Virtual Old Akita 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #19 Senju-in Temple

 

     It is unknown whether Senju-in Temple was founded along Iwami River before the organization of the Old Akita 33 Kannon Pilgrimage in the 1040's or after.  As the temple burned down in 1870, its present image of Thousand-Armed Sahasrabhuja isn't the original one that Urabe Yasumasa presented.

     In January, 737, Azumabito was doubled as the Inspector of Mutsu Province.  On March 1st in the same year, he left Mutsu Province with 196-strong central cavalry and 499-strong central infantry, 5,000-strong provincial soldiers, and 249 northern foreigners who had surrendered to open an access route to Ideha Province.  He suppressed the northern foreigners around Okachi County and secured the route.  From Spring to Autumn in 759, Okachi Fortress was built, mobilizing 8180 men.  At the same time, Tamano, Saruhashi, Hirahoko, Yokokawa, Okachi, and Sukakawa Stations were installed in Ideha Province with Akita Fortress as its terminal.  The whereabouts of the stations haven't been verified archaeologically, but the Sukawa Station is supposed to have been located in today's Kawabe, Akita City, along Iwami River.  

     In ancient times, stations were under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Military Affairs, and provincial governors were in charge of supervision, while the actual work was carried out by farmers near the station.  They were called ekido, of whom one wealthy and experienced person was appointed as the station master.  The station master's duties included preparing station horses and station workers, managing station equipment and station rice fields, and handling all aspects of administrative work related to a station, such as storing and spending station rice.  The position of a station master was for life.  When a station master was replaced due to death or illness, and if the station master had lost a station horse or other station equipment, the previous station master or his family should be responsible for the loss excluding cases of natural disasters.  In return, a station master was to be exempted from paying taxes while he was in office.

     The Engishiki, a book about laws and customs, whose major part was completed in 927, lists 402 stations nationwide.

     It is not hard to imagine that the most powerful family in the Kawabe area handed down the position of Sukawa Station Master.  Yasumasa might have shown the Kiyohara Family's respect to the family.

     The station system is said to have continued until around the 10th century.  As the Fujiwara Clan's Imperial regency politics began at the end of the 10th century, the ancient station system collapsed due to the weakening of the ancient centralized system and confusion in local politics.  Along with this, the routes between stations stopped being used, as the routes passed far away from human settlements and were not used as roads for people's daily lives.  The routes were gradually lost in the mountains and in the wilderness.

Address: Kajiyashiki-155 Kawabeiwami, Akita, 019-2741

Phone: 018-883-2117