Virtual Okitama 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #29 Koo-ji Temple

 

     According to tradition, when Minamoto Yoshiie (1039- 1106) carried out a campaign to hunt down Kiyohara Tskehira (?-1087) from 1083 to 1089, he had 8 young girls dance to pray for the victory of the campaign at the northern end of Nagai Manor.  As Yoshiie's nickname was Hachiman-taro, Yaotome Hachiman Shrine was founded later at the site.  Yaotome means 8 young girls.

     Arakawa Kiyoyasu, who was subject to Fujiwara Kiyohira (1056-1128), built a fortress at the site in 1096 or 1097.  From 1384 to 1392, Baba Shogen, who was subject to the Date Clan, improved the fortress.

     Koo-ji Temple was founded by Priest Soho sometime between 1573 and 1592, when Okitama County was ruled by the Date Clan.

     Kumano Taisha Shrine used to enshrine an image of Arya Avalokitesvara, who is the human-figure prototype of the other 6 metamorphoses.  After the Meiji Restoration Government issued the Gods and Buddhas Separation Order in 1868, the statue was moved to Matsuoka-Kannon-do Hall.

     Kumano Taisha Shrine's foundation date is uncertain.  According to one tradition, the shrine was revived in 806 by the imperial order of Emperor Heijo (774-824).  That means it had been founded earlier, maybe in the 8th century, when Ideha Province was established.

     According to the other tradition, it was founded by Taira Koremori (1158-1184) at the end of ancient times.  Even in medieval days, the shrine was revered by the Date and the Uesugi Clans, who ruled Okitama County.  They donated rice fields to the shrine and renovated the shrine building.

     Why was the shrine so important?  In the upper reaches, there were several gold mines.  The area was the main source of the Date family's gold and silver.  Among them, the Matsukura Mine, which was later called Shinmei mine, reached its production peak as a gold and silver mine from 1624 to 1644, the Hisaka Mine reached its peak in 1691, and the Ogigane Mine reached its peak around 1750.

Yaotome Hachiman Shrine

Address: Ko-1092 Aratoko, Shirataka, Nishiokitama District, Yamagata 992-0831

Matsuoka-Kannon-do Hall

Address: 1389 Arato, Shirataka, Nishiokitama District, Yamagata 992-0841

Koo-ji Temple

Address: Otsu-1389 Arato, Shirataka, Nishiokitama District, Yamagata 992-0832

Phone: 0238-85-5541

Kumano Taisha Shrine

Address: 3476-1 Miyauchi, Nanyō, Yamagata 992-0472

Phone: 0238-47-7777