Virtual Yashima Domain 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #21 ?

 

     The whereabouts of the #21 deity of the Yashima 33 Kannon Pilgrimage is unknonw.  According to fragments of its information, there could have been either Mitake Hamlet or Mitake Shrine in Tashiro Village (today's Higashiyuritashiro, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0232) and Sadanojo took care of a Horse-Headed Hayagriva image when the Yashima 33 Kannon Pilgrimage was organized.

     Tashiro Village was along the upper Takase River in the south of Tomai Village in the north of Kurobuchi Village.

     If there had been Mitake Shrine in Tashiro village, the shrine should have been merged to Tashiro-Shinmei-sha Shrine after the Meiji Restoration since Shinmei-sha Shrine is the only shrine in Higashiyuritashiro.  If there had been Mitake Hamlet in the village, it would have become uninhabited and Sasanojo's offspring could have taken the image away with them.  To where?  It is unknown.

     When Ikoma Toshiaki became independent from his elder brother, Takakiyo (1643-1694), Tashiro Village was owned by Toshiaki.

     Although, Higashiyuritashiro has Rintaku-ji Temple, it might have nothing to do with the Hayagriva image.

     It was documented that there used to be Mitake Shrines in Kurobuchi Village (in today's Higashiyurikurobuchi, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0231 and in Mizukami Higashiyurikurobuchi, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0231).  The 2 shrines were merged to Tashiro-Shinmei-sha Shrine on March 2nd, 1910.

     Mitake Shrine in Mitakeyama is supposed to be the originator of Mitake Shrines in Akita Prefecture.  Its deities are Susano, Ukanomitama, and Toshigami.  The latter 2 are the children of Susano and are associated with food and agriculture.

     Mount Mitake must have been a holy place of local northern foreigners around the mountain.  They could have imported Ukanomitama, and Toshigami to have Mount Mitake or Mitake Shrine included in the Japanese Shinto hierarchy.  The locals might have regarded the goddess and the god compatible with their local goddess/god enshrined on the top of Mount Mitake.  Why did they choose the 2 when they had other agricultural deities such as Toyouke, who was originally worshipped in Tanba Province, and Ukemochi?  Anyway, the Kurobuchi villagers might have invited Mitake Shrine to pray for a good harvest.  If so, and if the Horse-Headed Hayagriva image was enshrined in one of the Mitake Shrines, they might have prayed for the propagation of their livestock as some breeders worshiped Horse-Headed Hayagriva by association.

Tashiro-Shinmei-sha Shrine

Address: Kameshima-38 Higashiyuritashiro, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0232

Phone: 0184-33-3440

Rintaku-ji Temple

Address: Nishinosawa-41 Higashiyuritashiro, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0232

Phone: 0184-69-3340

Mitake Shrine

Address: Mitakeyama−6, Yuzawa, Akita 012-0804

Phone: 0183-73-1873