Virtual Old Mutsu 33 Kannon Pigrimage #25 Koganeyama Shrine

 

     Koganeyama Shrine, which enshrines God Kaneyama and Goddes Kaneyama, was founded in Koreharu County, Mutsu Province, in 750.  Koganeyama literally means Gold Mine.  Koreharu County was organized after Koreharu Fortress was built in 767 as the northernmost fortress in Mutsu Province at that time.

     In 749, Kudara Kyofuku (698-766), the Governor of Mutsu Province, presented the gold which was produced in Oda County, Mutsu Province, to the emperor.

     Nitori County was organized in 713 as Nitori Fortress was built as the northernmost fortress in Mutsu Province at that time.  In May, 715, 1000 wealthy families were transferred from Sagami, Kazusa, Hitachi, Kozuke, Musashi, and Shimotsuke Provinces in the Kanto Region to Mutsu Province.  They might have migrated to Nitori County, which was divided into Kurokawa, Kami, Shikama, Tomita, Tamatsukuri, Shida, Nagaoka, Nitta, Oda, and Oshika Counties in 728.  Families from an area might have migrated to a certain part of Nitori County and organized their own county with the name of their hometown.  Oda County might have been developed by the families from Oda Village, Hanyu County, Kazusa Province.  In passing, Kami County might have been developed by those either from Kami County, Musashi Province, or from Kami Village, Taka County, Hitachi Province.  Nitta County could have been developed by those from Nitta County, Shimotsuke Province.  Their development meant that they started growing rice.  Eventually, surrounding northern foreigners learned to grow rice.  They were called Taebisu, that is, Rice Fields Barbarians.  They developed Toda County by 737.

     After 2 decades after Nitori County was finally divided into 11, the gold was found by Hasetsukabe Omaro, who was from Kazusa Province.  Iron manufacturing was introduced to Futaeyama at the turn of the 8th century.  The Futaeyama Site had a smelter to refine iron sand, a blacksmith to make iron plates, and a charcoal kiln to supply charcoals to the smelter and blacksmith.  The site is located on the south dry hillside.  Omaro was promoted to belong to the noble class.

     Did the experience of finding iron sand help find gold dust?  Another question is whether he visited Oda County by chance or someone, the provincial governor for example, arranged for him to research the area.

     In June, 789, the Imperial Army suffered a disastrous defeat by northern foreigners.  In 790, Ohito of Toda County pled with the Imperial Court: We have already left the corrupt northern foreigners' customs and our sense of loyalty is the same as your people.  We would like to live the same life as your people.  However, we are still called Taebisu, and the surname will be a shame for our descendants forever.  Please let us change our surname and give us a surname on the same level as your people.  In February, 791, Ohito was not only given a promotion but also a new surname Toda due to his military service.  The Imperial Court learned a lesson from the previous crushing defeat and started to divide and rule.

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Futaeyama Site

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