Virtual Mogami 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #4 Enno-ji Temple

 

     Enno-ji Temple was founded by Shiba Kaneyori (1316-1379) in 1356 to protect Yamagata Castle's Kimon, namely Ogre Gate.  Kimon is north-east.

     In 1356, in order to fight against the Oe and the Yambe Families, who belonged to the Southern Court, Kaneyori moved to Ideha Province, calling himself the Ideha Province Inspector.  He gained a foothold in Yamagata, Mogami County.  In the following year, he built Yamagata Castle and made it his base.  Kaneyori first moved a branch of Yuka-ji Temple to where Momiji Park is located, and changed  it into Hodo-ji Temple.  Later, he built many other temples and shrines to stabilize public sentiment in the province.

     In China, where the lunar old calendar is used, the year-end and New Year days mark not only the turning point of the year but also the transition from winter to spring.  It is a time of great change, and people tended to be sick.  They thought demons came to make them sick.

     On the other hand, in the Chinese zodiac system that have been used since ancient times, seasons and directions used the same phrases: Rat, Cow, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Chicken, Dog, and Wild boar.

     New Year's Eve, the boundary of the year, falls between Cow and Tiger.  The direction north-east also falls between Cow and Tiger.  At the time between Cow and Tiger, there come demons.  Then, they should come from the direction between Cow and Tiger, from north-east.  North-east is the gate for demons.  It's a very plain syllogism.

     Some criticize why the zodiac system has an imaginary animal, a dragon.  The criticism, however, is from the modern people's point of view.  How many of the other animals have you ever seen outside a zoo?  Luckily enough, I have never encountered a tiger outside a zoo.  It was in Australia not in Japan that I first saw a sheep.  I also saw wild kangaroos there.  I saw a rabbit outside a zoo when I, as a grown-up, went camping in Nagano Prefecture.  If I didn't like camping, I would have never seen a rabbit outside a zoo.  Of course, I have never seen a dragon either inside or outside a zoo, though.

     Anyway, Kaneyori founded Enno-ji Temple in the north-east of his castle to prevent demons coming to the castle.

     Around 1373, he was granted the yakata title by the Muromachi Shogunate and called himself Mogami Yakata.  He also changed his surname to Mogami after the Mogami County, which had become his territory.

     The Muromachi Shogunate, which was ruled by the Ashikaga Clan, gave yakata titles to the members of the Ashikaga Clan, and they were treated as highly as provincial guardian samurais.  The title was also allowed to the families who had been provincial guardian samurais for generations.  Those with the titles could attain important positions in the shogunate.  The titles were also given to the families who rendered distinguished services to the shogunate.

     After handing over the headship of the family to his eldest son, Naoie (?-1410), in 1375, Kaneyori built a hermitage within the castle grounds and spent his days immersing himself in chanting prayers to the Buddha.  He died on June 8th, 1379.

     Kaneyori used an image of Arya Avalokitesvara, who is the human-figure prototype of the other 6 metamorphoses, as the front ornament of his helmet.  When he founded Enno-ji Temple, he presented the image to Enno-ji Temple. 

     In 1720, another bigger Arya Avalokitesvara statue was carved, and the original one was concealed inside it.  The original one is displayed to the public every 33 years.  The next coming display is in 2039.

Address: 4 Chome-16-33 Miyamachi, Yamagata, 990-0057

Phone: 023-622-3937

Yamagata Castle Ruins

Address: 1 Kajomachi, Yamagata, 990-0826

Yuka-ji Temple

Address: 1543 Yatsushirocho Nagai, Fuefuki, Yamanashi 406-0823

Phone: 055-265-2259

Momiji Park

Address: 2 Chome-16-7 Higashiharamachi, Yamagata, 990-0034

Phone: 023-641-1212