, attacked Negoro thoroughly.
It’s because he had thought “ Once we destroy just Negoro, all the dukes in KISHU will surrender without fighting.”
Terrible force of HIDEYOSHI’s 10 thousands of large army attacked Negoro to be ruined.
Negoro Temple that had ruled North Wakayama through Medieval period, was definitely destroyed and Negoro Mountains were reduced to ashes.