Hamamatsu Information Book

Prince Munenaga or Munenaga Shinno, a son of Emperor Godaigo, was born in 1311. His mother was from the Nijo family.

 

In 1334, Emperor Godaigo established a new government after the fall of the Kamakura shogunate. However, Ashikaga Takauji revolted against the emperor. The war between the Southern Court led by Godaigo and the Northern Court led by Ashikaga lasted for 70 years.

 

Munenaga visited Iinoya in August, 1337. The following year, he came to the Iinoya castle again as his ship was hit by a storm in the Enshunaga Sea. The Northern court army invaded into the Totomi region in 1339, and the Kamoe castle and the Sentogamine castle were conquered. The Mitake castle fell in the next year. Munenaga fled to the Oidaira castle, which was located in present Hamakita-ku. However, this castle was also soon overthrown. Ii Michizane helped the prince to take refuge in Suruga. He then moved from place to place such as Echigo, Sinano, and Yoshino before he settled in deep in a mountain in Shinano Okawara (present Oshika Village, Nagano) where he spent 30 years.

 

Prince Munenaga passed away at the age of 72 in 1385, the next year the Hokoji temple in Okuyama was built. The Ninomiya Shrine, the Entsuji temple, the Ryotanji temple, and the Iinoya shrine worship the prince.