Virtual Old Mutsu 33 Kannon Pigrimage #28 Takaderayama

 

     Takaderayama or Mount Takadera was located roughly in a straight line between Taga Castle, where the Mutsu Provincial Government was based, and Shiwa Fortress, the northernmost fortress of the Imperial Army in the 9th century.  If the Imperial Court built the station road between the castle and the fortress, it would run through the mountain or pass through the foot of the mountain.  An Avalokitesvara image might have been enshrined either on the top of the mountain or at the foot of the mountain.  The area could have been a strategic point.

     At the north-east foot of the mountain, the site of the Jori system was excavated.  In the 8th century, rice fields were rezoned by the unit of 11,881 square meters.  Horizontal 6 units were called Jo, and vertical 6 units were called Ri.  Accordingly, the rezoning system was called the Jori system.  The system might have been introduced to the area presumably in the 9th century.

     In medieval days, Moroyama Fortress was built and Kozen-ji Temple was founded at the northern foot of the mountain.  Some say #28 deity of the Old Mutsu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage was inherited by Kozen-ji Temple, but it burned down in the infighting of the Osaki Family on February 23rd, 1588.  Osaki Yoshitaka (1548-1603) loved male homosexuality, and his beloved boys started quarrels or fights, which ridiculously involved a power struggle.  Anyway, the temple's previous history became unknowable.

Address: Takaderamori Matsuyamasengoku, Osaki, Miyagi 987-1304

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

Kozen-ji Temple

Address: Hachiman-63 Furukawamoroyama, Ōsaki, Miyagi 989-6125

Phone: 0229-22-1873