Virtual New Mutsu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #9 Konpo-ji Temple

 

    Mt. Nonodake is the main peak in the southeastern part of the hills which stretch from northwest to southeast across the Senboku Plain, and its shape is steep on the northeast side and gentle on the southwest side.  For this reason, despite its 236 meters elevation, it stands out mainly from the northeast direction, in the direction of the upriver of Kitakami River.  From the top, there is almost nothing to obstruct the view, offering excellent views, including not only the rice paddy fields of the Senboku Plain, but also the mountains of Iwate Prefecture, the Oshika Peninsula, and even Mt. Kinka in the distance.

     What do the Oshu Three Kannon have in common?  A scenic spot?  A kind of.  They all command fine views.  Fine views of what?  They all command the waterway from Taga-jo Castle to the upper reaches of the Kitakami River, where Isawa Fortress was built in 802, Shiwa Fortress was built in 803, Nakayama Fortress was built in 804, and Tokutan Fortress was built in 812.  Along the waterway to the newly built fortresses, the Imperial Army advanced and carried out their logistic support.  The sites of the Three Kannon looked down at their military movements.  The question is who watched them.  Did the northern foreigners watch to send smoke signals to the north when they detected the Imperial Army intruding?  Or was it the Imperial Army that watched the northern foreigners' guerrilla fighting to interrupt the Imperial Army's advancement or logistic support?

Address: Kaguraoka-1 Nonodake, Wakuya, Toda District, Miyagi 987-0285

Phone: 0229-45-2251

Site of Tagajo Castle

Address: Ichikawa, Tagajo City, Miyagi 985-0864

Phone: 022-368-1141

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