Virtual Shimokita 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #28 Shinnyo-an Temple

 

     Aborvitaes were specialties of Shimokita Penninsula.  In Sai Village, the Sakai Family was a watch of aborvitae woods.  The head of the family called himself Genpachi, and Genpachi the 17th was the head of the family at the end of the Edo Period (1603-1867).  A Genpachi (?-1712) founded Shinnyo-an Temple in Ushitaki Hamlet in the village.

     Priest Gekkan (1653-1702), the 19th head priest of Kozen-ji Temple, was traveling around Japan to raise funds for the reconstruction of Kozen-ji Temple, which had been dilapidated.  He encountered a merchant Akai Genpachi in Ushitaki Hamlet, Sai Village, Mutsu Province.  Genpachi was busy rebuilding Honsei-ji Temple, which had been destroyed by fire.  Gekkan handed Genpachi all of the donations he had collected up to that point, saying that the reconstruction of Kozen-ji Temple was not urgent.  Genpachi promised Gekkan that he would cut down abrovitae trees in Sai and send them to Kozen-ji Temple in Ecchu Province once Honsei-ji Temple was rebuilt.  After several years, as he promised, Genpachi cut wood from the mountains, loaded each piece with a note reading "To Himi Kozen-ji Temple", and set sail from Ushitaki.

     However, the ship encountered a storm in the Sea of ​​Japan and nearly capsized, so he was forced to dump the timber into the sea.  The timber washed up on Sado Island.  Since fishermen from Himi had moved to the island and many of them were followers of Gekkan, they managed to gather up every piece.  The timber arrived safely in Etchu.  Kozen-ji Temple was rebuilt in 1701, using the timber that arrived from Ushitaki.

     Gekkan passed away in 1702 soon after seeing the reconstruction of Kozen-ji Temple.  Genpachi spent the rest of his life in Himi without returning to his hometown of Ushitaki.  His grave, inscribed "Genpachi of Ushitaki, Sakai, Oshu, The Nanbu Domain" still stands on the temple grounds.

     Genpachi, who founded Sinnyo-an Temple, could have been the next-generation Genpachi, who died in Himi.

     Honsei-ji Temple was founded in Hikobe Village, Shiwa County, Mutsu Province.  It burned down in 1576, and was moved to Futsukamachi in the same county.  In 1635, it was removed to its present place.  Presumably, Genpachi was busy supporting the relocation and revival of Honsei-ji Temple

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Address: Ushitaki-18-1 Chogo, Sai, Shimokita District, Aomori 039-4712

Kozen-ji Temple

Address: 1-35 Marunouchi, Himi, Toyama 935-0017

Phone: 0766-72-1842

Honsei-ji Temple

Address: 3-16 Nasukawacho, Morioka, Iwate 020-0016

Phone: 019-652-1894