Virtual New Mutsu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #27 Kanpuku-ji Temple

 

     Kanpuku-ji Temple used to be the shrine temple of Mokusa Shrine.

     Mokusa Shrine was founded in 718.  In 799, a Horse-Headed Hayagriva statue was enshrined, and Tojo-ji Temple was founded for it.  In 850, an image of Arya Avalokitesvara, who is the human-figure prototype of the other 6 metamorphoses, was enshrined.  In 852, Mokusa Shrine was listed in Nihon Montoku Tenno Jitsuroku, or the True History of Emperor Montoku of Japan, which is a Japanese history text completed in 879.  It is the fifth text in the Six National Histories series.  It covers the years 850-858, the years of reign of Emperor Montoku (827-858), the 55th Japanese emperor.

     Japanese swords are known for their curves.  Some say the curving style started in Mokusa after repeated improvement based on the experience through fighting between the Imperial Army and northern foreigners.  As Iwai County was organized in 804, it is doubtful that the Mokusa area was under the Imperial Army's rule when swordsmiths started their work in the area.  They came under the military rules presumably in the 9th century.

In the 930's, Mokusa Awa established the Mokusa style of Japanese swords.

Address: Ryugasawa-7 Maikawa, Ichinoseki, Iwate 021-0221

Phone: 0191-28-2420

Mokusa Shrine

Address: Odaira-5 Maikawa, Ichinoseki, Iwate 021-0221

Phone: 0191-46-5319

Mokusa Blacksmith Ruins

Address: Odaira Maikawa, Ichinoseki, Iwate 021-0221