Virtual Shimokita 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #10 Daigyo-in Temple

 

     It is unknown when Shinzan Shrine was founded.  The shrine had Hachiman-gu Shrine in its precincts.  In 1617, it burned down.  Hachiman-gu Shrine was revived by being moved to its present place in 1648.  Miyama Shrine was rebuilt in 1654.

     Kasuga Shrine was founded in 1649 to guard the Kimon, namely the Ogre Gate, of Hachiman-gu Shrine.  Kimon is north-east.

     In China, where the lunar old calendar is used, the year-end and New Year days mark not only the turning point of the year but also the transition from winter to spring.  It was a time of great change, and people tended to be sick.  They thought demons came to make them sick.

      On the other hand, in the Chinese zodiac system that have been used since ancient times, seasons and directions used the same phrases: Rat, Cow, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Chicken, Dog, and Wild Boar.

     New Year's Eve, the boundary of the year, falls between Cow and Tiger.  The direction north-east also falls between Cow and Tiger.  At the time between Cow and Tiger, there come demons.  Then, they should come from the direction between Cow and Tiger, from north-east.  North-east is the gate for demons.  It's a very plain syllogism.

     The Kimon idea is supposed to have been imported to Japan by the end of the 9th century.

     Digyo-in Temple was founded as Kasuga Shrine's shrine temple, enshrining Arya Avalokitesvara, who is the human-figure prototype of the other 6 metamorphoses.  After the Meiji Restoration, the temple was abolished and its Arya Avalokitesvara image was moved to Daian-ji Temple.

Daian-ji Temple

Address: Honmachi-80 Ohata, Mutsu, Aomori 039-4401

Phone: 0175-34-2926

Ohata-Hachiman-gu Shrine

Address: Minamimachi-46 Ohata, Mutsu, Aomori 039-4401

Phone: 0175-34-3636

Kasuga Shrine

Address: Minatomura-158 Ohata, Mutsu, Aomori 039-4401