Trees In the Town

Virtual Old Akita 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #16 Enman-ji Temple

 

     Mt. Kosugi is located on the left bank of Tsuchikai River.  According to tradition, the god(s) of Hakusan Shrine was/were invited to the opposite bank in 717.  In 807, Enman-ji Temple was founded at the foot of Mt. Kosugi.

     In 709, Ideha County was established at the northern end of Koshi Province.  Ideha Fortress was supposedly built around that time at the estuary of Mogami River.  Ideha County was separated from Koshi Province and was promoted to province in 712.  Afterwards, more than 800 farmer soldiers were immigrated from Koshi Province and some eastern provinces.  The Imperial Court continued to expand the area where the county system was implemented, relying on migrated farmer-soldiers.  In 733, Ideha Fortress was relocated north, or advanced, to Akita at the estuary of Omono River at about 100 kilometers from its original place.

     The area around Mt. Kosugi might have been developed in the above mentioned process.

     Eleven-Faced Ekadasamukha is said to have been enshrined in Hakusan Shrine as the shrine's main deity, Kukurihime, was believed to be the manifestation of Ekadasamukha.

Address: Kosugiyama-19 Tsuchikawa, Daisen, Akita 019-2111

Phone: 0187-75-2185

Kosugiyama Hakusan Shrine

Address: Kannonbayashi 2-2, Sawanouchi, Kosugiyama, Tsuchikawa, Daisen, Akita 019-2111

Phone: 0187-62-4352

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Virtual Old Akita 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #15 Hatomine Shrine or Kuruson-butsu

 

     It is unknown when Hatomine Shrine was founded along the upstream of Tama River.  The shrine is surrounded with huge stones which seem to have been objects for nature worship.  It is unknown which rock was what they called Kuruson-butsu or Kuruson Buddha.  As -son is a suffix to show respect, Kuru could have been a god or something holy among the local northern foreigners.  We can only find Reclining Buddha today.

     Some argue Kuruson comes from Krakucchanda.  Vipasyin transmigrated to be Sikhin, who transmigrated to be Visvabhu, who transmigrated to be Krakucchanda, who transmigrated to be Kanakamuni, who transmigrated to be Kasyapa, who finally transmigrated to be Siddhartha.  As he repeated transmigration, he accumulated good deeds and virtuous conduct to be Buddha.  The 2 phrases sound similar but picking up the 4th generation of transmigration seems too technical.

     Anyway, Hatomine Shrine could have been founded to amalgamate the local nature worship into the national religion, Shinto, and Urabe Yasumasa presented an Avalokitesvara image to the shrine or one of the huge stones to syncretize the nature worship or the amalgamated local belief with Buddhism.  It is, however, uncertain which occurred first.

Address: Tamagawa, Tazawako, Semboku, Akita 014-1205

Senbokushi Tazawakoryu Center

Address: Oyama-7 Tazawako Tazawa, Semboku, Akita 014-1204

Phone: 0187-43-1351

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Virtual Old Akita 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #14 Hongaku-ji Temple

 

     It is unknown when Hongaku-ji Temple was founded where the Old Hondo Fortress was located.

     Waga Family was based in Waga County, Mutsu Province.  Waga Motoyoshi advanced to the alluvial fan of Yojima River, where Hotta Fort had been built at the beginning of the 9th century.  The fort existed till the latter half of the 10th century.   Motoyoshi built a fortress at the top of the cone presumably in the 13th century.

     Oh.....the problem is it isn't clear what the area looked like when Urabe Yasumasa organized the Old Akita 33 Kannon Pilgrimage in the 1040's.  It is often the case that we can find no records about Ideha/Dewa Province between the ancient times and the medieval days.

     Satake Yoshishige (1547-1612) was shunted to Rokugo Fortress in 1602, and he moved Hongaku-ji Temple to its present place in 1603.

Address: Higashitakakatamachi-26 Rokugo, Misato, Semboku District, Akita 019-1404

Phone: 0187-84-0124

Old Hondo Fortress Ruins

Address: Tatenosawa Naniwa, Misato, Semboku District, Akita 019-1501

Hotta Fort

Address: Nakayachi-95 Hotta, Daisen, Akita 014-0802

Phone: 0187-69-2397

Rokugo Fortress Ruins

Address: Kodate Rokugo, Misato, Semboku District, Akita 019-1404

Trees In the Town

Virtual Old Akita 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #13 Gion-ji Temple

 

     Kanazawa Fortress was built by the latter half of the 9th century at the latest along the route between Taga Castle, where Mutsu Provincial Government office was located, and Akita Fortress, where that of Ideha Province was located.  Gion-ji Temple was founded in the north-east of the fortress presumably to protect the fortress's Kimon, namely Ogre Gate.  Kimon is north-east.

     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 was 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.

     Kimon idea is supposed to have been imported to Japan by the end of the 9th century.  If Gion-ji Temple was actually founded due to the idea, it means the idea reached Ideha Province almost contemporaneously with its arrival at the capital of Japan.

     In the Later Three-Year War (1083-1087), Kanazawa Fortress fell.  In medieval times, Gion-ji Temple became an armed group and ruled the surrounding area.

     Onodera Tanemichi (1487-1546) was killed by Priest Konjobo of Gion-ji Temple and Owada Mitsumari of Yokote Fortress.  Presumably in 1549, when Tanemichi's 4th son, Kagemichi (1534-1597), killed them in revenge, the temple burned down.

     Priest Jusei (?-1615) revived the temple presumably after the establishment of the Tokugawa Shogunate in 1603.  In the 19th century, when pilgrimage became popular, the temple thrived.  It enshrined 33 Avalokitesvara images between the temple and the site of Kanazawa Fortress.

Address: Teranosawa-16 Kanezawa, Yokote, Akita 013-0813

Phone: 0182-37-2525

Site of Kanezawa Fortress

Address: Kanearaizawa Kanezawanakano, Yokote, Akita 013-0813

Trees In the Town

Virtual Old Akita 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #12 Asahiokayama Shrine

 

     Asahiokoyama Shrine is said to have been founded by Sakanoue Tamuramaro (758-811) in Yokote Basin along the foot of Ou Mountains in 807, when he invaded the territories of northern foreigners.

     In January, 737, Azumabito was appointed as the Inspector of Mutsu Province.  On March 1st in the same year, he left Mutsu Province with 196-strong central cavalry and 499-strong central infantry, 5,000-strong provincial soldiers, and 249 northern foreigners who had surrendered to open an access route to Ideha Province.  He suppressed the northern foreigners around Okachi County and secured the route.  From Spring to Autumn in 759, Okachi Fortress was built, mobilizing 8180 men.  At the same time, Tamano, Saruhashi, Hirahoko, Yokokawa, Okachi, and Sukakawa Stations were installed in Ideha Province with Akita Fortress as its terminal.  The whereabouts of the stations haven't been verified archaeologically.  However, Asahioko Shrine seems to have been founded along the route.  As Yamanobe no Michi in Nara Prefecture does today, prehistoric roads usually ran along the foot of hills and mountains, avoiding running through the wetland in basins.

     In 791, Sakanoue Tamuramaro (758-811) was dispatched to the eastern provinces to prepare for the war against the northern foreigners in the northeastern part of Honshu Island.  In 794, he invaded the region, with the military successes of beheading 457 and taking 150 captive. 

     In 801, Tamuramaro invaded the northeastern region again.  Tamuramaro brought back two enemy chiefs, Aterui and More, to the capital in 802.

     Asahiokayama Shrine is believed to have been founded by Sakanoue Tamuramaro (758-811) in 807.  Strangely many temples and shrines were founded in 807.

     In 806, inspectors were dispatched to Tokaido, Hokurikudo, San'indo, San'yodo, Nankaido, and Saikaido Regions, or to all the regions except Tosando Region.  In 807, Kiyomizu-dera, Hase-dera, and Zentsu-ji Temples were founded.  More than 10 percent of the 88 member temples of the Shikoku Pilgrimage are said to have been founded in the same year.  In 810, the Chamberlains' Office was put up.  All in all, the central government strengthened their control over local administration.  However, in 807, Tamuramaro was in Kyoto.

     Yet, Bonden Festival is held annually on February 17th, on which Tamuramaro is believed to have founded the shrine.

     The #12 deity of the Old Akita 33 Kannon Pilgrimage, the image of Arya Avalokitesvara, who is the human-figure prototype of the other 6 metamorphoses, is enshrined in the hollow at the base of a cedar tree near the shrine gate.

Address: Kamiteitoda-123 Osawa, Yokote, Akita 013-0041

Phone: 0182-32-3666

Trees In the Town

Virtual Old Akita 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #11 Daiji-ji Temple

 

     Daiji-ji Temple was first founded in Imashuku, Okachi County, Ideha Province, in 1013, about 30 years before the organization of the Old Akita 33 Kannon Pilgrimage, as an esoteric Buddhism temple.  It was regarded as a kind of a base camp to climb and worship Mount Horowa, where Horowa-san Haushiwake Shrine had been founded in August, 757.  

     In March, 724, the northern foreigners along the Pacific coast of the north-eastern region of Honshu rebelled against the Imperial Court, and killed Saeki Koyamaro (?-724), the 3rd officer of Mutsu Province after the Governor and the Vice-Governor.  In April, Fujiwara Umakai (694-737) was appointed as a general.  Ono Azumabito (?-742) accompanied him as a vice-general.  The expedition army returned in November.  In 729, Azumabito was appointed as Commander-in-Chief of the defense of the north.  In 733, Okachi County was established and farmer-soldiers were sent.  In January, 737, Azumabito was appointed as the Inspector of Mutsu Province.  On March 1st in the same year, he left Mutsu Province with 196-strong central cavalry and 499-strong central infantry, 5,000-strong provincial soldiers, and 249 northern foreigners who had surrendered to open an access route to Ideha Province.  He suppressed the northern foreigners around Okachi County and secured the route.  From Spring to Autumn in 759, Okachi Fortress was built, mobilizing 8180 men.

     Mount Horowa, which might have been a holy place for northern foreigners since prehistoric days, was amalgamated into Shinto in those days.  Daiji-ji Temple could have been founded in the process of syncretizing Horowa-san Haushiwake Shrine and Buddhism.

     Tradition says that a noble man tried to visit Mount Horowa in the Southern and Northern Courts Period (1336-1392), drowned, and was buried in Daiji-ji Temple.  The temple was changed to Soto Chan School in 1369, moved to Age in 1512, and was moved to its present place in 1704.

Address: Takakuchishitamitotsutsumi-9 Omorimachi, Yokote, Akita 013-0517

Phone: 0182-26-2061

Imashuku, Omonogawamachi, Yokote, Akita 013-0205

Age, Taiyu, Yokote, Akita 013-0427

Horowa-san Haushiwake Shrine

Address: Harowasan 1-1, Omorimachi Yasawagi, Yokote, Akita 013-0561

Phone: 0182-26-6317

Trees In the Town

Virtual Old Akita 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #10 Atago Shrine

 

     When Sakanoue Tamuramaro (758-811) carried out his second invasion of the northeastern region in 801, he built a watchtower on the top of Mt. Atago (Atagoyama, Yuzawa, Akita 012-0000).  After the invasion, he founded Atago Shrine there to show his gratitude.  If I were Tamuramaro, I would rather build a watchtower on the top of Mt. Tateyama (Tateyama, Shimoinnai, Yuzawa, Akita 019-0112) nearby, where a fort was built in the Warring States Period.  Mount Atago could have been a holy place for the locals and Tamuramaro amalgamated the holiness into Shinto, and Urabe Yasumasa might have syncretized the holiness with Buddhism by presenting an Avalokitesvara image.

     The Horse-Headed Hayagriva of the shrine today, which is regarded as the #10 deity of the Old Akita 33 Kannon Pilgrimage, was carved by Enku (1632-1695), who carved some 120,000 wooden statues of the Buddha and other Buddhist images, many of which were given in payment for lodging on his pilgrimages to temples throughout Japan.

     Where has the original one gone?  By the way, what does the place name Innai imply?  Usually, when a place name includes In, the place either had something to do with a temple or a manor of a cloistered emperor.....

Address: Machigo-95 Kamiinnai, Yuzawa, Akita 019-0111

Phone: 0183-52-3480

Trees In the Town

Virtual Old Akita 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #9 Shoon-ji Temple

 

     It is unknown when Shoon-ji Temple was founded and when it was abolished.

     The Innai Silver Mine was discovered and opened in 1606 by Murayama Sobei and others.  It produced gold and silver and was Japan's largest silver mine throughout the Edo period and its name was included on a map made in Rome in 1617.  It was managed by the Kubota Domain, which was later called Akita Domai, and was an important mine that supported the domain's finances.

     In the middle of the Edo period (1603-1867), it showed signs of decline due to the depletion of ore veins, but, after 1800, it recovered with the discovery of new ore veins.  At the peak of the mining industry, the surrounding area had 4,000 houses and a population of 15,000.  It became the largest city in the domain, surpassing the Kubota Castle Town.

     At the end of the Meiji period, changes in the international situation led to a collapse in the price of silver, leading to a major downsizing and temporary closure in 1920.  Mining continued at a small scale after that, but the mine was totally closed in 1954.

     As Shoon-ji Temple was listed as an original member temple of the Old Akita 33 Kannon Pilgrimage, the temple could have been founded before 1040.  It could have been abolished when the silver mine was in decline.

Address: Asahicho-40 Yokobori, Yuzawa, Akita 019-0204

Seigan-ji Temple

Address: Shinbaba-158 Shimoinnai, Yuzawa, Akita 019-0112

Phone: 0183-52-3020

Old Innai Silver Mine

Address: Innaiginzanmachi, Yuzawa, Akita 019-0113

Trees In the Town

Virtual Old Akita 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #8 Higashi-Chokai-san Shrine

 

     Mt. Higashi-Chokai rises to the east of Mount Chokai between Omono and Minase Rivers.  It was already a holy place in 801, when Sakanoue Tamuramaro (758-811) carried out his second invasion of the northeastern region.

     In 791, Tamuramaro was dispatched to the eastern provinces to prepare for the war against the foreigners in the northeastern part of Honshu, or today's Tohoku Region.  In 794, he invaded the region, with the military successes of beheading 457 and taking 150 captive.  During the war, he recognized amalgamating local gods into Shinto to be effective.  He founded a shrine on the top of Mt. Higashi-Chokai.  Later, as the syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism progressed, a Thousand-Armed Sahasrabhuja image was enshrined in the shrine.

     When Yodogawa Moritada compiled the Akita Fudoki, the book about the history and culture of Akita, in 1815, he wrote that Higashi-Chokai-san Shrine enshrines Amitabha, Bhaisajyaguru, and Avalokitesvara.  As they were regarded as the original divinities of the gods of Kumano in the syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism, the Avalokitesvara statue might have been enshrined when Kumano mountain ascetics visited the mountain.

     If the Avalokitesvara statue Moritada found is what we find today, it isn't the Avalokitesvara statue Urabe Yasumasa presented.  Where did it go?

Address: Aikawa, Yuzawa, Akita 012-0862

Trees In the Town

Virtual Old Akita 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #7 Koya-ji Temple

 

     Every village or town whose name is Ono has a legend or two about Ono Komachi, who is supposed to have lived about from 825 to 900.  Because of her legendary beauty, there are as many as 17 candidates for her grave across Japan.

     Anyway, her 17 tanka poems were included in the Kokin Wakashu, the Collection of Japanese Poems of Ancient and Modern Times, which was compiled in the 10th century, and whose compilation was finished in 905.  She exchanged her tanka poems with Arihara Narihira (825-880), Fun'ya Yasuhide (?-885), and Priest Henjo (816-890).  The Selection of Ono Komachi's Tanka Poem was compiled in the latter half of the 9th century.  Her tanka poem is included in the Hyakunin Isshu, a classical Japanese anthology of one hundred Japanese tanka poems by one hundred poets, whose collection was finished in the first half of the 13th century:

Charms of a flower

Have gone

As I look out over the world.

     All in all, her existence is highly plausible.  It is, however, up to you which legend or tradition you believe:

     Ono Yoshizane was a county officer in Ideha Province.  He founded Koya-ji Temple in 807 as their family temple.  Ennin (794-864) stayed in the temple sometime between 859 and 877.  Before her death at the age of 92, Komachi stayed in Iwaya-do Cave, carved her own image, and presented it to the temple:

My body, which is temporarily mine,

And whose looks change,

Should be handed back.

     The temple used to be located on the left bank of Omono River at the foot of Iwaya-do Cave, but was moved to its present place.

     Now, let's get back to our original matter of interest: Why did Urabe Yasumasa choose Koya-ji Temple as #7 of the 33 Kannon Pilgrimage, which he organized?  As Komachi's legend suggests, Iwaya-do Cave could have been used for a kind of sepulture without burying bodies under the ground.  That means the cave was a holy place since prehistoric times.  Yasumasa wanted to involve the holy place into the syncretism of local goddesses/gods and Buddhism.  Was he interested in Komachi a century after her death?  I don't think so.  The Komachi boom is very modern.

Address: Ono-138 Ono, Yuzawa, Akita 019-0205

Phone: 0183-52-3773

Komachi-do Hall

Address: Komachi-48-17 Ono, Yuzawa, Akita 019-0205

Iwaya-do Cave

Address: Betsusuirin Ono, Yuzawa, Akita 019-0205

Phone: 0183-52-2200

Trees In the Town

Virtual Old Akita 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #6 Kyusho-ji Temple

 

     In 708, Ideha County was organized.  Officials were dispatched to Okachi to prepare for building the fortress as early as 718, and they brought God Omiwa from Yamato Province.  Fujiwara Asakari (?-764) finished building Okachi Fortress in the northern half of the county in 759.  As it took him 3 years, from 757 to 759, to build Monou Fortress in Mutsu Province, it might have taken him about 3 years to build Okachi Fortress.  

     Presumably after the Southern and Northern Courts Period (1336-1392), Kissho-in Temple was armed and formed a powerful religious group with over 20 member temples.  Kyusho-ji Temple was founded in 1384 as a retirement of Kissho-ji Temple's priests.  Under the Tokugawa Shogunate, they disarmed themselves.  In 1667, Kyusho-ji Temple was changed to Soto Chan Sect.

Address: Shuku-99 Suginomiya, Ugo, Ogachi District, Akita 012-1126

Phone: 0183-62-1712

Miwa Shrine

Address: Miyabayashi−1 Suginomiya, Ugo, Ogachi District, Akita 012-1126

Phone: 0183-62-4825

Omiwa Shrine

Address: 1422 Miwa, Sakurai, Nara 633-0001

Phone: 0744-42-6633

Trees In the Town

Virtual Old Akita 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #5 Tonomine-Kannon-do Hall

 

     Akesawa Village was first documented in 1620 and seems to have been developed relatively recently.  Far before the development of the village, Tonomine Shrine was founded in the area.  The Akesawa Villagers believed the shrine was invited from Mount Tanomine in Yamato Province and they built a branch near the village too.  It is unknown whether what they believed was true or it was just a coincidence that the two share the same place name.  Later, Komyo-in Temple was founded as its shrine temple.

     After the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate, Boshin War was fought between the pro-Shogunate armies and the pro-Meiji-Restoration-Government armies.  Boshin is the name of the year, 1868, named under the combination of Oriental five elements and Oriental Zodiac, in a cycle of 60 years.  On August 9th, the pro-MRG forces invaded Yokote Basin and Komyo-in Temple burned down.  As the Meiji Restoration Government issued the Gods and Buddhas Separation Order in the year, the villagers planned only the survival of the shrine.  As the area belonged to the opposition forces, the usage of Tanomine wasn't approved.  The villagers were ordered to change the shrine's name to Sawaguchi, namely Mountain Stream Entrance.  The discrimination against the opposition forces continued for decades.

     Kaiki, Gyoki's disciple, founded a shrine temple of Miwa Shrine either during or just after the construction of Okachi Fortress.  The original name of the temple is uncertain: Sugimiya-bo, Sugimoto-bo, Yoro-ji, Daiwa-ji, Sugimoto-ji, etc.  Initially, the temple belonged to the Hosso Sect, and, in 844, Ankei, who later became the fourth head of Tiantai Sect in Japan in 864, changed the temple to the Tiantai Sect.  Later, it changed to Shingon Sect, but the timing is unknown.

     Due to the years of harsh administration by Yoshimine Chikashi, the officer of the Akita Fortress, the dissatisfaction of subordinate foreigners reached its peak.  In March, 878, they rose up and raided Akita Fortress, and Chikashi was unable to defend the fortress and fled.  The subordinate foreigners set fire to the surrounding area, and the Governor of Ideha Province, Fujiwara Okiyo (817-891) also fled.  The uprising was called the Gangyo Rebellion.

     Yamakita Yoshisada defended the Okachi Fortress, and the temple was renamed Kichijo-in after the Chinese pronunciation of his name.  The name was geminated to Kissho-in.

     After the Gods and Buddhas Separation Order in 1868, the Buddhist priests of Kissho-in Temple all became Shinto priests, and the temple was abolished.  The temple's Arya Avalokitesvara, who is the human-figure prototype of the other 6 metamorphoses, statue was moved to Kyusho-ji Temple.

Address: Akesawa-26 Hirakamachi Daigo, Yokote, Akita 013-0102

Phone: 0182-25-3758

Sawaguchi Shrine

Address: Sawaguchitatemiya−16 Hirakamachi Daigo, Yokote, Akita 013-0102

Tanzan Jinja

Address: 319 Tonomine, Sakurai, Nara 633-0032

Phone: 0744-49-0001

Trees In the Town

Virtual Old Akita 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #4 Sawanokami Shrine

 

     It is unknown when Senju-in Temple was founded as the shrine temple of Sawanokami Shrine to enshrine Thousand-Armed Sahasrabhuja.  The temple might have been abolished after the Meiji Restoration with Sanokami Shrine left in its precincts.

     Senju means Thousand-Armed.

     Sawanokami literally means Mountain Stream.  Sawanokami Shrine is located along a mountain stream, whose upper stream is called Sente-zawa, Thousand-Armed Mountain Stream.  Presumably, ancient people might have realized holiness in the stream and regarded the holiness as the manifestation of Thousand-Armed Sahasrabhuja.

Address: 4 Shirominamimachi, Yokote, Akita 013-0008

Trees In the Town

Virtual Old Akita 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #3 Zan'i-ji Temple

 

     Zan'i-ji Temple belongs to Obaku-shu or Obaku School of Chan Buddhism in Japan.  According to the list of the school's member temples, Zan'i-ji Temple is pronounced Zan'i-ji not San'i-ji nor Mii-dera.

     The temple claims that its statue of Arya Avalokitesvara, who is the human-figure prototype of the other 6 metamorphoses, is the oldest in the Tohoku Region, and that it was enshrined by Sakanoue Tamuramaro  (758-811) to pray for his victory.

     In 791, Tamuramaro was dispatched to the eastern provinces to prepare for the war against the northern foreigners in the northeastern part of Honshu.  In 794, he invaded the region, with the military successes of beheading 457 and taking 150 captive.

     In 801, Tamuramaro invaded the northeastern region again.  When Tamuramaro brought back two enemy chiefs, Aterui and More, to the capital in 802, the two were killed against Tamuramaro’s intention to have them keep working in a unified Japan as chiefs in the northeastern region.

     If the temple's story is true, the statue could be the oldest in the region.  However, then, where did the statue presented by Urabe Yasumasa go?

     Priest Join of Sensho-ji Temple, which was founded in the 1600's, and which belongs to Obaku Chan School, retired and built Ozen-an Hermitage.  As Zan'i-ji Temple declined, the hermitage took over its temple-ship, and Zan'i-ji Temple came to belong to the Obaku Chan School.

Address: 7-15 Kajimachi, Yokote, Akita 013-0031

Phone: 0182-32-2523

Sensho-ji Temple

Address: Minamikoken-47 Inuyama, Aichi 484-0084

Phone: 0568-61-1289

Trees In the Town

Virtual Old Akita 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #2 Yoshizawa Shrine

 

     Yoshizawa Shrine was founded by Urabe Munenao along Yoshizawa River, a branch of Omono River, on September 9th, in 1005.  It is unknown whether the shrine still enshrines the image of Eleven-Faced Ekadasamukha even after the Meiji Restoration Government issued the Gods and Buddhas Separation Order in 1868 or moved it to somewhere else.

     Inferring from dates, Urabe Munenao could have been the grandfather of Urabe Yasumasa, who organized the Old Akita 33 Kannon Pilgrimage in the 1040’s.

     Yoshizawa is located where the Yoshizawa River runs out of Ou Mountains into the Yokote Basin.

     The Yokote Basin is mostly flat with an area of 693.59 square kilometers, consisting of several alluvial fans created by the Omono River and its tributaries.  The Omono River, which flows from the southeastern part of Akita Prefecture to the northwest, winds its way through the mountains between the basin and the Sea of Japan, and flows down to the sea.

     From around the end of the Tertiary period (from 66 million to 2.6 million years ago), compressive forces from the east and west, caused by the westward movement of the Pacific plate, began to be applied to the area that is now the Tohoku Region.  As a result, folds and reverse faults occurred alternately, and lowlands and highlands appeared alternately from the east to the west like wrinkles stretching from north to south.  From Akita Prefecture to Iwate Prefecture, the topography has been divided into lowlands (Akita Plains), mountains (Dewa Mountains), lowlands (Yokote Basin), mountains (Ou Mountains), lowlands (Kitakami Basin), and mountains (Kitakami Mountains).

     During the Quaternary period, from 2.58 million years ago to the present, mountains were further uplifted by compressive forces, and lowlands became even lower, where rivers carried large amounts of sediment, resulting in the development of basins covered with thick sediments.  Several alluvial fans have been formed along the Ou Mountains in the Yokote Basin.  Near the ground surface in the central part of the Yokote Basin, which belonged to Shimoyoshida and Tamura Districts, there are peat layers that indicate that these areas used to be wetlands, and the newest peat layer dates back to approximately 5,000 years ago.

     Approximately 10,000 years ago, the ice age ended, and rising temperatures led to the Jomon Transgression.  When the Jomon transgression was at its peak, the sea level was about 3 to 5 meters higher than it is today.  The amount of water in the rivers is also thought to have been larger.  In the Yokote Basin, where the slope is gentle, and the floodplain is wide, the Omono River changed its flow path several times.  Eventually its tributary rivers carried sediment from the Ou Mountains side (the east side). The development of alluvial fans gradually moved the flow path westward.

Address: Yoshizawa 2, Sugisawa, Yokote, Akita 013-0001

Phone: 0182-32-0650