Virtual Kesen 33 Kannon Pigrimage #1 Senzo-ji Temple

 

     There is a huge rock whose form evokes a childbirth scene in the Kesen area.  The rock must have been worshiped even in prehistoric days by those who belonged to Jomon culture.  Those who belonged to Yayoi Culture arrived in the area, and Kesen County was first documented in Shoku Nihongi, which covered the years 697-791, and whose compilation was completed in 797.  A Kannon-do hall was built to enshrine the rock in 810 in Miyoshi Woods, Kesen County, Mutsu Province. 

     Sen-hime (1659-1706) was the wife of Date Tsunamura (1659-1719), the 4th lord of the Sendai Domain.  She gave birth to a boy and 2 girls but they all died prematurely.  In 1704, Tsunamura moved Senzo-ji Temple, the shrine temple of Suwa Shrine, to have it take care of the huge rock.  Tsunamura built or rebuilt too many temples and shrines and worsened his domain's finances.

     Suwa Shrine was directly invited from Suwa Grand Shrine in Shinano Province in 1160.

Senzo-ji Temple is also the #14 member temple of the Old Mutsu 33 Kannon Pigrimage.

Address: Aragawa-127 Kesencho, Rikuzentakata, Iwate 029-2204

Suwa Shrine

Address: Machiura-3 Kesencho, Rikuzentakata, Iwate 029-2204

Phone: 0192-55-2934