Virtual Old Mutsu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #1 Kiyomizu-dera Temple

 

     On February 21st, 793, Sakanoue Tamuramaro (758-811) had an audience with the Emperor in Nagaoka-kyo Capital as the vice Generalissimo for the Subjugation of Barbarians to announce his departure.  In 794, he reported the military successes of beheading 457, taking 150 people and 85 horses as captives, and burning 75 villages.  On January 29th, 795, he returned to the new capital, today's Kyoto.  On January 7th, 802, Tamuramaro reported that 3 gods of Mutsu Province were helpful, and they were included into the Shinto Hierarchy.  Presumably on the occasion, he also reported that Eleven-Faced Ekadasamukha was helpful in Ota Village, which was first documented in 1353, Waga County, Mutsu Province.  He built a hall to enshrine Ekadasamukha and named it Kiyomizu-dera after the one in Kyoto, which he supported.  He seems to have understood the importance of religious measures in subjugating northern foreigners.

     The temple is included in Japan's Three Major Kiyomizu-dera Temples along with those in Kyoto and Hyogo Prefectures.  There are a couple of other sets of Japan's Three Major Kiyomizu-dera Temples though.

Address: 21-10 Ota, Hanamaki, Iwate 025-0037

Phone: 0198-28-2624    

Kiyomizu-dera Temple

Address: 1 Chome-294 Kiyomizu, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 605-0862

Phone: 075-551-1234

Kiyomizu-dera Temple

Address: 1194 Hiraki, Kato, Hyogo 673-1402

Phone: 0795-45-0025