Komatsu-dera

• Established: 1175
• Japanese: 小松寺 (komatsudera)

Komatsu-dera is a small Buddhist temple in the Inland Sea port town of Tomonoura, in Kure City, Hiroshima prefecture. The temple, which traces its origins to the 12th century, is notable for its connections to the Ryukyuan embassies to Edo.

The temple is said to have its origins in the establishment in 1175 by Taira no Shigemori of a small worship hall for a statue of Amida. Shigemori stopped in Tomonoura on his way to Itsukushima Shrine, and erected the structure, also planting a pine tree in commemoration of the event. The temple takes its name either from this "small pine" (J: komatsu), or from Shigemori's honorific title, Komatsu daifu. The pine, incidentally, continued to live and grow at the temple for nearly 780 years, before being felled in a typhoon in 1954.

In 1183, Shigemori's second son Taira no Sukemori ordered Taira no Sadayoshi to bring some of the late Shigemori's hair to Tomonoura; a five-story pagoda was erected with Shigemori's hair as the chief relic.

Ashikaga Tadauji stayed at Komatsu-dera for a time in 1335, alongside his younger brother Ashikaga Naoyoshi, while journeying to the Kantô from his Kyushu campaign. Less than five years later, the temple became an encampment for forces of the Northern Court, during a 10+ day battle against Southern Court forces, based at Ôgashima castle, fighting for control of Tomo; ultimately, the Northern court won back control of the town.

References

• Plaques on-site.[1]