Virtual Old Mutsu 33 Kannon Pigrimage #29 Miiriyama-Kannon-do Hall

 

     Miniriyama Kannon-do Hall is located along the middlestream of Oirase River in Tsugaru County, Mutsu Province, and is believed to have been founded in the 9th century.  The river runs out of the core of the Shirakami-Sanchi Sanctuary and runs into the Sea of Japan just 5 kilometers north of Fukaura, whose port might have been built between Nushiro and Tosa to wait for better winds by Balhae and Tiei people, who also built Onga Port to wait for better winds between Akita and Nushiro.  Those ports made the navigation across the Sea of Japan safer and more secure.

     Oirase River has only 2 villages; one at its mouth and the other at the foot of the hill where the hall is located.  In other words, the hall is located on the borderline between the sea people and the mountain people.

     In 1344 during the Southern and Northern Period, Fujiwara Ujiie revived the temple, inviting Priest Gyoen (978－1047) from Shingan-ji Temple in Uta County, Yamato Province.

     The temple became uninhabited and fell into decline.  It came under the management of Engaku-ji Temple, and its precincts were used for ascetic practices.

     In 1771, Priest Eikei of Engaku-ji Temple changed the hall to an independent temple, naming it Zen’ju-in.  The temple continued to be a training center of mountain asceticism.

     In 1874, Zen’ju-in Temple was abolished due to the Gods and Buddhas Separation Order and the Shugen-do (Japanese Mountain Asceticism) Abolition Order issued after the Meiji Restoration.  Miiriyama-Kannon-do Hall came back under the management of Engaku-ji Temple.  Even today, the torii gate remains in front of the hall's approach.

     In a fire in 1922, the hall burned down.  The current hall building was rebuilt in 1923.  As the hall is on the cliffside, it has a kake-zukuri style, a construction method used to build on sloping land, where the building juts out from the slope, resulting in a unique appearance with many pillars and beams supporting the floor.

     The hall enshrines Cintamanicakra, who usually has 6 arms and holds chintamani (a wish-fulfilling jewel) in one of the six,  but it is unknown whether its original was also Cintamanicakra or not.

Address: Hatsuseyamakusawake Oirase, Fukaura, Nishitsugaru District, Aomori 038-2413

Phone: 0173-74-2029