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

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