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