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