Thread by @camelliakyoto

👹'TOMB OF THE BEASTS'😱

In 1611, during excavation of the Takase Canal (高瀬川), Suminokura Ryōi (角倉了以) discovered a stone pagoda. Further investigation revealed that he had unearthed the tomb of the 'traitor' Toyotomi Hidetsugu (豊臣秀次 1568-95).
#folklore #Kyoto #京都

Hidetsugu was the nephew and heir of Japan's de facto ruler, Toyotomi Hideyoshi (豊臣秀吉), but in 1595 he dramatically fell from grace and was forced to commit seppuku at Mt Kōya.

His grave became known by many names, including the "Beast's Mound" (畜生塚 "Chikushō-zuka").

It is unclear why Hidetsugu was so abruptly put to death, but the most likely explanation is the unexpected birth of Hideyoshi's son in 1593.
When Hideyori (秀頼) survived his first years, Hideyoshi no longer needed an adopted heir & Hidetsugu may well have thought about a coup.

Hidetsugu was put to death with his entire household, an event that shocked the country.
The cruelty of the act has led some to consider that Hideyoshi was mentally unwell, but others believe that Hidetsugu was actually plotting to usurp his uncle (thus deserved his punishment).

Having discovered the burial mound, Ryōi decided to erect a temple to pray for the souls of those executed.

The monk Ryūkū Keishuku (立空桂叔) founded Zuisen-ji (瑞泉寺) on what was then commonly known as "Hidetsugu Akugyaku-zuka" (秀次悪逆塚), the "Traitor Hidetsugu's Mound".

🤔'Akugyaku' (悪逆) means 'atrocity', but the translation of '秀次悪逆塚' is not so straightforward. Even if Hidetsugu was a traitor, many people were horrified by the actions taken against his family, so the mound here was also a reminder of cruelty dished out on the innocent.

The graves of Hidetsugu and his household can be found in the SW portion of the grounds, arranged here in 3 groups at the temple's founding.
A hexagonal tower marks Hidetsugu's tomb: the front face is etched with his name, the other 5 faces the names of his 5 children.
#folklore

If you look closely you can see a stone box (a funerary urn), with the date of Hidetsugu's death carved in to the lower left corner. At one time the words "The Traitor Hidetsugu's Mound" (秀次悪逆塚) could be seen across its face, but Ryōi had them removed.
#Japan #秀次悪逆塚

After Hidetsugu's death his head was buried in a mound on the dry riverbed just below Sanjō Bridge (三条河原), facing west.

The 34 women, 5 children and 5 vassals of his household were also executed and buried here.

A stone marker was erected: 'Tomb of Beasts' (畜生塚).
#Kyoto

On July 15th 1595 Toyotomi Hidetsugu, after many weeks confined at Kongōbu-ji (金剛峯寺) on Kōya-san, was forced to commit suicide (some say he was actually assassinated).
His head was brought to Kyōto and exposed at the riverbed below Sanjō Bridge (三条大橋).
#folklore #豊臣秀次

4 days earlier, on July 11th, Hidetsugu’s household had been brought back to Kyōto from confinement in Kameyama Castle (亀山城 - modern Kameoka).

On July 29th they were moved to Tokunaga Nagamasa’s residence (徳永寿昌) and prepared for death.
#Kyoto #京都 #ToyotomiHidetsugu

Hideyoshi finally ordered their death after claiming they continued to worship the traitor Hidetsugu.

The 39 women and children were carried to the riverbed at Sanjō in carts. Before Hidetsugu's exposed head they wrote 'death poems' on strips torn from their funeral clothes.

Zuisen-ji (瑞泉寺) is still in possession of many of these 'jisei' (辞世 'death poems'). For safekeeping they are stored at Kyōto National Museum (京都国立博物館).

#folklore #瑞泉寺 #Zuisenji #Kyoto #京都 #Japan #kyototemples #ToyotomiHidetsugu #豊臣秀次

The children were killed first: 4 girls and 1 boy. They were followed by the 34 wives and ladies-in-waiting, varying in age from 12-68.

Only 1 of Hidetsugu's children was spared: a 1-month old daughter named Okiku, adopted by her grandfather's nephew, Gotō Okiyoshi (後藤興義).

The entire country was shocked by the lack of compassion shown by Hideyoshi to his own kin.
The children were stabbed to death and their remains tossed into a large hole that had been dug on the riverbed (it is said some were still breathing when it was filled in!).
#Japan #Kyoto

One of the most shocking deaths was that of Oima-no-kata (お伊万の方/aka Koma-hime 駒姫 1581-95), the 15 year old daughter of Mogami Yoshiaki (最上義光).
Only recently arrived in Kyōto from Dewa Province, she had not even met her husband-to-be before his death!
#京都 #Kyoto

Hideyoshi was not content with his nephew's death. He wished to make an example of Hidetsugu.
On the riverbed he constructed a mound in a square plot of land (covered in clay and stones). It was surrounded by a moat and a branch fence, with a single bridge to the south.
#Japan

The size of the moat (5.45m wide) indicates it was designed to prevent the site from being tampered with, suggesting there were those unhappy with how Hidetsugu and his family had been treated.
In total the plot covered approximately 36.36 square metres.
#豊臣秀次 #Kyoto #京都

The monk Jōan (貞安上人) from Daiun-in on Shijō (四条大雲院) brought a wooden statue of Jizō to the place of execution and in one corner set up a small area so the relatives of Hidetsugu could say their last prayers. He himself sat and prayed with them.
#大雲院 #Daiunin #Kyoto

Relatives of the dead were forbidden from taking possession of the bodies (preventing any kind of proper burial).
Hideyoshi's rage at Hidetsugu inspired so much fear that no offerings were left to comfort the souls of the dead.

#Kyoto #Japan #Zuisenji #瑞泉寺 #folklorethursday

A gravestone read the "Traitor Hidetsugu's Mound", but the site went by many names:
👹"Beast's Mound" (畜生塚 "Chikushō-zuka")
🎓"Chief Advisor’s Mound" (関白塚 "Kanpaku-zuka")
😢"Mound of Cruelty" (殺生塚 "Sesshō-zuka")
👑"Regent’s Mound" (摂政塚 "Sesshō-zsuka")
#folklore #Kyoto

A small thatched hut was built in the vicinity by the monk Keijun (慶順), who mourned for the family, but before long the flooding river smashed it to bits.

In a few short years storms and floods had all but swept the mound away.
#Kyoto #Japan #Kamogawa #鴨川 #京都 #瑞泉寺

Photo image thanks🙇‍♂️-
artjapanese.com,
ukiyo-e.org
(Ukiyo-e)
wakayama-kanko.or.jp/spots/176/,
(Koya-san)
plaza.rakuten.co.jp/ipsecvpn/diary…
(Hidetsugu Scrolls)
my-favorite-things-about-yamagata.com/togo/mogami-yo…
(Koma-hime)

Finally, in 1611, the spectacularly wealthy merchant and river engineer Suminokura Ryōi (角倉了以 1554-1614) rediscovered the site & Zuisen-ji (瑞泉寺) was founded.

The site was refreshed in 1942 and new gravestones added at this time. Currently there are 49 tombstones in total.