Virtual Shimokita 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #4 Jingu-ji Temple

   

     According to tradition, Minamoto Yoshitoki (1039-1106) drifted ashore at today's Genjigaura Fishing Port in 1053, or rather the port was named as such due to Yoshitoki's washing ashore as Genji means Minamoto Clan.  He invited Hachiman Shrine on January 3rd, 1077, and moved it to Ominato on June 19th, and its first religion ceremony was performed on August 15th. 

     Yoshitoki's father, Yoriyoshi (998-1075), was appointed as the governor of Mutsu Province in 1051. In 1052, the Abe Family was pardoned, and Yoriyoshi stayed in the province relatively peacefully till 1056. It was on February 16th, 1063, that Yoriyoshi returned to Kyoto in triumph with the heads of Abe Sadato (1019-1062) and Fujiwara Tsunekiyo (?-1062).

     It is clear that Yoshitoki accompanied Yoriyoshi, but it is unknown if he took independent action  to the Shimokita Peninsula in 1053 during the relatively peaceful days.  Although the peninsula was a distant and remote place for the Imperial Army at the time, Yoshitoki could have been a great lover of adventure when young.

     In 1070, Minamoto Yoritoshi, the Governor of Mutsu Province, and Kiyohara Sadahira advanced north and reached Ezowake-shima Island, whose whereabouts are still controversial. Some argue the island was Hokkaido, while others say it was a part of the Tohoku Region.  Anyway, the main strength of the expedition force was the Kiyohara Clan.

     While Yoritoshi was in the battle front, Fujiwara Motomichi, a local official of Mutsu Provincial Government, stole the Governor's seal and the key of provincial warehouses.  Yoritoshi was dismissed, and Sadahira had the achievement of the war all to himself.  In addition, Sadahira gained supremacy in the sea route along the Pacific Ocean.

     It was after the expedition that Nukanobu County was organized.  That is, the area became under the control of the Imperial Court nominally.  In reality?  Emerging samurai class advanced to the area which the Imperial Court hadn't been able to conquer.

     It wasn't recorded Yoshitoki joined the expedition.  His participation wasn't impossible but, as he was a big name already, no historian didn't miss his name at the time.  As Genji means the Minamoto Clan, judging from the place name, at least a member of the clan could have arrived at Shimokita Peninsula in the 1170's.

     Jingu-ji Temple was founded as Hachiman Shrine's shrine temple in 1189 by Priest Ekai of Eifuku-ji Temple, which was located in Yonai Village, Iwate County, Mutsu Province.  It was abolished after the Gods and Buddhas Separation Order in 1868, with its Thousand-Armed Sahasrabhuja image moved to Joraku-ji Temple.

     Joraku-ji Temple belongs to Shingon Sect and was founded in 1396 by Priest Ryokai, who was from Negoro-ji Temple in Ki Province.

     Anyway, the foundation history of Jingu-ji Temple suggests that there used to be conflicts between northern foreigners and the central military clan, the Minamoto Clan, in the ancient times.

Joraku-ji Temple

Address: 13-6 Ominato Kamimachi, Mutsu, Aomori 035-0086

Phone: 0175-24-1960

Genjigaura Fishing Port

Address: 30 Ienomaekawame, Yokohama, Kamikita District, Aomori 039-4113

Hachiman Shrine

Address: 17-1 Utacho, Mutsu, Aomori 035-0092

Eifuku-ji Temple

Address: 2 Chome-1-1 Shimoyonai, Morioka, Iwate 020-0003

Phone: 019-662-4424