Pilgrimage to the Graves of Kamakura Warriors: Where Yoritomo, Yoshitoki, and Masako Rest
An analysis of the burial sites of Minamoto no Yoritomo, Hojo Yoshitoki, and Hojo Masako, founders of the Kamakura shogunate, based on historical sources.
Yoritomo’s grave (Hojido site) is located in Nishimido, Kamakura. Minamoto no Yoritomo died on the thirteenth day of the first month of Shoji 1 (1199). The Azuma Kagami records the onset of his illness but does not specify the cause of death clearly, and determining the cause remains impossible based on primary sources alone. The stone gorinto (five-tiered stupa) visible today is a later construction.
Yoshitoki’s Grave: Consolidator of Warrior Rule
Hojo Yoshitoki’s grave is located near Yoritomo’s, at the site of the Yoshitoki Hojido. In the Jokyu War of 1221, Yoshitoki’s forces overwhelmed the retired Emperor Go-Toba’s armies and exiled three retired emperors — a historical turning point demonstrating that warrior power had subjugated the imperial court. After Yoshitoki’s death, his son Yasutoki succeeded as regent and in 1232 promulgated the Goseibai Shikimoku.
Masako’s Grave: The Nun Shogun
Hojo Masako’s grave is located in the same district. Masako died in Karoku 1 (1225). She is most famous for her speech recorded in the Azuma Kagami, exhorting the gokenin not to forget Yoritomo’s benevolence during the Jokyu War. The title ama shogun (nun shogun) does not appear in contemporary sources; it is a posthumous designation.
Jufukuji and Hokokuji
Jufukuji in Ogigayatsu was established as a Zen temple with Eisai as founding priest, supported by Masako after Yoritomo’s death. The hillside behind the main hall contains gorinto traditionally identified as those of Masako and Sanetomo. Hokokuji, founded in 1334, served as the bodaiji of the Ashikaga and Uesugi clans and is renowned for its grove of moso bamboo.
FAQ
Is the cause of Yoritomo’s death known?
The Azuma Kagami does not specify the cause. Multiple theories exist including a fall from a horse, acute illness, and diabetic coma, but none have clear primary source evidence.
Are the gorinto seen today the original structures?
All three gorinto are later constructions. The stone stupa at Yoritomo’s grave is estimated to date from the late Kamakura to Muromachi period.
When did the title Nun Shogun come into use?
The title ama shogun does not appear in contemporary sources. It is a posthumous designation that became established in later historical writing.