Trees In the Town

Virtual Honjo Domain 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #17 Daigaku-bo Temple

 

     Nothing is known about Daigaku-bo Temple, besides the fact that there is a place name Daigaku Kawaguchi, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0051.  Earthen vessels of the Heian Period (794-1185) have been excavated there.

     Yet, if Daigaku-bo Temple was located somewhere between the Honjo Domain 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #16 Entsu-ji Temple and the Honjo Domain 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #18 Shojo-ji Temple, we should pay attention to the existence of Ezo-date Fortress and Hana-date Fortress Sites, regarding the foundation time of Shojo-ji Temple.  Ezo means northern foreigners.

     Daigaku-bo Temple could have been located around the fortresses.

Ezo-date Fortress Site

Address: Fujisakidai-371 Fujisaki, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0047

Hana-date Fortress Site

Address: Shimokatabata−3 Funaoka, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0046

Trees In the Town

Virtual Honjo Domain 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #16 Entsu-ji Temple

     Entsu-ji Temple was founded in 1534 in Numada Village, which is supposed to have been ruled by the Kataho Family, who were based in Kataho Fortress.  The fortress site is Kujakukan Park.

     Between the temple and the fortress, there used to be the Nishime Lagoon.  As a lagoon is called kata in Japanese, the family name had something to do with the lagoon.  The lagoon was about 1,300 meters wide from north to south and 1,400 meters wide from east to west in 1647.  Rice fields were reclaimed by drainage from the lagoon and it finally disappeared in 1835.  Numada means Wetland Rice-Fields.

Address: Shikimori-27 Nishimemachi Numata, Yurihonjo, Akita 018-0604

Phone: 0184-33-3049

Kujakukan Park

Address: Tatenoushiro-10 Nishimemachi Nishime, Yurihonjo, Akita 018-0603

Trees In the Town

Virtual Honjo Domain 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #15 Kakuo-ji Temple

 

     It is unknown when and where Kakuo-ji Temple was founded.  As the Honjo Domain #14 Tensho-ji Temple is located in Nikaho City and the Honjo Domain #16 Entsu-ji Temple is located in Yurihonjo City, Kakuo-ji Temple might have been located somewhere around the border of the 2 cities.

     After Nikaho Kiyoshige (1560-1624) died, his territory was divided between his 3 sons, Yoshitoshi (?-1631), Nobumasa (1600-1653), and Masatsugu.  Nobumasa and Masatsugu became directly subject to the Tokugawa Shogunate, and lived in Edo.  They built the local administrator office in Hirasawa, Nikaho, Akita 018-0402.  Its surrounding area formed a kind of a castle town.  The office site is Nikaho Park.

     Besides Hirasawa, Nikaho City has just Ryozenji, Nikaho, Akita 018-0401.  Nishimemachi Nishime, Yurihonjo, Akita, where Entsu-ji Temple is located is just across the border.

Kakuo-ji Temple might have been located either in the castle town or Ryozenji Village, which was first documented in 1602.

     It is unknown when and how Kakuo-ji Temple was abolished.

Nikaho Park

Address: Shimizu-60 Hirasawa, Nikaho, Akita 018-0402

Trees In the Town

Virtual Honjo Domain 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #14 Tensho-ji Temple

 

     Mitake Shrine was founded, or was invited, in 1616 by Satake Zushonosuke.  Who was he?

     In 1602, Satake Yoshinobu (1570-1633) was demoted from Hitachi Province to Akita County, Dewa Province, with his income more than halved.  Before he left Hitachi to Akita, he declared that his vassals couldn't earn what they had enjoyed and that he wouldn't take lower-class samurai with him.  Zushonosuke could have been a lower-class samurai at the bottom of the Satake Clan.  It is unknown whether he became a farmer or was employed by Rokugo Masanori (1567-1634), who was promoted with his income increased by 4 times in 21 years.

     Anyway, Tensho-ji Temple might have been founded in those days as twin religious institutions with Mitake Shrine in Maekawa Village, which was first documented in 1612.  In those days, the syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism was popular.

Address: Mitakemae-137, Kurokawa, Nikaho, Akita 018-0302

Phone: 0184-38-4146

Mitake Shrine

Address: Mitakeushiro−12, Kurokawa, Nikaho, Akita 018-0302

Phone: 0184-38-2564

Trees In the Town

Virtual Honjo Domain 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #13 Kannon-ji Temple

 

     It is unknown where Kannon-ji Temple was located in Nikaho City.  The city has Kannonmori Hamlet, which used to have 5 households in 2018.  After the Covid 2019 pandemic, the number of its households has declined.  As Kannonmori means Kannon Woods, there could have been Kannon-ji Temple in the hamlet's golden age.

Kannonmori Kisakatamachi Kosagawa, Nikaho, Akita 018-0143

Trees In the Town

Virtual Honjo Domain 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #12 Kogan-ji Temple

 

     It is unknown when Kogan-ji Temple was founded in Shiokoshi Village, which was developed at the foot of the sand dunes between Lake Kisakata and the Sea of Japan.

     The village was first documented in 1612, when the area was ruled by Tateoka Mitsushige (1547-1639).  It was then ruled by Honda Masazumi (1565-1637).  He was disfavored by Tokugawa Hidetada (1579-1632), the 2nd Shogun, and was exiled to Yokote.  In 1623, it was ruled by Nikaho Kiyoshige (1560-1624).  In 1631, it was owned by the Tokugawa Shogunate.  In 1640, it became part of Honjo Domain, ruled by Rokugo Masakatsu (1609-1677).  In the same year, the Ikoma Family and the Rokugo Family exchanged their land for the convenience of ruling.

     The Ikoma family gave the Rokugo Family 17 villages: Shiokoshi (Nichome Shiokoshi, KisakatamachiNikaho, Akita 018-0118), Teraishi, Konoura (Konoura, Nikaho, Akita 018-0311), Tobi (Tobi, Nikaho, Akita 018-0301), Kurokawa (Kurokawa, Nikaho, Akita 018-0302), Serida (Serida, Nikaho, Akita 018-0404), Mitsumori (Mitsumori, Nikaho, Akita 018-0403), Maekawa (Maekawa, Nikaho, Akita 018-0321), Otake (Otake, Nikaho, Akita 018-0322), Nakazato, Iseiji (Iseiji, Nikaho, Akita 018-0431), Misono (Misono Himeno, Nikaho, Akita 018-0436), Hinokuchi (Hinokuchi Himeno, Nikaho, Akita 018-0436), Domeki (Domeki Himeno, Nikaho, Akita 018-0436), Tateiji, and Mikkaichi (Mikkaichi Nakasanchi, Nikaho, Akita 018-0435) Villages.

     The Rokugo family gave the Ikoma Family 16 villages: Gonai (Gonai Yashimamachi Motomachi, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0417), Hirabayashi (Hirabayashi Chokaimachi Shimojinego, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0722), Sakanoshita (Sakanoshita Nishisawa, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0352), Shinjo (Shinjo Yashimamachi Shinjo, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0415), Nakayama (Nakayama Takao, Yurihonjo, Akita 018-0844), Yatsusugi, Yubinabe, Kisara (Kamikisara Yashimamachi Kisara, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0413), Sugisawa (Sugisawa Yashimamachi Kawabe, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0412), Koitado (Koitado Yashimamachi Kawabe, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0412), Kamizato (Kamizato Higashiyurihonai, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0201), Kaminori, Shimosato, Honai (Honai Higashiyurihonai, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0201), Niiwa, Kawachi Village.

     The output of the 17 villages and that of the 16 villages were equivalent.  It is interesting that modern municipal territories inherit those of feudal domains rather than primitive or ancient domains.

     Anyway, without the exchange, Kogan-ji Temple wasn’t included in the Honjo Domain 33 Kannon Pilgrimage.

Address: Yonchome Shiokoshi-231 Kisakatamachi, Nikaho, Akita 018-0116

Phone: 0184-43-3491

Trees In the Town

 Virtual Honjo Domain 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #11 Kanman-ji Temple

     There used to be Kisakata Lake around today's Oshiokoshi-73-1 Kisakatamachi, Nikaho, Akita 018-0400.  Kanman-ji Temple was founded on the western bank of the lake.

      In August, 1257, Hojo Tokiyori (1227-1263), the 5th Regent of the Kamakura Shogunate, visited the lake.

     The lake's beauty of archipelago and that of Matsushima were equally praised even by Matsuo Basho (1644-1694):

Oh, Kisakata

In the rain

It's as beautiful as Xi Shi.

     The area was, however, hit by the 1804 Kisakata Earthquake and the lake bed was raised by 2 meters.  The lake became wetland and the Honjo Domain started reclaiming rice fields.  The 24th priest Kakurin tried to protect nature from development.  In 1822, he died in the prison of the domain.

     We can only find small hills scattered among rice fields today.

Address: Kisakatajima−2, Kisakatamachi, Nikaho, Akita 018-0122

Phone: 0184-43-3153

Trees In the Town

Virtual Honjo Domain 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #10 Koden-ji Temple

 

     It is unknown when Koden-ji Temple was founded in Kunezoe Hamlet, Maekawa Village.  The village was first documented in 1612, when the area was ruled by Tateoka Mitsushige (1547-1639).  It was then ruled by Honda Masazumi (1565-1637).  He was disfavored by Tokugawa Hidetada (1579-1632), the 2nd Shogun, was exiled to Yokote, and was buried in Shohei-ji Temple after his death.  In 1623, it was ruled by Nikaho Kiyoshige (1560-1624).  In 1631, it was owned by the Tokugawa Shogunate.  In 1640, it became part of Honjo Domain, ruled by Rokugo Masakatsu (1609-1677).  It was ruled by the Rokugo Family ever after.  If not, the temple wasn't included in the Honjo Domain 33 Kannon Pilgrimage.

Address: Kunezoe−49, Maekawa, Nikaho, Akita 018-0321

Phone: 0184-38-2796

Shohei-ji Temple

Address: 3-14 Tanakamachi, Yokote, Akita 013-0024

Phone: 0182-32-3084

Trees In the Town

Virtual Honjo Domain 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #9 Choo-ji Temple

 

     Ako-tsu Port was ruled by the Akotsu Family, who enjoyed good relations with the Ando Pirates.  They built Akotsu Fortress on the top of the hill behind the port.

     The Akotsu Family was dismissed in 1600.  Tateoka Mitsushige (1547-1639) moved to the area in 1603, but was dismissed in 1622.  In 1623, Iwaki Yoshitaka (1609-1672) moved in.  He built Kameda Residence at the foot of the hill and developed the town at the foot of the residence.  As Choo-ji Temple is located in the town, it might have been founded when the town was developed.

     In the 1980's, the fake castle tower and the fake main gate were built for the sake of sightseeing.  Ever since then, the site is called Kameda Castle, but there never was a castle in the Edo Period.  Can we call Kamedamachi, or Kameda Town, a castle town?

     After the Akotsu Family was dismissed, part of the family called themselves Kosukegawa and became a vassal of the Yashima Domain.  When Kosukegawa Jiroemon was hired by the domain, he made use of the momentum of the 1679 Peasant Revolts, but once he was hired, he betrayed the cause of the revolts.

Address: Shitamachi-43 Kamedamachi, Iwakikameda, Yurihonjo, Akita 018-1217

Phone: 0184-72-2030

Akaozu Fortress Site

Address: Takashiro-2 Iwakishimohebita, Yurihonjo, Akita 018-1223

Kameda Castle

Address: Kamedamachi-45 Iwakikamedakamedamachi, Yurihonjo, Akita 018-1217

Trees In the Town

Virtual Honjo Domain 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #8 Kaizen-ji Temple

 

     It is unknown when Kaizen-ji Temple was founded in Nakasanchi Village, Yuri County, Dewa Province.  Nakasanchi has place names such as Furuyashiki, namely Old Residence, Nakanohori, namely Inner Moat, and Horinouchi, namely In the Moat.  The surrounding area of Kaizen-ji Temple could have had a medieval fortress.

     The area has Hachiman Shrine, which had been founded before the turn of the 9th century.

     When Oi Tomokiyo moved from Shinano Province to Yuri County in 1467, he found the shrine and worshiped it since he belonged to the Minamoto Clan.  His son, Kiyomasa, called his family Nikaho.

     When Tateoka Mitsushige (1547-1639) moved in in 1603, he invited the shrine to its present place.

     In 1623, Nikaho Kiyoshige  (1560-1624) returned.  The residence in Nakasanchi could have been the local administrator's office either of the Tateoka Family or of the Nikaho Family, and the temple might have been founded in those days. 

Address: Horinouchi-46 Nakasanchi, Nikaho, Akita 018-0435

Phone: 0184-37-2225

Hachiman Shrine

Address: Nakanohori-11 Nakasanchi, Nikaho, Akita 018-0435

Trees In the Town

Virtual Honjo Domain 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #7 Zuiko-ji Temple

 

     When was Zuiko-ji Temple founded?

     Zuiko-ji Temple's pprecincts have the grave of General Wange.

     General Wange came from the continent and arrived at today’s Uyamuyanoseki, Muranoue Kisakatamachiseki, Nikaho, Akita 018-0133.  Some say he came in the reign of Emperor Shomu, who reigned from 724 to 756, and others say he came sometime between 806 and 809, when Emperor Kanmu reigned.

     In 727, the King of Balhae, Da Muye (?-737), launched a delegation of 24 envoys led by Gao Len-i.  The delegation arrived in the land of Emishi in Northern Japan by misfortune.  16 envoys, including Gao Len-i, were killed by Emishi.  The other 8 escaped under the provisional leadership of Gao Je-deog, and reached Ideha Province.

     It occurred 6 years before the advance of Japanese power to Akita.  The envoys might have found one of the 3 estuaries: the estuary of Omono River, that of Yoneshiro River, where Nushiro Port was located, or that of Iwaki River, where Tosa Port flourished centuries later.  In those areas, at that time, Japanese and Emishi forces clashed head-on.  The envoys might have been unfortunately mistaken for Japanese naval forces, and were attacked.  The surviving envoys left Japan next year, with the information that the archipelago was divided into the north, which was sparsely populated and less advanced than the south, and the south, which was densely populated and less advanced than Balhae, and which were willing to offer many products of fabric as presents.

     If Wange came to Japan sometime between 724 and 756, he was a member of the delegation and some of the surviving envoys might have escaped to Uyamuyanoseki.

     In 809, Balhae sent its 15th delegation to Japan.  When they left Japan, Gao Duofu deserted and stayed in Japan.  If Wange came to Japan sometime between 806 and 809, he might have been one of the refugees.

     Anyway, he was taken care of by the priest of Zuiko-ji Temple.  When Wange died, the priest built a grave for him.

     Anyway, the temple should have been founded in the 8th century by northern foreigners.

Address: Kidoguchi-54 Machimura, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0363

Phone: 0184-53-3211

Gamada-date Fortress Site

Address: Gamadamae-87-3 Higashiayukawa, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0362

Trees In the Town

Virtual Honjo Domain 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #6 Ryudo-ji Temple Site

 

     Omonoimi Shrine is a Shinto shrine on Mount Chokai, an active volcano, in Yamagata Prefecture.  The shrine has three parts on different places of the mountain: Fukura-Kuchinomiya and Warabioka-Kuchinomiya at the foot of the mountain, and Sancho-Gohonsha, the main shrine on the mountain's summit.  Warabioka is located where the Nikko River runs out of mountains.

     According to tradition, Ryuto-ji Temple was founded sometime between 897 and 930 by Shingi Naokimi as a shrine temple of Warabioka-Kuchinomiya Shrine.

     Nihon Sandai Jitsuroku, literally the True Record of Three Reigns of Japan, is a history text officially mandated by Emperor Uda (867-931) to compile. It was compiled by Fujiwara Tokihira (871-909), Sugawara Michizane (845-903), Okura Yoshiyuki (832-921), and Mimune Masahira (853-926), and covers the years from August 27th, 858, to August 26th, 887, corresponding to three imperial reigns: Seiwa (850-881), Yozei (869-949), and Koko (830-887). The compilation was completed in 901.

     According to the Nihon Sandai Jitsuroku's article dated May 16th, 871, the Governor of Ideha Province reported that there was an Omonoimi Shrine on the top of a mountain in Akuumi County.  In the mountain, rocks soar, people rarely tread, snow covers its peak even in summer, and no trees or weeds grow.  On April 8th, it erupted.  Regarding the eruption of Mt. Chokai, he said, "We prayed to the god of Ideha, but we neglected to make an annual prayer afterwards.  Skeletons polluted the mountains and waters.  That caused the god's anger and caused the mountain to erupt, resulting in this disaster."  He stated that the eruption of Mt. Chokai was the result of military actions.

     The Imperial Court, however, gradually came to believe, for their convenience, that the mountain explosions were caused by the mountain god who abhorred the barbarians' military actions and gave notices beforehand.

     The eruption of Mt. Chokai was considered to be a manifestation of the divine power of God Omonoimi, and each time the eruption occurred, the Imperial Court promoted its divine rank.  In the article of May 11th, 838, in Shoku Nihon Koki, one of the 6 National Histories in ancient Japan, Omonoimi, which had been awarded an aristocratic rank of Upper Junior Fifth Rank, was promoted to Lower Senior Fifth Rank, being promoted by one grade.  There is no written record of when the first title was conferred.

     In Ancient Japan, 6 National Histories were compiled: Nihon Shoki, which covered the mythological period through 697, and whose compilation was completed in 720; Shoku Nihongi, which covered the years 697-791, and whose compilation was completed in 797; Nihon Koki, which covered the years 792-833, and whose compilation was completed in 840; Shoku Nihon Koki, whose compilation was finished in 869, and which covered the years 833–850; Nihon Montoku Tenno Jitsuroku, which covered the years 850-858, and whose compilation was completed in 879; and Nihon Sandai Jitsuroku, which covered the years 858-887, and whose compilation was completed in 901.

     Omonoimi's divine rank was promoted as follows:

     Shoku Nihon Koki's article dated May 11th, 838: Omonoimi was promoted from Upper Junior Fifth Rank to Lower Senior Fifth Rank.

     Shoku Nihon Koki's Article dated July 26th, 840: Omonoimi was promoted from Lower Senior Fifth Rank to Lower Junior Fourth Rank, a double promotion.  When the shipwrecked envoy to Tang China was attacked by pirates the previous year, the pirates were repelled by a small number of soldiers, but this was attributed to the divine protection of Omonoimi, which erupted around the same time and expressed its divine power.  2 families were donated to the god.  The letter of appreciation of Emperor Ninmyo (810-850) was attached.  Donation of 2 families actually meant that 2 families who served Omonoimi were exempted from paying taxes.

     Nihon Sandai Jitsuroku's article dated November 1st, 862: Omonoimi was promoted to Lower Senior Fourth Rank.  Its shrine was also designated as a government-owned shrine.

Nihon Sandai Jitsuroku's article dated February 5th, 864: Omonoimi was promoted from Lower Senior Fourth Rank to Upper Senior Fourth Rank.

     Nihon Sandai Jitsuroku's article dated November 5th, 864: Omonoimi was promoted from Upper Senior Fourth Rank to Junior Third Rank.

     Nihon Sandai Jitsuroku's article dated April 5th, 873: Omonoimi was promoted from Junior Third Rank to Senior Third Rank, celebrating rebuilding of the shrine at the top of the mountain and performing a memorial service after the great eruption in 871 subsided.

     Nihon Sandai Jirroku's article dated July 10th, 878, 2 more families were donated to Omonoimi, making the total number four.

     Nihon Sandai Jitsuroku's article dated August 4th, 878:  Omonoimi was given the Third Class within the same grade.

     Due to the years of harsh administration by Yoshimine Chikashi, the officer of the Akita Castle, the dissatisfaction of subordinate foreigners reached its peak.  In March, 878, they rose up and raided Akita Fortress, and Chikashi was unable to defend the fortress and fled.  The subordinate foreigners set fire to the surrounding area, and the Governor of Ideha Province, Fujiwara Okiyo (817-891) also fled.

     In April, the Imperial Court received a courier from Chikashi and ordered Kozuke and Shimotsuke Provinces to conscript 1,000 soldiers each.  On the 19th, Tomo Sadamichi, the officer of Mogami County, was killed in battle.

     In May, the Imperial Court appointed Fujiwara Kajinaga as commandant and dispatched 1,000 cavalry and 2,000 infantry from Mutsu Province to suppress the rebel forces.  Fujiwara Noritsuna, Fun'ya Arifusa, and Ono Haruizumi also led 2,000 Ideha soldiers to join Kajinaga.  In June, the rebel forces attacked Akita Fortress again in large numbers, and the central army suffered a crushing defeat.  Kajinaga fled back to Mutsu Province.  The fortress was robbed of 300 pieces of armor, 700 koku of rice, 100 bedding, and 1,500 horses.  The rebellion expanded and 12 villages around Akita Fortress,Kamitsuno, Hinai, Sugibuchi, Noshiro, Kahoku, Wakimoto, Hoguchi, Okawa, Tsutsumi, Aneto, Katagami, and Yakioka, came under the rebell's control.  In the northern part of Ideha Province, only the foreigners of 3 villages, Soekawa, Habetsu, and Sukegawa, belonged to the province.  Furthermore, the northern foreigners of Tsugaru and Toshima supported the uprising.

     The Imperial Court had fortune-tellers judge the military situation.  "Since ancient times, God Omonoimi has shown its divine power in our conquering wars.  However, its divine power now belongs to northern foreigners.  If we promote the god, it may answer to the promotion."

     Nihon Sandai Jitsuroku's article on February 27th, 880: Omonoimi was promoted to Junior Second Rank from Senior Third Rank.  After the Akita Rebellion was quelled, it returned to peacetime.

     These promotions were given to God Omonoimi through the Imperial messengers or the Governors of Ideha Province.  They couldn't have visited Mount Chokai without presents.  How and to whom were those presents and the exemptions of taxes distributed?  There was no records on the distribution.  Anyway, they might have brought about local conflicts.  The conflicts between Fukura and Warabioka locals were serious.  They even claimed their "guchinomiya" shrines to be a main shrine and what at the top of the mountain to be just an inner shrine.  Under Pax Tokugawana, their conflicts continued or even grew.  In peacetime, the number of Mount Chokai pilgrims increased.  It mattered which shrine was the originator.  That directly linked with the number of pilgrims they could mobilize.

     The people in Takizawa claim that they started the Mount Chokai Pilgrimage as early as sometime between 824 and 834.  It is unknown when they invited Omonoimi Shrine from the top of the mountain.  It is also unknown when they founded another Ryudo-ji Temple in their village.

     Takizawa Masamune, who was the brother of the lord, became the head priest of Ryudo-ji Temple.  As the Takizawa Family was removed in 1622, Masamune's arrival at his post should have been sometime between 1601 and 1622.  Anyway, he aggressively organized the Chokai Pilgrimage from Takizawa Village.  He had Ryudo-ji Temple belong to the Tiantai Sect when the other pilgrimages to Mount Chokai kept their mountain asceticism and he also strengthened the ties with Mount Haguro.  Thus, he energetically increased the number of the pilgrims across the Tohoku Region.  In its golden age, the Chokai Pilgrimage from Takizawa had 33 monks to lead the pilgrimage to the mountain top. 　Among the 33 monks, only 12 were documented: Daizenin and Hozoin (Komeyama Kawanishi, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0331), Wagoin (Bugyomen Kawanishi, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0331), Eihoin (Arayashiki Kawanishi, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0331), Monjuin and Kifukuin (Moriko, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0332), Daishoin (Machimura, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0363), Daihoin (Kurosawa, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0361), Senjuin (Shinkamijo, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0322), Hogyoin (Ikazuchi, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0311), Dozoji (Maego, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0341) and Daigyoin (Hiraishi, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0353).

     Presumably after the Meiji Restoration Government issued the Gods and Buddhas Separation Order in 1868, Ryudo-ji Temple was abolished with a monument left in its lot.

     The Chokai Pilgrimage from Takizawa decayed.  After 1955, its route was afforested to increase the number of Japanese cedars, which are known with their brand name Akita-sugi.  After 2009, however, Mt. Chokai became a popular sightseeing spot, and the route was reproduced.  The reproduction was finished in 2015.  Will Ryudo-in Temple ever be reconstructed?

Address: Maego-124-1 Maego, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0341

Ryudo-ji Temple

Address: Matsugaoka-45 Kamiwarabioka, Yuza, Akumi District, Yamagata 999-8314

Phone: 0234-72-2553

Moriko-Omonoimi Shrine

Address: Yaotomeshita−99 Moriko, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0332

Phone: 0184-53-3834

Chokaisan-Omonoimi Shrine Warabioka-guchinomiya Shrine

Address: Matsugaoka−51, Kamiwarabioka, Akumi District, Yamagata 999-8314

Phone: 0234-72-2552

Trees In the Town

Virtual Honjo Domain 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #5 Zosho-ji Temple

 

     It is unknown when Zosho-ji Temple was founded in Tsuchikura Village, which was first documented in 1612 as one of the villages in the Takizawa Domain.

Address: Nadakashita-18 Tsuchikura, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0323

Phone: 0184-53-2218

Trees In the Town

Virtual Honjo Domain 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #4 Keisho-ji Temple

     The Yuri Family established 4 fortresses under the direct control of the family and 12 local administrators to govern the county.  The 4 fortresses were located in Shiokoshi (Kisakatamachi, Nikaho, Akita?), Hirasawa (Hirasawa, Nikaho, Akita 018-0402), Ono (Ono Matsugasaki, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0032), and Hanekawa (Shimohamahanekawa, Akita, 010-1503).  The 8 local administrators were located in Seki, Toshidai (Toshi, Nikaho, Akita 018-0422), Tashiro (Tashiro Chokaimachi Kamikawauchi, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0504), Karuizawa (Karuizawa Habiro, Yurihonjo, Akita 018-0906), Aranami, Kurose (Uchikurose, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0022?), Katsurane, and Tahara.

     When Yoritomo destroyed the Northern Fujiwara Clan, the head of the Yuri Family was Korehira (?-1190).  According to Azumakagami, which was a chronology compiled after 1266 under the directive of the Regent of the Kamakura Shogunate, he fought with Tagawa Yukibumi (?-1189) and Akita Munebumi (?-1189) against Yoritomo, but was caught alive by Usami Sanemasa (?-1190) on September 7th, 1189.  Even though he was a prisoner, he reprimanded Kajiwara Kagetoki (?-1200) for his rudeness, saying, "It is the common thing for a brave samurai to run out of luck and become a prisoner."  He accepted questioning after Hatakeyama Shigetada (1164-1205) showed his respect.  Yoritomo saw this and forgave him on the 13th "because of the honor of his bravery." 

     When Okawa Kaneto (?-1190), who was based along the eastern shore of Hachiro-gata Lagoon, and who was a remnant of the Northern Fujiwara Clan, rebelled against the Kamakura Shogunate in the Tohoku Region from December, 1189, to March of the following year, Korehira started in advance with Kudo Mitsuyuki and Miyaji Kunihira on December 24th.  He was killed in battle on January 6th, 1190, in Momosada Village, Kawabe County, Dewa Province.

     When Wada Yoshimori (1147-1213) rebelled against Hojo Yoshitoki (1163-1224) and was defeated, Korehira's son, Korehisa, was dismissed for being involved in the rebellion.

     When Korehisa's descendants, Masashige (?-1300) and his son, Masaharu(?-1324), arrived at Yuri County in 1291, Yamane Fortress, where Korehisa used to live, the Chokai Family was already based nearby in Kuriyama Tate, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0086.  The Yuri Family had no choice but to be based around Nekkonosawa Nishimemachi Nishime, Yurihonjo, Akita 018-0603.  In 1298, they built Nishime-date Fortress, which was later called Hama-date Fortress.

     After Masashige's death in 1300, Masaharu succeeded the head of the family.  His wife became a nun with her Buddhist name Keisho.  She died in 1310.  Masaharu advanced to the middle reach of Koyoshi River and founded Keisho-ji Temple in Kuriyama Kawanishi, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0331.

     Masaharu was attacked by the Chokai Family in 1312, and he retreated to Shimonaruse Minamifukuda, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0364.  Masaharu fought back to Kuriyama in 1315, but was attacked by the Chokai Family in 1324.  He committed suicide in Kuriyama, with his 2 sons entrusted with his chief retainer, Murakami Tatewaki.

     Masashige's younger brother, or Masaharu's uncle, Gyobu, returned to Kamakura.

     Later, the Takizawa Family in Yuri County claimed to be offspring of the Yuri Family.  It is unknown whether they were the offspring of the surviving children of Masaharu or the offspring of Gyobu.

     In 1343, Yuri Hyogonosuke fought for the Southern Court, and, in 1430, Yuri Masahisa ruled Takizawa Village and called his family Takizawa.

     Takizawa Masamichi (?-1609) built Takizawa Castle.  Keisho-ji Temple was moved to its present place in the castle town in 1608.

     In 1622, the Takizawa Family was removed from Takizawa, but Keisho-ji Temple remained where it is.

Address: Teranoshita-27 Maego, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0341

Phone: 0184-53-2024

Yamane Fortress Site

Address: Minamino Oguni, Nikaho, Akita 018-0412

Hamadate Park (The Site of Nishime-date Fortress)

Address: Hamayama Nishimemachi Deto, Yurihonjo, Akita 018-0602

phone: 0184-24-6376

Takizawa Fortress Site

Address: Takizawatate-79-3 Maego, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0341