Virtual Hiki Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #30 Kannon-ji Temple

     Kannon-ji Temple was founded by Priest Kenshuku (?-1678) as the shrine temple of Yamiya Shrine.

     A shrine was founded in the first half of the 8th century.

     In 938, Minamoto Tsunemoto (?-961) was assigned to the vice governor of Musashi Province when Prince Okiyo (?-940) was assigned to the acting governor of the province.  They tried to carry out a land survey as soon as they arrived in the province.  Musashi Takeshiba, who was the head of Adachi County, refused the land survey, saying, "A land survey has never been carried out before the arrival of the Provincial Governor."  Tsunemoto and Okiyo sent out soldiers to attack and plunder the residence of Takeshiba.

      Hearing this story, Taira Masakado (?-940) from Shimousa Province visited Takeshiba with his private army.  Tsunemoto and Okiyo barricaded themselves in Mt. Safuku in Hiki County with their wives and children.  Later, Okiyo climbed down from the mountain and gave an audience to Masakado and Takeshiba at the Musashi Provincial Government Office.  However, Tsunemoto remained on the mountain as he was dissatisfied.  In the office, a reconciliation was established between the two parties, and a banquet was held.  In the midst of the party, Takeshiba's soldiers surrounded Tsunemoto's camp.  Convinced that he would be killed by Masakado and others, Tsunemoto hurriedly fled back to Kyoto, and accused the Imperial Court that Masakado, Okiyo, and Takeshiba conspired to rebel.   Masakado and others sent certificates from the provincial governments of Hitachi, Shimousa, Shimotsuke, Musashi, and Kozuke dated May 2nd, 939, to Fujiwara Tadahira (880-949), the Prime Minister, stating, "the rebellion was groundless."  Masakado and others' explanation was accepted, and, on the contrary, Tsunemoto was detained on the charge of slander.

     In November 939, Masakado occupied Hitachi Provincial Government Office, and then he attacked and occupied other provincial government offices in the Kanto Region one after another.  In December of the same year, he declared himself to be 'the new emperor' at Kozuke Provincial Government Office and arbitrarily ruled over the occupied provinces.

     Truth sprang from lies.  Tsunemoto was not only released because his previous false accusation came true, but also he was promoted to Junior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade, because of his merit.  Tsunemoto was appointed as one of the vice-commanders and headed for the suppression of Masakado's rebellion.  Before his arrival, Masakado was hunted down and killed.  Tsunemoto returned to Kyoto.  In 941, he headed to suppress the rebellion of Fujiwara Sumitomo (?-941), but the rebellion had already been suppressed by Ono Yoshifuru (884-968) when Tsunemoto arrived.  Later, he successively served as provincial governors of Musashi, Shinano, Chikuzen, Tajima, and Iyo as an expert of provincial administration, and eventually became the General.

     Tsunemoto was surprised with the gods' providential help, and supported 8 shrines around Mt. Safuku in Hiki County:

Hirono-Yamiya Shrine (The god of Shimono-Yamiya Shrine was invited to Hirono in 868.)

Address: 927 Hirono, Ranzan, Hiki District, Saitama 355-0205

Shimozato-Yamiya Shrine (It used to be located along the border between Shimozato and Shiga Villages, and was moved to its present place in 868, delivering its god to the other 7 shrines.)

Address: 912 Shimozato, Ogawa, Hiki District, Saitama 355-0323

Sugiyama-Yamiya Shrine (it was founded in the first half of the 8th century.)

Address: 671 Sugiyama, Ranzan, Hiki District, Saitama 355-0211

Oppata-Yamiya Shrine

Address: 1445 Oppata, Ranzan, Hiki District, Saitama 355-0206

Nomasu-Yamiya Shrine (The Okahara Site dates back to the 4th century.  Eventually, a powerful local family was born, and they founded a shrine.)

Address: 282 Nomasu, Ogawa, Hiki District, Saitama 355-0305

Nakatsume-Yamiya Shrine

Address: 1039 Nakatsume, Ogawa, Hiki District, Saitama 355-0314

Shiga-Yamiya Shrine

Address: 1512 Shiga, Ranzan, Hiki District, Saitama 355-0214

Ogawa-Yamiya Shrine (It used to be located in Hinatayama, where Ogawahinataso Nursign Home is located.  It was moved to its present place in 1717.)

Address: 990-1 Ogawa, Hiki District, Saitama 355-0321

Ogawahinataso Nursign Home

Address: 1548-1 Ogawa, Hiki District, Saitama 355-0321

Phone: 0493-74-2191

     There has been a controversy on the location of Mt. Safuku, but the local powerful families with those 8 shrines might have supported Tsunemoto when he was in big trouble.

     Kannon-ji Temple was abolished presumably after the Meiji Restoration, with its Kannon-do Hall left

Address: 654 Oppata, Ranzan, Hiki District, Saitama 355-0206