Virtual New Mutsu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #32 Shogaku-in Temple

 

     Shogaku-in Temple was founded in June, 807, near the source of the Kitakami River, with Ryokei, who is said to have belonged to the Sakanoue Family, but whose record can't be found,  as its priest.  The foundation is said to have been supported by Sakanoue Tamuramaro (758-811), who officially had 11 sons and 2 daughters.  Ryokei could have been a local son of his.

     In 791, Tamuramaro was dispatched to the eastern provinces to prepare for the war against the foreigners in the northeastern part of Honshu Island.  In 794, he invaded the region, with the military successes of beheading 457 and taking 150 captive.  On January 9th, 802, Tamuramaro was dispatched to northern foreigners' land to build Isawa Fortress.  On the 10th, 4000 jobless people from Suruga, Kai, Sagami, Musashi, Kazusa, Shimousa, Hitachi, Kozuke, and Shimotsuke Provinces were ordered to go to Isawa to build the fortress.  The Mutsu Provincial Government was located in Taga Castle, but its Military Government was moved to Isawa Fortress in the year.  Under military pressure, two enemy chiefs, Aterui and More, surrendered.  Tamuramaro brought back the two to the capital on July 10th, and the two were killed on August 13th against Tamuramaro’s intention to have them keep working in a unified Japan as chiefs in the northeastern region.  He might have the Kuninomiyatsuko system in his mind.

     In the prehistoric days of Japan, the country was unified by organizing Kuninomiyatsuko in remote areas.  They were local powerful families.  The Pacific side of the Tohoku Region had 10 Kuninomiyatsuko: Kikuta Kuninomiyatsuko, Iwaki Kuninomiyatsuko, Someha Kuninomiyatsuko, Ukita Kuninomiyatsuko, Watari Kuninomiyatsuko, Shirakawa Kuninomiyatsuko, Iwase Kuninomiyatsuko, Asaka Kuninomiyatsuko, Shinobu Kuninomiyatsuko, and Iku Kuninomiyatsuko.  At the beginning, the northern limit of the Kuninomiyatsuko system was in today's Fukushima Prefecture.  Later, Emperor Karu (596-654) introduced the County system.

Shogaku-in Temple, where Ryokei was left, was located about 200 kilometers north from Isawa Fortress.  Ryokei wasn't killed but could have been confined there.  About a century later, the Imperial Army advanced further north and Iwate County was organized with the temple's surrounding area as part of it.  Ryokei couldn't have survived till then.

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