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