Miki County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage

 

     Miki County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage was organized by Yasufuku Gen'emon in 1707.

     In the prehistoric days of Japan, the country was unified by organizing Kuni-no-miyatsuko in remote areas.  Akashi Kuni-no-Miyatsuko's sovering power covered not only today's Akashi City but also today's Miki City.  Harima Province was organized in the 7th century, unifying Akashi Kuni-no-miyatsuko and Harimanokamo Kuni-no-miyatsuko as well as Harima Kuni-no-miyatsuko.  Miki County was first organized as Minagi County where Akashi Kuni-no-miyatsuko used to rule.  The county was also called Mino.  There are several stories about the origins of the names of the county.  Accordingly, the Miki County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage is also called Mino County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage or just the County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage.

     Gen'emon was the 2nd head of the Yasufuku Family.  The family kept their journal from 1675 to 1830 for 7 generations, 155 years.  It is surprising that the Yasufuku Family suddenly emerged as a powerful family about half a century after the establishment of the Tokugawa Shogunate.

     After the Warring States Period (1467-1573), Miki County was developed with Miki Castle in its center.  The castle was built by Bessho Noriharu (?-1513), who burst upon the samurai society in Harima Province.  There are over 10 stories about the origin of the Bessho Family.

     In Ancient times, some Emishi people were captured by Japan and some others had surrendered themselves to Japan because it offered them a good deal.  They had to swear obedience and offer local special products to Japan.  In return, they were exempted from taxes and were given food and clothes.  That must have looked more like a contract or trade to them.  They were called the subordinate Emishi.  Some subordinate Emishi were transferred and assigned to a couple of provinces in Japan.  In 725, for example, 144 subordinate Emishi were transferred and assigned to Iyo Province, 578 to Tsukushi Province, and 15 to Izumi Province.  In 738, 115 subordinate Emishi were transferred and assigned to Settsu Province.  After 774, the number of transferred and assigned subordinate Emishi increased, and so the number of the provinces to which they were transferred and assigned.

     The Wamyo Ruijusho, namely Japanese Names for Things Classified and Annotated, which was a Japanese dictionary compiled in 938, lists Japanese place names from south to north.  It lists Emishi Village in Mino County.  

     According to the Nihon Sandai Jitsuroku's entry dated April 11th, 866, 5 Emishi people from Kako and Mino Counties escaped to Omi Province.

     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.

     All in all, some subordinate Emishi were transferred and assigned to Minagi, Mino, or Miki County.

     Kikuchi Takeharu (1890-1966) argued that the places where subordinate Emishi were transferred and assigned were called Bessho.  If so, Noriharu, who built Miki Castle, could have been a descendant either of subordinate Emishi or of those who had ruled subordinate Emishi in Minagi, Mino, or Miki County.

      Miki Castle was never called Minagi or Mino Castle.  As we talk about the county, the castle, and the pilgrimage often together, let me call the county Miki County, and the pilgrimage Miki County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage to avoid confusion.  Anyway, the pilgrimage was organized by a burst-upon person around the castle town, which was built by a burst-upon person.

Miki Castle Ruins

Address: 5 Uenomarucho, Miki, Hyogo 673-0432

Phone: 0794-82-2000

Kimigamine Fortress Site

Address: Shukuhara, Miki, Hyogo 673-0423