Virtual Kameda Domain 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #11 Kanki-in Temple

 

     Abe Mochiyoshi was based in Nakacho Village.  Oi Mitsumasa invaded the village in 1393.  As the Oi Family belonged to the Minamoto Clan at large, he invited Hachiman Shrine to the village.  Later, Mitsumasa was attacked nad committed suicide in the village and was buried there.

     Sometime between 1596 and 1615, Hachiman Shrine was moved to its present location.  Kanki-in Temple was founded as its shrine temple sometime between 1661 and 1673.  It might have been abolished after the Meiji Restoration Government issued the Gods and Buddhas Separation Order in 1868.

     The village where Hachiman Shrine is located was called Fumoto Village, which was first documented in 1612.  It was renamed Arasawa Village in 1646, and then Shinsawa Village in 1880.

     However, it was recorded that Ichibu Shikibunosho pitched his camp in Gongen-do Temple in Arasawa Village in 1582.  The place name could have wavered as Fumoto just means Foot of a Mountain, and Arasawa and Shinsawa both mean New Mountain Stream. 

     For your information, Hachiman Shrine merged Shinmei-sha and Arasawa Shrines in 1909 after the Shrine Bureau, which implemented Shrine Consolidation Policy, was created as a branch of the Home Ministry in 1900.

     The entry order of the Kameda Domain 33 Kannon Pilgrimage doesn't seem to provide the shortest route.  The Kameda Domain 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #4 Kosho-ji Temple was located in Takao Village, which was just east to Nakacho Village, where the #11 Kanki-in Temple was located.  The pilgrimage route between the 2 temples seems to travel around the middle reaches of Imo River and return to its upper reaches.

     The entry order of the Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage, which is the oldest 33 Kannon pilgrimage, was established as it is today in the Edo Period for the convenience to visit it from Edo.  As such, the entry order of the 33 Kannon Pilgrimages organized in the Edo Period usually arranged for the convenience of travelling.

     Some member temples of the Kameda Domain 33 Kannon Pilgrimage could have been replaced with the new ones for some reason or other.

Hachiman Shrine

Address: Kamimura-14 Shinsawa, Yurihonjo, Akita 018-0842

Nakacho Fortress Site

Address: 112 Nakacho, Yurihonjo, Akita 018-0843