Virtual Old Mutsu 33 Kannon Pigrimage #18 Reito-ji Temple

 

     It is unknown when Urushi-dera Temple was founded in Isawa County, Mutsu Province.

     Isawa County was organized in 804.  At first, military rule was imposed in the county as well as in Iwai and Esashi Counties, which were organized at the same time, and in Shiwa, Waga, and Hinue Counties, which were organized in 811.  In the 10th century, Iwai County, which was located southernmost among the 6 counties, was transferred to a civilian government under the Mutsu Provincial Government in Taga Castle, and Iwate County was organized in the north of Shiwa, Waga, and Hinue Counties.

     On June 2nd, 812, the Imperial Court ordered communities of northern foreigners to choose their own chiefs.  On December 1st, 815, Emperor Saga (786-842) ordered that officers, officials, and people should not call surrendered northern foreigners in a derogatory term "Ifu" but should call them with their names and, if any, with their post names and ranks.  In other words, northern foreigners should be treated as humans.  It wasn’t recorded how the communities of northern foreigners chose their own chiefs, but chief-ships became hereditary and that made powerful families more powerful.

     Eventually, those powerful families in Mutsu Province formed the Abe Clan, who practically ruled Isawa, Esashi, Shiwa, Waga, Hinue, and Iwate Counties in the 11th century.  The 6 counties used to be under military rule in the 9th century.  It is unknown how the power structure in the 6 counties was transferred.  Between Isawa County in the north and Iwai County in the south, Koromo River ran.  The river was a practical border between the direct rule of the Imperial Court and the indirect rule through the chiefs of ex-northern foreigners.  The Chojagahara Temple Site is located in the north of Koromo River, and the temple is supposed to have been the largest in the north of the river.  Iwasaki-Kannon-do Hall, Urushi-dera Temple, and Chojagahara Temple (a provisional name) were all located within a couple of kilometers.  The surrounding area must have been the biggest and southernmost base of the Abe Clan.

     In 1269, Urushi-dera Temple was revived and renamed Koka-ji.  It was renamed Horin-ji sometime between 1573 and 1591.  In 1661, it was renamed Reito-ji.

Urushi-dera Temple might have been burned down when the Northern Fujiwara Clan was destroyed in 1189, as the temple was just 1 kilometer north of Hiraizumi, a practical capital of the clan.

Address: Yamashita−72, Maesawaku, Oshu, Iwate 029-4208 

Phone: 0197-56-5017

Chojagahara Temple Site

Address: Tanaka-nishi, Koromogawaku, Oshu, Iwate 029-4439