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Virtual Yashima Domain 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #15 Gokuraku-ji Temple

 

     Horowa-san Haushiwake Shrine was founded in Mount Horowa in 757, far before the Imperial rule arrived at the area.  That means the mountain was a holy place among northern foreigners.  The mountain was located on the borders between the Yashima Domain and the other 2 domains: the Kubota Domain and the Kameda Domain.  Each domain had its own shrine temple for Haushiwake Shrine.  The one in the Yashima Domain was Gokuraku-ji Temple, which is supposed to have been located in Higashiyurihonai, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0201.  It is unknown when the temple was founded.  It might have been abolished after the Meiji Restoration Government issued the Gods and Buddhas Separation Order in 1868.

Horowa-san Haushiwake Shrine

Address: Harowasan, 1-1 Omorimachi Yasawagi, Yokote, Akita 013-0561

Phone: 0182-26-6317

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Virtual Yashima Domain 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #15 Mitake Shrine

 

     An image of Arya Avalokitesvara, who is the human-figure prototype of the other 6 metamorphoses, used to be enshrined by Kakuemon in Uenodai-268 Higashiyurishuku, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0241, when the Yashima 33 Kannon Pilgrimage was organized.  The image was moved to Mitake Shrine, or the Kannon-do hall which enshrined the Arya Avalokitesvara image was changed into Mitake Shrine after the Meiji Restoration Government issued the Gods and Buddhas Separation Order in 1868.

     Mitake Shrine in Higashiyurishuku seems to be a branch of Mitake Shrine in Yuzawa, which was said to have been founded in 1135 by Fujiwara Kiyohira (1056-1128).  As the dates don't match, presumably Kiyohira's child might have founded the shrine for Kiyohira, who had 3 daughters and 6 sons.  The south-western foot of the mountain has a hot spring.  That could have been the reason the mountain was considered to be holy.

     It is unknown why Kakuemon's offspring chose Mitake Shrine instead of inviting one of the central goddesses and/or gods.  They could have had faith in localism.

Address: Uenodai-268-14 Higashiyurishuku, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0241

Mitake Shrine

Address: Mitakeyama−6, Yuzawa, Akita 012-0804

Phone: 0183-73-1873

Yuzawa Hotspring

Address: 2 Chome-4-64 Yunohara, Yuzawa, Akita 012-0823

Phone: 0183-73-0135

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Virtual Yashima Domain 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #14 Iwashimizu Shrine

 

     Zen'emon enshrined Amitabha, with Avalokitesvara on its left and Mahasthamaprapta on its right, when the Yashima 33 Kannon Pilgrimage was organized.

     The style of the 3 Buddhist images is called the Three Saints of the West in China and the Amitabha Triad in Japan, referring to the three main Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in the Western Paradise.  The leader is Amitabha, with his attendants Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva on the left and Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva on the right.  The three are all on the lotus seat.  The lotus symbolizes being free from mud and untainted.  The statues or portraits of the three are objects of respect for those who practice Pure Land Buddhism.  The style is based on the Amitayus Contemplation Sutra, in which the bodies of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas visualized as the bodies of these three deities.  Avalokitesvara is considered to be the incarnation of Amitabha's compassion, while Mahasthamaprapta is considered to be the incarnation of wisdom.  In conclusion, the Amitabha Triad is one of the Buddhist statue placement styles and should have cost more than having a Buddhist image.

     The old examples in Japan include the Bronze Statues of Amitabha Buddha and Two Attendants, which is supposed to have been made in Asuka Period, and which is housed in the Tokyo National Museum, and the Bronze Statues of Amitabha Buddha and Two Attendants, which is said to have been the guardian Buddha of Tachibana Michiyo (665-733), which is supposed to have been made in Asuka Period, and which is housed in Daihozoin (Treasure Gallery in Horyu-ji Temple).

     The Avalokitesvara image of Zen'emon's Amitabha Triad must have been the #14 deity of the Yashima 33 Kannon Pilgrimage, and was moved to Iwashimizu Shrine.

Address: Shimobuki-10 Higashiyurishuku Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0241

Tokyo National Museum

Address: 13-9 Uenokoen, Taito City, Tokyo 110-8712

Phone: 050-5541-8600

Daihozoin (Treasure Gallery)

Address: Horyuji Sannai, Ikaruga, Ikoma District, Nara 636-0115

Phone: 0745-75-2555

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Virtual Yashima Domain 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #13 Obukiriver Community Center?

 

     Kyuemon lived in Kurobuchi Village and had an image of Cintamanicakra, who usually has 6 arms and holds chintamani (a wish-fulfilling jewel) in one of the six.  The image was moved to Obukiriver Community Center.

     Kurobuchi Village was owned by the Iseiji-Ikoma Family, a branch of the Ikoma Family, who ruled Yashima Domain.  The Iseiji-Ikoma Family owned 11 villages in Yuri County, and their territory was actually ruled by the Ikeda Family, who used to live in Ganzo-43-1 Otake, Nikaho, Akita 018-0322.

     It is unknown whether the 1679 Peasant Revolt involved the Iseiji-Ikoma Family's territory or not.

     The relatives of Abe Muneto (?-1032), who was based in Tonomi-no-saku Fortress, are said to have lived in the Iseiji area.  In the Warring States Period, the Nikaho Family ruled the area.  It is unknown if the Ikeda Family had something to do with the Abe Family and/or the Nikaho Family.

Obukiriver Community Center

Address: Sarada-21, Higashiyurikurobuchi, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0231

Tonomi-no-saku Fortress Site

Address: Harazoeshita Nishine, Kanegasaki, Isawa District, Iwate 029-4503

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Virtual Yashima Domain 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #12 Koken-ji Temple

 

     Koken-ji Temple was founded in the secondary bailey of Nejo Fortress in 1394 by Priest Nosho, who was supported by Oi Mitsuyasu.  The Oi Family, which was later called the Yashima Family, died out in 1593, and the fortress was destroyed.  Koken-ji Temple moved to Sakanoshita Village, but it was washed away by the flood in 1639, and was revived in the precincts of Jigan-ji Temple.

     Koken-ji Temple enshrines the Eleven-Faced Ekadasamukha image.

Address: Ueno-120 Yashimamachi Tateishi, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0414

Phone: 0184-56-2193

Nejo Fortress Site

Address: Kanazawa-50-1 Yashimamachi Arasawa, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0418

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Virtual Yashima Domain 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #11 ?

 

     It is unknown when Jigan-ji Temple was founded in Ueno-120 Yashimamachi Tateishi, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0414.  The temple is supposed to have had Motoki-in Kannon-do Hall, which enshrined a Thousand-Armed Sahasrabhuja image, in Ueno-59 Yashimamachi Tateishi, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0414.

     Koken-ji Temple was founded in the secondary bailey of Nejo Fortress in 1394 by Priest Nosho, who was supported by Oi Mitsuyasu.  The Oi Family, which was later called the Yashima Family, died out in 1593, and the fortress was destroyed.  Koken-ji Temple moved to Sakanoshita Village, but it was washed away by the flood in 1639, and was revived in the precincts of Jigan-ji Temple.

     It is unknown why Jigan-ji Temple was gone, and when the Kannon-do hall was abolished.  The image is supposed to be kept somewhere around its original location.

Nejo Fortress Site

Address: Kanazawa-50-1 Yashimamachi Arasawa, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0418

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Virtual Yashima Domain 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #10 Kisara Shrine ?

 

     There used to be a Kisara Shrine in Kisara Village.  Miura Rokuroemon took care of the Eleven-Faced Ekadasamukha image, which was enshrined in the shrine, when Yashima 33 Kannon Pilgrimage was organized.  Today?  Someone who is an offspring of Rokuroemon might privately keep the image.  As the Miura Horticulturist is located in Kamikisara-114 Yashimamachi KisaraYurihonjo, Akita 015-0413, its owner could be the offspring of the Miura Family.

Address: Kamikisara-92 Yashimamachi KisaraYurihonjo, Akita 015-0413