Temple of the Death Bath / 野間大坊 

In the sleepy region of Mihama Cho on the Chita Peninsula some 35 kilometers south of Nagoya City, 
stands a mid seventh Century temple of the Shingon Buddhist sect. The ancient Omidoji Temple, 
also known as Noma Daibou is also famous for having been the site of the bath house where the great 
warrior, Minamoto no Yoshitomo, father of the first of the Kamakura Shogun, Yoritomo and Yoshitsune, 
was killed.

名古屋市から約35kmほど南にある知多郡美浜町。
ここには、600年代後半に創建された大御堂寺（おおみどうじ）という寺（＝野間大坊）があり、鎌倉幕府を
開いた源頼朝の父、源義朝（源義経の父でもある）の墓があります。義朝は、この場所で最後を遂げたのです。

In 1159, the Minamoto and the Taira clans, once close, had become bitter enemies. Yoshitomo had been 
defeated in the Heiji Rebellion and fled the capital, Kyoto, for modern day Aichi Prefecture. Yoshitomo was 
staying in the village of Noma at the residence of one Osada Tadamune when the father-in-law of one of his retainers betrayed Yoshitomo to his enemies for a reward.

Having been informed of his whereabouts, Yoshitomo’s enemies attacked while the head of the
Minamoto Clans was taking a bath.

Naked and unarmed, Yoshitomo was an easy target. Surrounded by the enemy, his last words were
 “If I had even a wooden sword,…” before being slain.  His head was taken and washed in a small
pond nearby, which has since been known as the Chi No Ike, or Pond of Blood. The remains of the
bathhouse itself can also still be seen.

1159年、平治の乱で平清盛に敗れた義朝は、家臣である鎌田政清と共に、政清の義理の父である長田忠政を
頼って京都から野間の地へ逃げてきました。ところが、この長田忠政と息子の景政は、平家からの恩賞を目当てに
義朝を風呂でだまし討ち。武器も持たず、何の抵抗もできなかった義朝は最後に「ここに一ふりの太刀ありせば
かかる遅れはとらぬものを」と無念を言い残し、亡くなります。その首は、近くの池で洗われ（現在も「血の池」
として残っている）敵であった平清盛に差し出されました。

The grave site, enclosed by a low stone wall, is located right alongside the temple’s main hall. 
Surrounding Yoshitomo’s central grave are the graves of his retainer, Kamata Masaie who on discovering 
the plot was stabbed twice by the traitor, and also that of the third son of Oda Nobunaga, Oda Nobutaka, 
who took his own life at Noma Daibou having been ousted from Gifu Castle in 1583.

Today, visitors to the noble warriors’ grave leave gifts of wooden swords in the belief that those who 
dedicate a sword will have their prayers answered. Because of this, the grave itself is always covered 
in a variety of wooden swords. A small kiosk sells small wooden sword shaped stakes for 500 yen.

野間大坊にある義朝の墓には、このエピソードにちなみ、小さな木刀が供えられています。1本500円で購入し、
お願いごとを書いて義朝の墓に供えると願いごとが叶うのだとか。義朝の墓のすぐそばには、義朝と共に殺された
家臣・鎌田政清と、その妻の墓もあるほか、かなり時代は違いますが、岐阜城主であった織田信長の三男・信孝が
賤ヶ岳の合戦で破れた後、この地で自害したことから、信孝の墓も残されています。

The Noma Daibou’s main worship hall, the Kyakuden, is designated an Important Cultural Property,
and the Bonsho Prayer Hall is a Prefectural Cultural asset. The Prayer hall’s entrance way is of
additional interest, as it was formerly a part of the reception hall at Momoyama Castle.

Between the Kyakuden and the Bonsho halls are a gate erected in 1190 by Yoritomo in memory
of his slain father, and a drum tower (Photo) built by the Fifth Kamakura Shogun Fujiwara Yoritsugu
in honor of his ancestor.

野間大坊本殿は、豊臣秀吉の居城であった「伏見桃山城」の一部を移築したもの。また、鎌倉五代将軍
藤原頼嗣に寄進された釣り鐘のある鐘楼堂（写真）は、国の重要文化財、大御堂寺大門は、源頼朝によって
1190年に創建されたものです。

Noma Daibou retains a slightly spooky presence. This is where history happened. Not much seems to
have changed in the 850 years since Minamoto No Yoshitomo fled here hoping to find sanctuary,
only to lose his life.

少々、暗いエピソードの多い野間大坊ですが、源義朝公を弔いつつ、日本の大切な歴史の一つを学ぶことの
できる場所として、ぜひ訪れてみてください。

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