Nakayama is in between Narita And Haneda International Airport

The Dictionary of a walk in nakayama shimousa

The Legends Of Ogri Hangan

The Legend Of Ogri Hangan In Onigoe

According to the historical records of Shinmeiji Temple in Onigoe, during the reign of the 6th Muromachi Shogun, Yoshinori Ashikaga, the Kamakura Kubo who controlled Kanto region as the chief officer of the local government of Muromachi Shogunate, attacked to Oguri Hangan at his house in Inamuragasaki in Kamakura as some false charges by his vessels, Yamana and Isshiki. Oguri Hangan and his father escaped to their land in Hitach province (Ibaraki prefectuer), on the way to Hitachi, he became separated from his father.
As soon as Oguri Hnagan neared Katsushika-gun Shimousa (eastern part of Tokyo and Saitama and north- western part of Chiba prefecture), he and his favorite horse 'Onikage' got stuck in the mud as it was the dark night. They were driven into the difficult situation to survive, Oguri Hangan decided to try suicide as he was a bushi. Then he took his statue of Fudo out of his kimono wearing, and he prayed to Fudo earnestly for good fortune of his family instead of his life. Soon after he prayed, he opened his eyes, he could see his way to escape from the sever predicament lighted up in front of him. Oguri Hangan believed honestly it was the divine favor of Fudo. He put the Fudo into his kimono and jumped on Onikage's back, then he could escaped from the jaws of death.
After crossing the pond and putting the pursuer off the scent, Oguri Hangan and his followers washed them at clear spring. And he had a deep religious mind so visited a temple near him to give his thanks for helping him from the jaws of death. When he tied Onikage to the ginkgo tree beside the gate and walk to the main hall of the temple, the chief priest of it came out of it and talked about a revelation from Fudo to him, then he chanted a sutra for his fudo. Oguri Hangan then left the Fudo helping him to the priest's care, so he asked him to chant everyday for it, then he left to Hitachi province.
The statue of Fudo preserved in the main hall of Onigoe-san Shinmeiji Temple is said to be the Fudo having helped Ogri Hangan called 'Oguri Hangan Yakuyoke Shusse Fudo (Oguri Hangan's Apotropaic And Promotable Fudo) and the ginkgo tree tied to his favorite horse 'Onikage' is standing now.
Finally some says Onigoe named after Onikage, so the land Onikage jumped over (koeru).

The Legend Of Oguri Hangan

The legend of Oguri Hangan is known as a sermon 'Oguri', joruris 'Oguri Hangan' written by Monzaemon Chikamatsu and 'Oguri Hangan Kuruma Kaido' written by Bunkodo. The origine of the story was the Rebellion of Oguri in Oei 30th (1423).

The area Oguri in Hitachi province (Chikusei city in Ibaraki prefecture) was a private estate owned by Ise Jingue, and originally it was called Okuri, the sound of this land name has changed to Oguri. And Oguri clan, belonging to Hitachi Heishi family, managed the land for several generations as their family business.

Oguri clan was a samurai worriers belonging to Kyoto Fuchishu who directly entered the service of the Shoguns in Kyoto at Kanto and Tohoku region in Muromachi period (1336 - 1573), then the Ogiri and Kamakura Kubo (a representative and a relative of the Shogun acting as a the leading busho in Kanto region) had a confrontational relationship. At the Revolt of Zenshu Uesgi (One of the most influential vessels to control Kanto region and one of the chief counselors of the Kamakura Kubo), the Oguri supported Uesgi and fought against Kamakura Kubo. After losing the battle, the Ogri Clan lost the most of their territory. This triggered the next battle, so the Oguri had unsatisfied at the Kubo. The Revolt Of Oguri happened at 1423. Mochiuji Ashikaga, the Kamakura Kubo,took his large troops to the Ogurijo Castle in Hitachi and attacked. Finally, Mitsushige Oguri, the 14th master of the family, committed suicide by sword (some said he had not died, he lived and became the Oguri Hangan) and his castle was fallen.
Sukeshige Oguri, the son of Mitsushige (or a younger brother) escaped to his relatives in Mikawa province (the eastern part of Aichi prefecture) from the castle with his 10 key retainers called 10 Oguri Braves. (Some says Oguri clan in Mikawa was the descendant of the Oguri from Hitachi at that time) On the way to Mikawa, Oguri Hangan and His retainers stayed in the mansion of Daizen Yokoyama, a powerful regional family in Sagami province. However, Yokayama was a gang of thieves. He attempted killing Oguri and his retainers by poisoning to rob their valuables. Yokoyama had a daughter, Terutehime, and she made love with Oguri Hnagan. To know her father's attempt, she tried to tell her lover what her father would do. She sang a song repeatedly to tell that there was poison in the alcohol on the table. But nobody found her meanings. As a result they were all killed and their dead bodies threw away.
Nontheless, Sukeshige only kept living. When he breathed in faintly, a priest, the venerable Yugyou?, found him and helped carefully.
Anyway Terudehime who had had the promise of marriage cried what her father, Daizen Yokoyama, had done to Sukeshige. She ran away from home. Then her father angered her and he robbed of all she had. She had to live without a farthing, she worked for a maidservant to live. And she believed that Sukeshige would come again.
After he recovered his strength, Oguri Hangan went back to his land Oguri, and captured his castle. He defeated Daizen Yokoyama, and he found out his betrothed Terudehime. Eventually, they got married and lived happily.

The legend of Oguri Hangan is introduced in some different plots that include some stories about his birth. And most stories about it also strongly introduced the wonder-working deity of Kumano Gongen and the medicinal benefits of hot springs specially helped Oguri Hangan's recovery.
In fact, the Oguri Clan regained the land about 20 years after the Revolt of Oguri.

Oguri Hangan (Mitsushiga and Sukeshige Oguri) and Oguri Family

Oguri Hangan is a legendary figure. He was the master of the Ogurijo Castle in Hitachi province. The story of Oguri Hangan is modeled after Sukeshige Oguri. Some says that the father of Sukeshige, Mitsushige, is the model.

Mitsushige Oguri and Sukeshige belonged to the Oguri family in Hitachi, it was a collateral branch of Daijyo family, so their origins were Kanmu Heishi (Heishi in Bando).

Mitsushige's father had served Kamakura Kubo, but Mitsushige became a Kyoto fuchishu who directly entered the service of the Shoguns in Kyoto at Kanto and Tohoku region in Muromachi period (1336 - 1573), then the Ogiri and Kamakura Kubo (a represetitive and a relative of the Shogun acting as a the leading busho in Kanto region) had a confrontational relationship. First Mitsushige's revolt against the Kamakura Kubo Mochiuji Ashikaga succeeded, so he successfully defeated the large arms of Kubo. Next Mitsushige supported Uesgi and fought against Kamakura Kubo at the Revolt of Zenshu Uesgi, one of the most influential vessels to control Kanto region and one of the chief counselors of the Kamakura Kubo). After losing the battle, the Ogri Clan lost the most of their territory. This triggered the next battle, so the Oguri had unsatisfied at the Kubo. The Revolt Of Oguri happened at 1423. Mochiuji Ashikaga, the Kamakura Kubo　took his large troops to the Ogrijo Castle in Hitachi and attacked. Finally, Mitsushige Oguri, the 14th master of the family, committed suicide by sword (some said he had not died, he lived and became the Oguri Hangan) and his castle was fallen.
Later Sukeshige Oguri, the son or a younger brother of Mitsushige distinguished himself in Yuki War in 1440 and he regained his family's estates. However, he stood in difficult position in the battle of Kyotoku, Nariuji Ashikaga, a son of Mochiuji, attacked to his castle then Sukeshige finally lost all his family estates in Oguri in Hitachi province (Chikusei city in Ibaraki prefecture). After losing the battle, he became a priest named Sotan. Sotan famed at his drawings, he was counted as the best artist at that time, so he served Shogun family in Kyoto to teach how to draw. Sotan Oguri was one of the most famous artists in Muromachi period.
By the way, some says Oguri Hangan was based on Sukeshige Oguri and others says Mitsushige was. And some also says that the descendants of the Oguri clan in Hitachi settled in Mikawa province then the clan became the Oguri in Mikawa.


参考
市川市ホームページ
神明社案内板
鬼越山神明寺案内板
市川よみうり（２０１２年１１月１０日号）
市川のむかしばなし改訂新版
筑西市観光協会ホームページ
ブリタニカ国際大百科事典
大辞泉
ウィッキペディア