A very famous 1000 year old ginkgo tree at the Tsurugaoka Hachiman shrine in Kamakura fell in a recent storm. There is a very interesting story about this very old tree. The tree is famous because of an event that took place in the year 1219. In 1219, Shogun Minamoto no Sanetomo was assassinated by Minamoto Kugyô. From the stories I’ve read, apparently Kugyô hid behind this very ginkgo tree in order to assassinate Sanetomo which he succeeded in doing. Kugyo was captured and beheaded the next day. Sanetomo was the 3rd Minamoto shogun during the Kamakura bakufu and it was following his assassination that the Minamoto never again had effective power. From that point forward, the true power behind the Kamakura shoguns was held by the regents of the great Hojo clan.
I don't know if Minamoto Kugyô really did hide behind this great gingko tree but it is an amazing story from one of the great events in Japanese history so it is sad to see this tree finally meet its end here in the year 2010.
Photos are from Wikipedia Commons and are labeled for reuse.
Holy cow. Who knows if the story is true or not, but that tree is seriously famous and historical and, not only that, but it's kami.
ReplyDeleteVery sad to see it go. What a moment in the history of the shrine, and by extension of the city, that this tree should fall. You know that's going to start appearing in guidebooks, signs or plaques on the site..
You're right. I feel bad I did not get a chance to visit here before the tree fell.
ReplyDeleteThis is happening to many of the old trees in Japan. It's the circle of life.
ReplyDeleteThere is some hope that the tree may still survive through new growth at the broken trunk.
ReplyDeletehttp://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20100313a6.html
Maybe they will put a section in a glass case like they did with the pine tree in Ichijo-ji Kyoto that Miyamoto Musashi fought at. :)
ReplyDeleteThe Tsurugaoka tree really was an awesome tree, from the first photo it looks like it really added a lot of character to the area.
-There is a tree in Yagyu village that Yagyu Jubei allegedly planted that had been killed by a lighting strike. I'm sure it will suffer the same fate some day.
I was at this shrine in Jan 2009. Took some photos, but everything was dead it being winter and all, and it was very cold, so I didn't spend much time there and didn't pay much attention to the tree. Was planning on returning in autumn sometime to get photos of the golden leaves. Oh well..
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment David. If you still end up go back to the shrine, maybe you might see some new life coming from the tree stump. They have hope apparently.
ReplyDeleteTragic - but thanks for bringing this magnificent tree to our notice, even after its demise....
ReplyDeleteI just returned from Kamakura. The old stump of the famous ginko tree is covered in new green shoots. I will post a picture after I return to America.
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