Fukushima Masanori
Gōshō-ji is said to have been established during the Meiō era (1492 to 1501). During the Sengoku period of the 16th century, the town of Kohama developed into a typical temple town (寺内町 "jinai-machi") around Gōshō-ji. However, the town and the temple were burned down by General Fukushima Masanori (福島正則) in 1595, by order of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, because it was the hometown of one of the wives of Toyotomi Hidetsugu, called either Kohama-hime (小浜姫) or Kame-hime (亀姫). Hideyoshi had already killed both Hidetsugu and his Kame-hime. Even though Hidetsugu was a nephew of Hideyoshi, his loyalty came into doubt and Hideyoshi suspected he might try to usurp power from either him or Toyotomi Hideyori, the only son of Hideyoshi.