Hojo Tokimasa: The Legend of the Three Scales

Hojo Tokimasa: The Legend of the Three Scales

【Image: Provided by Electronic Museum Miyu Net Fujisawa】

According to the ”Taiheiki,” in the first year of Kenkyu (1190), Hojo Tokimasa, who became regent of the Kamakura Shogunate, spent 37 days on Enoshima Island praying for the prosperity of his descendants.
On the night of his full supplication, a beautiful woman (Benzaiten) appeared and said to him,

In your previous life, you were the Hakone priest. You wrote 66 copies of the Lotus Sutra and dedicated them to 66 sacred places, and because of your good deeds, you have been reborn on this land. Therefore, your descendants shall be the masters of Japan for a long time to come, and you may be proud of your prosperity. However, if your descendants' behavior is not in line with the path of government, they will perish in less than seven generations.

She then left.
The beautiful woman turned into a giant snake (dragon) and disappeared into the sea.
Looking at the remains, Tokimasa found three large scales on the ground.
He was pleased with the fulfillment of his prayer and adopted “Mitsu-uroko (three scales)" as the emblem of his banner.


◆ Address
Enoshima Fujisawa-shi, Kanagawa

◆ Parking
https://www.s-n-p.jp/english/

◆ Transportation
10 minutes walk from Katase-Enoshima Station on Odakyu Line
15 minutes walk from Enoshima Station on Enoden Line

◆ Website
https://www.discover-fujisawa.jp/sightseeing/whattosee/enoshima-shrine/