Virtual Kesen 33 Kannon Pigrimage #13 Mukaido Kannon-do Hall

 

     It is unknown when the Senda Family settled in Setamai Village, Kesen County, Mutsu Province, and enshrined Eleven-Faced Ekadasamukha.

     In 1562, the lord of Yonegasaki Fortress married a princess of Tsurugasaki Fortress.  She, however, spent a life where day and night were reversed for 3 years.  The lord was at a complete loss.  He followed a revelation and built a hall for the Eleven-Faced Ekadasamukha image of the Senda Family, and she recovered completely.  That means the image was there in 1562.  In the 1580's, the fortress was taken over by Hamada Hirotsuna (1523-1592), who was an anachronism and the county was caught in fighting when the Warring States Period was just ending.

     At the beginning of the 20th century, the Senda FAmily contributed the image and its hall to Jofuku-ji Temple.

     It is unknown when Jofuku-ji Temple was founded along Shirakisawa River in Yoshihama in the same county.  The temple was moved to its present place by Priest Kensho in 1536.  It is unknown why he moved it about 25 kilometers inland.  It is unknown whether its relocation had something to do with a big tsunami which seems to have hit the Pacific coast of Mutsu Province in the 15th century or not.

     Its main deity, the Eleven-Faced Ekadasamukha image, has features typical to Muromachi Period (1336-1573).  The Senda Family might have become powerful and rich enough to have their own family Buddhist image in those days.  It is, however, unknown whether they had brought the image from somewhere else or they got the image in Sumita Village.

Address: Setamai, Sumita, Kesen District, Iwate 029-2311

Tsurugasaki Fortress Site

Address: Koshimappe Yahagicho, Rikuzentakata, Iwate 029-2201

Yonegasaki Fortress Ruins

Address: Tate-65-2 Yonesakicho, Rikuzentakata, Iwate 029-2206

Jofuku-ji Temple

Address: Shimizusawa-74 Setamai, Sumita, Kesen District, Iwate 029-2311

Phone: 0192-46-2615

Shirakisawa River

Address: Sanrikucho Yoshihama, Ofunato, Iwate 022-0102