Trees In the Town

Virtual Old Mutsu 33 Kannon Pigrimage #13 Kannon-ji Temple

 

     Kannon-ji Temple is said to have been founded in Esashi County, Mutsu Province, in 850.  Then, it didn't make it for the organization of the Old Mutsu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage in 811.  As Esashi County was organized in 804, an Avalokitesvara image might have been enshrined before the foundation of the temple.

     About 1.5 kilometers north-east, Yayoi ware, stone tools, carbonized walnuts, and micaceous hematite were excavated.  As the farmer-soldiers are supposed to have belonged to Yayoi culture, the artifacts might have been what the farmer-soldiers left.

     When Kannon-ji Temple was organized as the #31 member temple of the Esashi 33 Kannon Pilgrimage sometime between 1651 and 1682, its main deity was Thousand-Armed Sahasrabhuja.  It is unknown whether it was the original one or not.

Address: Kannondooki-43 Esashiku Odaki, Oshu, Iwate 023-1131

Phone: 0197-35-3237

Trees In the Town

Virtual Old Mutsu 33 Kannon Pigrimage #12 Heitaku-ji Temple

        

     We can find no Hirasawa-dera or Heitaku-ji Temple on the route of the Old Mutsu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage.

     In the Warring States Period, the Yanada Family was based in Hirasawa Village, Shiwa County, Mutsu Province, and their fortress used to be where Kotaku-ji Temple is.

     Shiwa County was organized in 811, when the Old Mutsu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage was organized.  Presumably, Hirasawa-dera or Heitaku-ji Temple was founded before the organization of the pilgrimage in the area where Hirasawa Village was later developed.

     Hirasawa was located about 5 kilometers south of Tokutan Fortress, which was built in 812 because Shiwa Fortress, which had been built in 803, was damaged in flood.  Hirasawa is also on the northern bank of Takina River, and Shiwa-Inari Shrine was founded in 1057 along its upper stream.  On January 9th, 802, Sakanoue Tamuramaro (758-811) was dispatched to northern foreigners' land to build Isawa Fortress.  On the 10th, 4000 jobless people from Suruga, Kai, Sagami, Musashi, Kazusa, Shimousa, Hitachi, Kozuke, and Shimotsuke Provinces were ordered to go to Isawa to build the fortress.  The Mutsu Provincial Government was located in Taga Fortress, but its Military Government was moved to Isawa Fortress in 802.  Some farmer-soldiers could have advanced further north to supply military provisions to Shiwa Fortress and then to Tokutan Fortress.  All in all, farmer-soldiers of the Imperial Army might have “developed” the area.  The question or problem was how they found their partners.  Soldiers resided in shifts, but farmer-soldiers settled permanently.  Depending on their manners, friction or even conflict arose between the farmer-soldiers and the local northern foreigners.

Kotaku-ji Temple

Address: Tate-73 Hirasawa, Shiwa, Shiwa District, Iwate 028-3308

Phone: 019-676-6255

Trees In the Town

Virtual Old Mutsu 33 Kannon Pigrimage #10 & #11 Kannon-ji Temples

 

     2 Kannon-ji Temples were founded in Iwai County, Mutsu Province.  The county was organized in 804 and the Old Mutsu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage was organized in 811.  The temples could have been founded sometime between 804 and 811.  One was founded near the junction of Satetsu and Toriumi Rivers, and the other was founded in today's Kannonji.  Their surrounding areas came to belong to Shibutami Village later.

     One of the 2 Kannon-ji Temples enshrined a wooden Avalokitesvara sitting statue which was made in the 12th century and was merged into today's Tosen-in Temple in 1897.  Tosen-in Temple also has an iron Avalokitesvara statue.  It is unknown when the iron Avalokitesvara statue was cast.  As the upstream of Satetsu River, namely Iron Sand River, used to have iron works, the statue might have been cast locally.  It was enshrined in Kazan-ji Temple, which was first located in Takemachi along the Satetsu River, and which was then moved to Hinata along the Toriumi River.  In Hinata, the temple was renamed Choju-ji in 1520, but was abolished after the Meiji Restoration and merged into Tosen-in Temple.  The original 2 Avalokitesvara statues might have been lost in fire or something.

The question is whether the iron production had something to do with the foundation of Kannon-ji Temples or the production started after the foundation.

     Around 1,000 B.C., Primorsky was already in the Iron Age.  It isn't surprising if the northern foreigners introduced iron manufacturing across the Sea of Japan.  In addition, the Mokusawa Iron Manufacturing Site in Tsugaru is estimated to date back to the 10th century, but its excavation suggests that the site had been built above the older iron manufacturing site.  That means their operation can date back to the 9th century, when the northern foreigners forced back south the Japanese Imperial Army along the Japan Sea coast.

     As for the Imperial Army, they organized Namekata County in 701, splitting the land of Ukita Kuninomiyatsuko, who ruled the northernmost part of the Pacific coast of today's Fukushima Prefecture, and produced ironware arms there to support the invasion of northern foreigners. 

     In central Japan, a low box-shaped furnace was used to refine iron, and, in northern Japan, a vertical furnace was used.  2 iron cultures, one from west and the other from north, clashed against each other in Mutsu Province.

Address: Kannonji Daitocho Shibutami, Ichinoseki, Iwate 029-0521

Tosen-in Temple

Address: Kobayashi-35 Daitocho Shibutami, Ichinoseki, Iwate 029-0521

Phone: 0191-75-2570

Former Kazan-ji Temple

Address: Takemachi Daitocho Shibutami, Ichinoseki, Iwate 029-0521

Address: Hinata Daitocho Okita, Ichinoseki, Iwate 029-0603

Satetsu River Tatara Iron Works Museum

Address: Daitocho Ohara, Ichinoseki, Iwate 029-0711

Trees In the Town

Virtual Old Mutsu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #9 Narayama-Kannon-do Hall

 

     Narayama-Kannon-do Hall was built in 850 where Nihonkonpounyusoko Kitakamieigyosho is located.  When Kitakami Nanbu Industry Complex was expanded, a small hill where the hall used to be located was leveled and the hall was moved to its present place in 2002.

     As the Old Mutsu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage was organized in 811, an Avalokitesvara image could have been enshrined earlier in Isawa County, Mutsu Province.  The county was organized in 804.  Archaeologically speaking, the hall was rebuilt in the latter half of the 10th century with the image of Arya Avalokitesvara, who is the human-figure prototype of the other 6 metamorphoses, enshrined.  However, it is unknown whether it is the original image or not.

     Aisari Fortress used to be on the top of the nearby hill in the 15th century, the area could have functioned as a fort even in the ancient times although it is unknown which side used the fort: the Imperial Army or northern foreigners.  The Aisawa Family was first documented in 1382, and Aisari Fortress was first documented in 1565.  Tosen-ji Temple could have been founded to protect the fortress's Kimon, namely Ogre Gate.  Kimon is north-east.

Address: Yamanenashinoki-43-123 Aisaricho, Kitakami, Iwate 024-0051

Nihonkonpounyusoko Kitakamieigyosho

Address: Yamanenashinoki-43-155 Aisaricho, Kitakami, Iwate 024-0051

Phone: 0197-67-5286

Aisari Fortress Ruins

Address: Tate-14-1 Aisaricho, Kitakami, Iwate 024-0051

Tosen-ji Temple

Address: Teramaezawa-21 Aisaricho, Kitakami, Iwate 024-0051

Phone: 0197-67-4766

Trees In the Town

Virtual Old Mutsu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #8 Banzo-ji Temple

 

     Banzo-ji Temple was founded in 850 in Esashi County, Mutsu Province.  The county was organized in 804.  As the Old Mutsu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage was organized in 811, an Avalokitesvara image must have been enshrined first, and the temple was founded to take care of the image.

Address: Kinpozan-44 Kuchinaicho, Kitakami, Iwate 024-0211

Phone: 0197-69-2655

Trees In the Town

Virtual Old Mutsu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #7 Gokuraku-ji Temple

 

     It is unknown when Gokuraku-ji Temple was founded in Esashi County, Mutsu Province.  Esashi County was organized in 804.  Gokuraku-ji Temple was first documented in the True History of Emperor Montoku of Japan, which covers the year 850-858, when Emperor Montoku (827-858) reigned.  Archaeologically speaking, the temple was founded in the 9th century and flourished from the 10th century to the 11th century.

     Its Kannon-do Hall used to be located where Kunimiyama Observatory is.

Address: Uchikadooka−30, Inasecho, Kitakami, Iwate 024-0041

Phone: 0197-65-0716

Kunimiyama Observatory

Address: Uchikadooka Inasecho, Kitakami, Iwate 024-0041

Phone: 0197-64-2111

Trees In the Town

Virtual Old Mutsu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #6 Kosho-ji Temple

 

     Kosho-ji Temple was founded in Hienuki Couty, Mutsu Province, in 843.

     Shiwa Fortress was built in Mutsu Province in 803.  In 811, Shiwa, Waga, and Hinue Counties were organized.  Military rule was imposed in the counties, which were along the northernmost frontline of the Imperial Army.

     The Five Wisdom Kings, or 5 Vidya-raja, were enshrined in the temple.  The 5 are Acalanatha, Trailokyavijaya, Kundali, Yamantaka, and Vajrayaksa.

     According to another legend, God Wuta came from the North Sea.  He asked Kotan for a night stay but was refused.  He asked Somin, Kotan's younger brother, and was accepted.  Several years later, Wuta visited Somin again and guaranteed the good health of Somin and Somin's offspring.  It is interesting and suggestive that Wuta came from the north not from the central part of Japan.  We tend to think that something advanced would always come from the west.  Some, however, could have come from the north.

     In the 1190's, the villagers started the Somin Festival as a naked festival.  In Iwate Prefecture alone, 8 popular Somin Festivals are held annually.  However, the festival in Kosho-ji Temple scheduled in February, 2024, was canceled due to the aging population.

Address: Dai 11 Chiwari-49 Ishidoriyacho Godaido, Hanamaki, Iwate 028-3141

Phone: 0198-47-2230

Trees In the Town

Virtual Old Mutsu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #5 Shima-no-do Hall

 

     It is unknown when Kosen-ji Temple was founded in Shiwa County, Mutsu Province.

     Shiwa Fortress was built in Mutsu Province in 803.  In 811, Shiwa, Waga, and Hinue Counties were organized.  Military rule was imposed in the counties, which were along the northernmost frontline of the Imperial Army.  Kosen-ji Temple might have been founded sometime between 803 and 811, when the Old Mutsu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage was organized.

     It was in the 10th century that Iwate County was organized in the north of the 3 counties.

     It is also unknown when Kosen-ji Temple was abolished with its Kannon-do Hall left as Shima-no-do Hall.  The temple also seems to have left Minamihizume 1303 Memorial Tower and Goronuma Sutra Mound Ruins.

Address: Miyazaki-4-1 Minamihizume, Shiwa, Shiwa District, Iwate 028-3317

Minamihizume 1303 Memorial Tower

Address: Miyazaki-4-2 Minamihizume, Shiwa, Shiwa District, Iwate 028-3317

Goronuma Sutra Mound Ruins

Address: Miyazaki Minamihizume, Shiwa, Shiwa District, Iwate 028-3317

Trees In the Town

Virtual Old Mutsu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #4 Hase-dera Temple

 

     Legend has it that Hase-dera Temple was founded in 804 after Shiwa Fortress was built as the northernmost base for the Imperial Army against northern foreigners in 803.  The fortress was hit by a flood and the northernmost base was moved to Tokutan Fortress, which was built in 812.  Presumably, Hase-dera Temple was moved to its present place later.

     Hase-dera Temple obviously shares the same name with the one in Nara Prefecture today.  Someone from Hase, Yamato Province, could have been dispatched to Shiwa Fortress as a general or an officer.

Address: Dai 1 Chiwari-68 Ishidoriyacho Hasedo, Hanamaki, Iwate 028-3183

Shiwa Fortress Ruins

Address: Hohatcho-47-11 Kamikazuma, Morioka, Iwate 020-0051

Phone: 019-658-1710

Tokutan Fortress Ruins

Address: Dai 6 Chiwari Nishitokuta, Yahaba, Shiwa District, Iwate 028-3603

Hase-dera Temple

Address: 731-1 Hase, Sakurai, Nara 633-0112

Phone: 0744-47-7001

Trees In the Town

Virtual Old Mutsu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #3 Yuzan-ji Temple

 

     #3 deity of the Old Mutsu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage used to be enshrined in Kannon-ji Temple.  Kannon-ji Temple was abolished and the deity was moved to Yuzan-ji Temple.  Then, Kannon-ji Temple was a shrine temple and must have been abolished after the Meiji Restoration.  Hanamaki used to have Atago, Inari, and Yasaka Shrines.  They were merged after 1955.  Atago Shrine's shrine temple was Hachiman-ji Temple.  Yasaka Shrine shared the precincts with Atago Shrine.  All in all, Kannon-ji Temple could have been Inari Shrine's shrine temple.  Inari Shrine was moved to its present place from Isawa County in 1681.

     On January 9th, 802, Sakanoue Tamuramaro (758-811) was dispatched to northern foreigners' land to build Isawa Fortress.  On the 10th, 4000 jobless people from Suruga, Kai, Sagami, Musashi, Kazusa, Shimousa, Hitachi, Kozuke, and Shimotsuke Provinces were ordered to go to Isawa to build the fortress.  The Mutsu Provincial Government was located in Taga Fortress, but its Military Government was moved to Isawa Fortress in 802.  As Old Mutsu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage was organized in 811, Kannon-ji Temple could have been founded as soon as the fortress was built.

Address: 1-25 Atagocho, Hanamaki, Iwate 025-0071

Phone: 0198-23-2634

Isawa Castle Site

Address: Shibuta Mizusawaku Sakurakawa, Oshu, Iwate 023-0003

Phone: 0197-34-1316

Trees In the Town

Virtual Old Mutsu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #2 Enman-ji Temple Kannon-do Hall

 

     It is unknown whether Gion Shrine, which was renamed Yasaka Shrine after the Meiji Restoration, was invited first or Horse-Headed Hayagriva was enshrined first.

     The Japanese word Gion comes from Jetavana, which was one of the 5 most famous Buddhist monasteries or viharas in India. The five are believed to have already existed while the Buddha still lived. Gion Shrine enshrines the guardian god of Jetavana, who was called Gozu in Japan. The root or the source of the guardian god of Jetavana was Bhaisajyaguru, who chose to be born as a son of Mudang as a part of the syncretism of Buddhism. The son had a bull head, and grew up to find no bride to get married with. One day, he set out on a journey to find a bride. In brief, at last, he got married to a daughter of Naga, who lived in the ocean. Gozu might have had the power to control water as a natural process.

     Gozu was first enshrined at Hiromine Shrine in today’s Himeji. He was invited to today’s Kyoto when the Kamo River flooded and plague spread, they wished for the healing and anti-flood power of Gozu. He was made the main deity of Gion Shrine, or Yasaka Shrine today, in Kyoto.  He was further invited to many parts of Japan, as we had many floods and epidemics, and he is enshrined in more than 2,300 shrines.

     Enman-ji Temple was founded to take care of the Hayagriva statue and its hall.

     In the syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism, Bhaiṣajyaguru is the original deity of Gion but not Hayagriva.  The shrine and the temple might have been founded according to different conditions.  Legend has it that Sakanoue Tamuramaro (758-811) enshrined Hayagriva to pray for the cure of his horse.  As the shrine and the temple are located on a hill which commands the surrounding flat fields, it is probable that the Imperial Army deployed on the hill.

Address: Kannonyama-85 Hizatate, Hanamaki, Iwate 025-0041

Phone: 0198-28-3361

Yasaka Shrine

Address: Kannonyama-1 Hizatate, Hanamaki, Iwate 025-0041

Phone: 0198-28-3361

Trees In the Town

Virtual Old Mutsu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #1 Kiyomizu-dera Temple

 

     On February 21st, 793, Sakanoue Tamuramaro (758-811) had an audience with the Emperor in Nagaoka-kyo Capital as the vice Generalissimo for the Subjugation of Barbarians to announce his departure.  In 794, he reported the military successes of beheading 457, taking 150 people and 85 horses as captives, and burning 75 villages.  On January 29th, 795, he returned to the new capital, today's Kyoto.  On January 7th, 802, Tamuramaro reported that 3 gods of Mutsu Province were helpful, and they were included into the Shinto Hierarchy.  Presumably on the occasion, he also reported that Eleven-Faced Ekadasamukha was helpful in Ota Village, which was first documented in 1353, Waga County, Mutsu Province.  He built a hall to enshrine Ekadasamukha and named it Kiyomizu-dera after the one in Kyoto, which he supported.  He seems to have understood the importance of religious measures in subjugating northern foreigners.

     The temple is included in Japan's Three Major Kiyomizu-dera Temples along with those in Kyoto and Hyogo Prefectures.  There are a couple of other sets of Japan's Three Major Kiyomizu-dera Temples though.

Address: 21-10 Ota, Hanamaki, Iwate 025-0037

Phone: 0198-28-2624    

Kiyomizu-dera Temple

Address: 1 Chome-294 Kiyomizu, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 605-0862

Phone: 075-551-1234

Kiyomizu-dera Temple

Address: 1194 Hiraki, Kato, Hyogo 673-1402

Phone: 0795-45-0025

Trees In the Town

Old Mutsu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage

 

     The Old Mutsu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage was said to have been organized in 811.

     In the prehistoric days of Japan, the country was unified by organizing Kuni-no-miyatsuko in remote areas.  They were local powerful families.  The Pacific side of the Tohoku Region had 10 Kuni-no-miyatsuko: Kikuta Kuni-no-miyatsuko, Iwaki Kuni-no-miyatsuko, Someha Kuni-no-miyatsuko, Ukita Kuni-no-miyatsuko, Watari Kuni-no-miyatsuko, Shirakawa Kuni-no-miyatsuko, Iwase Kuni-no-miyatsuko, Asaka Kuni-no-miyatsuko, Shinobu Kuni-no-miyatsuko, and Iku Kuni-no-miyatsuko.  At the beginning, the northern limit of the Kuni-no-miyatsuko system was in today's Fukushima Prefecture.

     Emperor Karu (596-654) introduced the County system, but it wasn't a substantive reform.  After the enforcement of the Ritsuryo Code in 701, Michinoku Province was organized in today's Miyagi and Fukushima Prefectures.  In other words, the northern limit moved north.

     The method to organize local people was, however, different in the area of today's Miyagi Prefecture.  The Mutsu Provincial Government imposed military rule in its new territories, today's Miyagi Prefecture and the southern part of Iwate Prefecture, through 15 fortresses.  Taga Fortress was built in 724.  Tamatsukuri Fortress, Nitsuta Fortress, Oshika Fortress, and Shikama Fortress were built in 737.  Monou Fortress was built in 759.  Iji Fortress was built in 767.  Isawa Fortress was built in 802.  Shiwa Fortress was built in 803.  Nakayama Fortress was built in 804.  Tokutan Fortress was built in 812.

     People living in the Tohoku Region in those days were composed of soldiers and farmer-soldiers of the Imperial Army, who belonged to the Yayoi Culture, those who belonged to the Jomon Culture, and those who belonged to the Satsumon Culture.  Whether they shared the same ethnicity or not is still controversial.

     The Old Mutsu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage was organized in those days not only in the area ruled by the Imperial Army but also in the territories of northern foreigners.  I hope I can see what network the member temples shared.

Site of Tagajo Castle

Address: Ichikawa, Tagajo City, Miyagi 985-0864

Phone: 022-368-1141

Nitsuta Fortress Ruins

Address: Nissoku-3-4 Tajiriomine, Ōsaki, Miyagi 989-4412

Monou Fortress Ruins

Address: Nakayama-60-1 Iino, Ishinomaki, Miyagi 986-0131

Iji Fortress Ruins

Address: Jonominegishi Tsukidate, Kurihara, Miyagi 987-2202

Phone: 0228-42-3515

Shiwa Fortress Ruins

Address: Hohatcho-47-11 Kamikazuma, Morioka, Iwate 020-0051

Phone: 019-658-1710

Shikama Fortress Ruins

Address: Soneta Ichinoseki, Shikama, Kami District, Miyagi 981-4121

Nakayama Fortress Ruins

Address: Kurakakeyama Hanaizumicho Nagai, Ichinoseki, Iwate 029-3206

Tokutan Castle

Address: Dai 6 Chiwari Nishitokuta, Yahaba, Shiwa District, Iwate 028-3603

Trees In the Town

Virtual Old Akita 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #33 Shinsho-ji Temple

 

     Mount Ogami-san and Mount Megami-san stand between Kasuda and Shimouchi Rivers.  Ogami means a god and Megami means a goddess.  Both the mountains are shaped like well-proportioned cones.  As is often the case with a pair of mountains or hills, one is looked upon as a male deity and the other is looked upon as a female deity.  They are usually prayed to for an easy delivery and prosperity.  Rinsho-ji Temple was founded at the foot of the mountains on an unknown date.  Accordingly, it is unknown whether Urabe Yasumasa presented an Avalokitesvara image to the mountains and the temple was founded to take care of the image or the image was presented to the temple after its foundation.

     When Asari Sadayori was killed in battle by the Ando Pirates in 1574, the temple burned down.  Sadayori's son, Sadatomo, revived the temple, moving it to its present place and renaming it Shinsho-ji.

     The Ando Pirates had concentrated on open sea trade with people in Hokkaido and the continent.  Their main interests along the sea coast of Dewa Province were keeping the ports under their control, especially those in the estuaries of Yoneshiro and Omono Rivers.  They let the inland feudal lords and other local samurai use the ports by paying taxes.  Ando Chikasue (1539-1587), however, set his eyes on controlling inland water transportation along the rivers.  He also strengthened his domination over local samurai along the rivers.  Thus, he developed the Akita Port to the biggest one in Northern Japan. 

Address: Nanatsudate-25 Hanaokamachi, Odate, Akita 017-0005

Phone: 0186-46-1324

Mount Ogami-san

Address: Nakahadachi Kasuda, Odate, Akita 017-0004

Mount Megami-san

Address: Shirasawa Shirasawa, Odate, Akita 017-0002

Trees In the Town

Virtual Old Akita 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #32 Matsumine Shrine

 

     Acalanatha was enshrined in Mount Matsumine in 817.  Denju-in Temple was later founded to take care of the Acalanatha statue and its hall.  On March 3rd, 859, an earthquake hit the area and the temple buildings were buried under the ground.  The temple and the hall were revived in 895.  Until the Asari Family rebuilt the building in 1402, no record was kept for 4 centuries.

     After the Meiji Restoration, Denju-in Temple became Matsumine Shrine.

Address: 10 Oyama, Odate, Akita 017-0051

Matsumineinari Shrine 

Address: 141-5 Matsuminenioden, Odate, Akita 017-0051

Trees In the Town

Virtual Old Akita 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #31 Gyokurin-ji Temple

 

     Gyokurin-ji Temple was founded in 1527 by Asari Noriyori (?-1550), who realized the largest territory for the family in Hinai County, Dewa Province.  Later, the temple was moved to near Tokko Fortress.

     Hinai Village was first documented in Nihon Sandai Jitsuroku in 878.  It is unknown when Hinai Village became Hinai County.  Fujiwara Yasuhira (1155-1189) was killed by his vassal, Kawada Jiro (?-1189), in Hinai County.

     Nihon Sandai Jitsuroku, literally the True Record of Three Reigns of Japan, is a history text officially mandated by Emperor Uda (867-931) to compile. It was compiled by Fujiwara Tokihira (871-909), Sugawara Michizane (845-903), Okura Yoshiyuki (832-921), and Mimune Masahira (853-926), and covers the years from August 27th, 858, to August 26th, 887, corresponding to three imperial reigns: Seiwa (850-881), Yozei (869-949), and Koko (830-887). The compilation was completed in 901.

     For your information, Nishikido Shrine enshrines the wife of Fujiwara Yasuhira, and has been supported by the locals for 800 years.  In 1189, Yasuhira's wife fled from Hiraizumi and arrived at Yagihashi Village, Hinai County, where she heard that Yasuhira had already been killed by his retainer, Kawada Jiro.  She entrusted her attendant, Yubei, with her affairs and killed herself.  The locals felt pity for her, and built a shrine and a five-ringed pagoda to comfort her soul.

     In 1612, the temple was moved to its present place according to the rezoning of Odate Castel town.

     Anyway, Urabe Yasumasa presented an Avalokitesvara image probably to Mount Hoo.  Or Noriyori could have founded Gyokurin-ji Temple where the Avalokitesvara image was enshrined.  There must have been an older religious institution at the foot of the mountain.

     Tradition says that Emperor Ohodo (450?-531?) ordered the founding of Dainichi-do Temple in 485.  It was revived in 725.

     When Ohodo ruled Japan, the Imperial Court's power reached today's Fukui, Gifu, and Aichi Prefectures at the easternmost.  Even in the west, Kyushu was half-independent, and Ohodo had trouble in forcing them into obedience.  However, that doesn't contradict that a Buddhist temple was founded in the 5th century.  Buddhims could have crossed the Sea of Japan directly to the estuary of Yoneshiro River and went upstream to Mount Hoo, namely Mount Phoenix.  The naming was very advanced in those days.

Address: 24 Odate, Odate, Akita 017-0896

Phone: 0186-49-2267

Nishikido Shrine

Address: Gorindai, Hinaimachi Yagihashi, Odate, Akita 018-5744

Tokko Fortress Ruins

Address: Dainichidomae Hinaimachi Tokko, Odate, Akita 018-5721

The Site of Ex-Gyokurin-ji Temple

Address: Onigatai Shigenai, Odate, Akita 017-0022