Virtual Akata 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #9 Isurugi Shrine

 

     The Akata 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #9 Isurugi Shrine could have been invited from Mount Isurugi, which is 564 meters high and is located on the border between Ishikawa and Toyama Prefectures.

     Legend has it that Isurugi Shrine was founded in 92 BC.  According to tradition, it was founded in 717.

     In 709, Ideha County was organized at the northern end of Koshi Province.   The county was separated from Koshi Province and was promoted to province in 712.  Noto Province was independent From Koshi Province in 718.  Isurugi Shrine was listed in the Engishiki, which is a book about laws and customs, and whose major part was completed in 927.  All in all, Mout Isurugi could have been a holy place among the locals even before they were ruled by the Imperial Court, and it was incorporated into Shinto hierarchy as soon as the area was ruled by the court.

     Anyway, some people might have moved from Noto Province to Akata Village with Isurugi Shrine with them.

     Shinmei Shrine is the only major shrine in Akata.  The shrine was founded in Utetsu Village in 1398.  The shrine was first documented at the turn of the 15th century, when the Akotsu Family ruled the village.  Akata Village became an independent village presumably in the 17th century.

     The Shrine Bureau, which implemented Shrine Consolidation Policy, was created as a branch of the Home Ministry in 1900.  It is recorded that Shinmei Shrine merged 10 shrines between 1910 and 1918.  In 1945, 4 of them became independent shrines again.  Isurugi Shrine could have been one of them.

     Anyway, Akita seems to be the northern limit of Isurugi Shrines.  For your information, the original Buddhist deity of God Isurugi-hiko is supposed to be Akasagarbha but not any type of Avalokitesvara.

Address: Yamanota Akata, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0023

Notokunininomiya Isurugihiko Shrine

Address: Ne-bu-1-1 Sekidosan, Nakanoto, Kashima District, Ishikawa 929-1812

Phone: 0767-72-2176

Isurugi Shrine

Address: Yanaisado-82 Hiroomote, Akita, 010-0041

Phone: 018-834-3443