Virtual Kubota Castle Town 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #16 Kanki-ji Temple

 

     An esoteric Buddhist temple was founded in Iijima Village, somewhere around Iioka-date Fortress.  Hiyoshi Shrine was invited to Sasaoka Village (today's Sotoasahikawa Akita, 010-0802) in 1322.  In 1395, the shrine moved to Kamishinjogojucho, Akita, 010-0135, where it was called Hiyoshi-san Enmei-ji Temple or Juzen-ji Temple, with the head priest being Shami Anna, who belonged to the Ando Family.  Presumably, the shrine syncretized with Buddhism in those days.  The shrine or the temple is said to have subsequently moved to Iijima Village, where the above mentioned temple was.  2 kakebotoke have been excavated from the old site in Iijimanezumita, Akita, 011-0913.

     A kakebotoke was a Buddhist image on the top of a mirror.  In Shinto, a native Japanese religion, a mirror was an object of worship.  Under the syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism, they started engraving a petroglyph of a Buddhist image on a bronze mirror in the 10th century.  Later, those images became gorgeous and three-dimensional.  They were made till the end of the Edo Period, but many of them were discarded after the Gods and Buddhas Separation Order was issued by the Meiji Restoration Government in 1868.

     It is possible that the above-mentioned esoteric Buddhist temple was the head temple.  When Ando Sanesue (1576-1660) became too powerful, the surrounding local samurai, including Yayanagi Heijiro, fought against him but lost.  Heijiro became subject to Sanesue.  In 1541, Heijiro changed the esoteric Buddhist temple into a Caodong Chan School temple, inviting the 8th head priest of Fudai-ji Temple, Jukan, to be its founding priest.  He named it Kanki-ji after his Buddhist name.  It was officially established in Sotoasahikawa Yatsuyanagi, Akita, 010-0803, with Hiyoshi Shrine in its precincts.

     For your information, Ando Chikasue (1539-1587) was establishing himself as a warlord in the Warring States Period, but, in 1587, while fighting against Tozawa Moriyasu (1566-1570), the lord of Kakunodate Fortress, he died of an illness in the camp at Yodogawa Village (today's Kyowashimoyodokawa, Daisen, Akita 019-2442, Senboku County.

     When Akisue's legitimate son, Sanesue, succeeded him, Ando Michisue (1564-?), who was based in Toshima Fortress, rose against Sanesue.  Michisue contacted the Nanbu and the Onodera Families, joined forces with the Tozawa Family, and launched a rebellion against Sanesue in February, 1589.

     Michisue's forces temporarily seized Minato Fortress and organized local samurai in Akita County, including the Yayanagi Family and the Nagai Family, who were based in Taihei Fortress, forcing Sanesue to hold Hiyama Fortress.  Sanesuke's forces defended Hiyama Fortress with only 300 guns.  The siege lasted for more than five months, but when the Nanbu Family invaded Hinai County, the northern inland area of Dewa Province, a peace agreement was made between Michisue and Sanesue. Taking advantage of this opportunity, the forces of the the Akaotsu Family and the Hanegawa Family, who were first based in Furudate Shimohamahanekawa, Akita, 010-1503, and who later built Hanekawa New Fortress, in Yuri County, joined the Sanesuke's side and advanced to Minato Fortress.  Michisue's forces were attacked both from north and south, and Minato Fortress fell into the hands of Sanesuke again.  The remnants of Michisue's forces won the Terauchi Battle, but, as Michisue fled, they were scattered.

     After the Minenoyama Battle with the Tozawa-Onodera allied forces, a peace agreement was concluded, and Sanesuke came to firmly control Akita County.  Michisue fled to the Nanbu Family and became their vassal.

     In 1622, during the Edo Period, Kanki-ji Temple was moved to its previous location, Kyokuhokuteramachi, Akita, 010-0924, as part of the construction of a temple town in the Kubota Castle Town.  The main hall was destroyed in the Tawaraya Fire in 1886 and was rebuilt the following year in 1887.

     Due to urban development in Akita City, the temple was relocated from Asahikitateramachi  to its present location in 2007.  The current main hall was built in 2008.  The main part of the previous site was developed as part of the urban planning road, which runs between MEGA Don Quijote Akita and Gochome Bridge over the Asahi River.  The remaining part was purchased from Akita City by Myogaku-ji Temple.  The southern part is used as a cemetery of Myogaku-ji Temple, and the northern part is used as a temporary parking lot for visitors of Myogaku-ji Temple.

Address: Sodegasawa-1-1 Shimokitatenashihira, Akita, 010-0057

Phone: 018-892-7749

Iioka-date Fortress Site

Address: Iiokamaeyachi Iijima, Akita, 011-0911

Hoda-ji Temple

Address: Matsubara-26 Sannai, Akita, 010-0823

Phone: 018-827-2326

MEGA Don Quijote Akita

Address: 4-58 Kyokuhokunishikimachi, Akita, 010-0923

Phone: 0570-039-511

Kakunodate Castle Remains

Address: Furushiroyama Kakunodatemachi, Semboku, Akita 014-1115

Phone: 0187-43-2295

Hiyama Fortress Ruins

Address: Kiriyamashita Hiyama, Noshiro, Akita 016-0151

Toshima Fortress Site

Address: M52Q+3W, Akita

Maizuru-date (Taihei Fortress) Site

Address: Kamimenagasaki-236 Taiheimenagasaki, Akita, 010-1102

Hanekawa New Fortress Site Park

Address: Teranoshita Shimohamahanekawa, Akita, 010-1503