Virtual Kesen 33 Kannon Pigrimage #16 Chokei-ji Temple

 

     Before 811, the northern half of Monou County was divided, and Kesen County was organized, including what would later become the northern part of Motoyoshi County.

     Before the beginning of the 12th century, Motoyoshi Manor was established by combining the northern part of Monou County and the southern part of Kesen County, with the Shizugawa area, which was a hub for maritime traffic, as its center.  Initially, the manor was owned by the Fujiwara Clan, and later became under the direct control of the Emperor.  The manor's main tax was gold and horses.  It became one of the bases of the Northern Fujiwara Clan, who were in charge of transporting taxes.  It is recorded that Fujiwara Takahira (?-1201), who was the 4th son of Hidehira (1122-1187), ruled the manor.

     It is unknown when the manor became Motoyoshi County.  Anyway, the manor where rice was grown nurtured samurai and some of them advanced to Kesen County, which had been ruled by the Kon Family.

     Chiba Hirotane advanced from Magome Village, Motoyoshi County, Mutsu Province, to Yahagi Village, Kesen County in the same province in 1315.  He built Tsurugasaki Fortress.  His offspring could have spread in the county.  One of them lived in Shimoarisu Village, and founded Chokei-ji Temple in 1554.

Address: Takase-145 Shimoarisu, Sumita, Kesen District, Iwate 029-2502

Phone: 0192-48-2716

Tsurugasaki Fortress Site

Address: Koshimappe Yahagicho, Rikuzentakata, Iwate 029-2201

Ex-Magome Village

Address: Motoyoshicho Magomemachi, Kesennuma, Miyagi 988-0365