Virtual Yashima Domain 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #30 Banpo-in Temple

 

     The pilgrimage to Mount Chokai has an obverse route and a reverse route.  The reverse route is also called the Yashima Route and was said to have 18 temples to organize and support the Mount Chokai Pilgrimage.

     In 1845, however, the number increased to 24: Ganko-ji, Gassho-ji, Tofuku-ji, Hachiman-ji, Nanko-in, Kakuo-ji, Hoki-in, Kongo-in, Jissho-in, Daikyo-in, Senju-in, Fukusho-in, Tokusho-in, Kanki-in, Gyokuho-in, Bansho-in, Myoo-in, Ichijo-in, Daifuku-in, Jogaku-in, Banpo-in, Jugakuin, Shozo-in, and Itoku-in Temples.

     It is unknown whether Banpo-in Temple was one of the original 18 temples or was added later before the Yashima Domain 33 Kannon Pilgrimage was organized.

     Hitane Village was first documented in 1612, and was hit by floods and drought in the 17th century.  It had 15 households and the population of 104 in 1758. 

     Officially speaking, Nenoi Yukichika (?-1184), one of the 4 most important vassals of Minamoto Yoshinaka (1154-1184), who fought against the Taira Clan as a member of the Minamoto Clan, but who lost in the power games among the Minamoto Clan, was killed in the Battle of Uji (1184).  According to local tradition, however, Yukichika escaped to Hitane Village, and built Nenoi Fortress.  The Nenoi Family claimed to be his offspring.  Their offspring became farmers and called their family Tsuchida.

     Banpo-in Temple was located in Hitane Village, Yuri County.  It means it must have been either in Chokaimachi Kamihitane, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0515, or in Chokaimachi Nakahitane, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0514, or in Chokaimachi Shimohitane, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0513.

     Banpo-in Temple could have been abolished after the Meiji Restoration Government issued the Gods and Buddhas Separation Order in 1868.

     At the foot of Naka-Hitane Nenoi Fortress Site, there is Hitane Shrine.  It is unknown whether Banpo-in Temple's image of Arya Avalokitesvara, who is the human-figure prototype of the other 6 metamorphoses, was moved to the shrine or has been kept by Banpo-in's offspring personally.

Hitane Shrine

Address: Maenosawa−56, Chokaimachi Nakahitane, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0514

Phone: 0184-57-3227