Darumapedia

14 Mar 2020

KAIDO - Kamaishi Kaido Iwate

https://edoflourishing.blogspot.com/2020/02/kamaishi-kaido-highway.html

Kamaishi Kaido Highway

The road dated back to the middle ages and the 阿曾沼氏 Asonuma clan.
Later it connected 閉伊郡横田村 Yokota village via the pass 仙人峠 Sennin Toge and along the river 甲子川 Kasshigawa with 閉伊郡平田村 Hirata village at the 浜街道 Sanriku Hama Kaido beach road.

- Postal stations along the Kamaishi Kaido
Tono 遠野宿
Kasshi 甲子
Kamaishi 釜石

.......................................................................

Sennin Tooge 仙人峠 Sennin Pass, 887 m
- quote -
Sennin-toge Pass is one of the main spots in Kamaishi for observing the change in color of the autumn foliage. The peak time is in late October to November. The recommended driving route is through the Sennin Tunnel towards the square on the Kamaishi side that overlooks the city while continuing on through the canopy of autumn leaves.
- source : tokyocreative.com/sights... -

..............................................................................................................................................

- quote -
Welcome to Kamaishi
Kamaishi City is located on the southeastern coast of Iwate Prefecture, within the Sanriku Fukko National Park. The city is spread across four bays, and winds its way along the basins of the Kasshi and Unosumai Rivers. The mountain terrain stretching all the way to the sea provides the city with abundant natural beauty, whilst the waters off the coast of Kamaishi provide the perfect conditions for oysters, Japanese scallops,wakame seaweed and a large variety of other fresh seafood. As the birthplace of Japan's modern steel industry, Kamaishi is also home to the Hashino Iron Mining and Smelting Site, a recent addition to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Japan's Meiji Industrial Revolution.
Like so many other towns and cities along the northeast coast of Japan,
Kamaishi suffered severe damage in the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami disaster. Over 1000 lives were lost in Kamaishi alone, with a large number of homes, commercial buildings, and infrastructure destroyed. Having commemorated the 6th anniversary of the disaster in March 2017, the city is moving forward with hope and resilience as it continues with the recovery process.
In 2015,
Kamaishi was named as one of the 12 official host cities for the Rugby World Cup 2019™. The construction of the new Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium is scheduled for completion in 2018, and shall accommodate 16,187 spectators in a combination of permanent and temporary seating. The announcement of the Rugby World Cup™ pool draw took place in May, with the match schedule and ticket sales to be announced in late 2017.
- reference source : city.kamaishi.iwate.jp... -

..............................................................................................................................................

. Sanriku Hamakaido 三陸浜街道 Sanriku Highway .
Umibe suji 海辺筋 road along the coast, part of the 釜石街道 Kamaishi Kaido.

. Tono Monogatari 遠野物語 Legends of Tono, Iwate - .
with many Kappa 河童 water goblins

The mascot of Tono -
Karin-chan and his pink wife Kururin-chan
カリンちゃん＆くるりんちゃん

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

- quote -
Nabekura Jo 鍋倉城 Nabekura castle
Asonuma Clan, one of the local powerful clans of Tono district
(present day Iwate Prefecture) removed and reconstructed a castle in this place during the Tensho era (1573-91). In 1627, Naoyoshi Nanbu of Nejo Castle in Hachinohe was enffed this region and he changed the name of the castle to Nabekura Castle. This mountain castle stood at the top of Mt. Nabekura at 340 m altitude, which is an independent hill located at the foot of Mt. Monomiyama in the south of Tono Basin.
The castle remains existing at the present were of those constructed in the early modern times. Honmaru (the main compound) originally had a thatched roof, but after the fire broke out during the Keian era (1648-52), the roof was thatched with Japanese spindle tree. Honmaru used to be walled with wooden fences. There was a housing area of warriors at the west, north, and east foot of the mountain, outside of which spread townsmen's houses. There were also three Doshin (feudal police) offices at the end of the town; Shimo-gumi office was located at the west end, Naka-gumi at the north, and Kami-gumi at the east.
Nabekura Observatory, which looks like a donjon, was constructed at Sannomaru ruins.
- source : nippon-kichi.jp... -

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

As a symbol of Kamaishi,
the Daikannon statue stands upon Kamazaki Point, overlooking Kamaishi Bay.

It is 48.5 metres tall, and is divided into 13 stories. Inside the statue, there is much to see, including the [Honzon Gyoran Kannon], the 33 Kannons and the Grand Gallery. At the exact point at which the Kannon is holding the fish, (from the 10th to the 12th floor levels) there is an observation platform located 38 metres above the statue's base. From the platform there are spectacular views of such sights as the Ozaki Peninsula and Mada Misaki.

© www.iwatetabi.jp

source : kamaishi-daikannon.com

釜石大観音 Kamaishi Daikannon
This big statue survived the earthquake on March 11, 2011.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

- quote -
History of the Kamaishi Mine | Nittetsu Mining Co
Because it was opened during the Edo Period, the Kamaishi Mine developed in line with the growth of Japan's iron and steel industry through the Meiji, Taisho and Showa periods. As a producer of good-quality iron ore, the Kamaishi Mine supported the "iron town" of Kamaishi and Japan's iron manufacturing for more than a century.
1857 - Oshima Takato, a retainer of the Morioka domain, constructed Western-style blast furnaces in Ohashi and succeeded in producing molten pig iron from iron ore. (To commemorate his success, December 1 is still celebrated as Iron Commemoration Day.)
This paved the way for a total of 10 blast furnaces to be built at the end of the Edo Period (three each in Ohashi and Hashino, two in Sahinai, and one each in Kuribayashi and Sunakowatari), laying the foundation for the modern iron and steel industry in Japan. ...
1993 - Large-scale iron ore mining was discontinued.
Businesses involving the new mine, mineral water and use of the underground spaces were launched.
(Even today, mining continues with a production rate of 100 tons per year.)
- source : nittetsukou.co.jp/eng... Nittetsu Mining -

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .

.................................................................................　Iwate 岩手県
......................................................................
Iwate 釜石町 Kamaishi town

. hebi 蛇と伝説 Legends about snakes and serpents .
kohebi, shooja 小蛇 small serpent
In the year 1916, three members of a family got sick at the same time. This happened because they had killed a small red snake in their garden.
The serpent had been the master of the nearby riverpool, who wanted the third daughter of the family as his wife. When the daughter died, the other family members got well.
They buried the body of the girl, but the bones soon disappeared.

- - - - -

A beautiful woman had gone to the mountain forest to pick kuwa no ha 桑の葉 leaves of the mulberry tree, but went missing.
A pilgrim came along and said she had been elected to become 水性の主 the Master of the Water. She was allowed to come back only once every year.
. kuwa 桑 (くわ) mulberry tree .

- - - - -

. kuchisake onna 口裂け女 slit-mouthed woman .
When she went outside, she wore a mask and looked like a beautiful woman with long hair. When she took off the mask, on could see her mouth all the way to the ears.
Sometimes she would walk around and ask people if they found her beautiful.

.......................................................................
Iwate 九戸郡 Kunohe district

. Izumo taisha 出雲大社 Izumo Grand Shrine, Shimane .
The father of 森越仁太郎氏 Morikoshi Jintaro had built a small shrine and called it 出雲さん "Izumo San", hoping to have some good fortune.
In 1943, he became an inspector of the mines at Kamaishi.
A huge rock came falling down a cliff, but it did not hit him and stopped right before him.
A steel frame came falling down but did not hit him either . . . he was well protected.

.......................................................................
Iwate 唐丹町 Toni town

. Hitachibo Kaison Sennin 常陸坊海尊仙人 .
Retainer of 源の義経　Minamoto no Yoshitsune (1159 - 1189)

At the temple 光学寺 Kogaku-Ji there is a mound named 大徳塚 Daitokuzuka, but nobody remembers what is venerated there.
Once a yamabushi 山伏 mountain priest came to visit the mound and when asked about the origin, he replied
"This is the grave of 亀井六郎 Kamei Rokuro (重清 Kamei Shigekiyo ? - 1189) ), a retainer of Yoshitsune.
The Yamabushi must have been Hitachibo Kaison.

..............................................................................................................................................

- reference : nichibun yokai database -
釜石岩手県 - OK
106 遠野　岩手県 (00)

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

- - - - - H A I K U and S E N R Y U - - - - -

Kamaishi sen 釜石線 Kamaishi train line

- quote -
The Kamaishi Line (釜石線, Kamaishi-sen)
is a 90.2 km rural railway line in Iwate Prefecture, Japan, operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East). It connects Hanamaki Station in the city of Hanamaki with Kamaishi Station in the city of Kamaishi.
- - - More in the WIKIPEDIA !

蕗に雨釜石線のとある駅
鈴木鷹夫

陽炎を掻き分け掻き分け釜石線
高澤良一

.......................................................................

河童沼すとんと昏れて遠野寒
Kappanuma

曽根とき

. 河童 / かっぱ / カッパ - Kappa, the Water Goblin of Japan! .
カッパ淵 Kappabuchi, Tsuchibuchicho Tsuchibuchi, Tōno, Iwate
Kappabuchi is a small pool and river bank of the 足洗川　Ashiaraigkawa river ...

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

13 Mar 2020

HEIAN - Legends about Hina dolls March

https://heianperiodjapan.blogspot.com/2020/03/hinamatsuri-doll-festival-legends.html
.

Hinamatsuri Doll Festival legends

- BACK to the Daruma Museum -
. Japanese legends and tales 伝説民話昔話 - Introduction .
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

hina matsuri 雛祭と伝説 Legends about the Doll Festival

shiawasebina しあわせ雛 Happy Hina Dolls
Usaburo Kokeshi (卯三郎こけし) - Gunma

. Hina Doll Festival (hina matsuri 雛祭り) - March 03 .
- Introduction -

- CLICK on the photos below to see Hina Doll decorations from the prefectures!
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Hinazuru Jinja 雛鶴神社 Hinatsuru Shrine
山梨県都留市朝日曾雌 Tsuru city, Asahi Soshi
Dedicated to Hinazuru Hime 雛鶴姫 Princess Hinazuru

She was the wife of 護良親王 Moriyoshi Shinno, who's head is venerated at the Shrine 石船神社 Iwafune Jinja.

- quote -
Prince Moriyoshi (護良親王, Moriyoshi Shinnō, also called Prince Morinaga or Prince　Oōtōnomiya) (1308 – 1335) was a Japanese prince and monk.
He was the son of Emperor Go-Daigo and his consort Minamoto no Chikako.
His wife was Princess Hinatsuru. She was pregnant and fled to Yamanashi.
- - - More in the WIKIPEDIA !

- - - - - A legend from Yamanashi, 秋山村 Akiyama village:
In this village, people do not decorate with kadomatsu 門松 pine decorations.
Princess Hinazuru had fled to this village and died here on December 28.
So there was no time to put up pine decorations.
People stick a branch of the kunugi 椚 / 櫟 sawtooth oak, Quercus acutissima in the ground instead.

. kadomatsu 門松と伝説 Legends about pine decorations .

There is another Shrine with this name at Uenohara, Yamanashi.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
- - - - - ABC List of the prefectures :

In the year 1745, at the home of 中山大納言栄親卿 Nakayama Dainagon Naruchika the things decorated in his home seemed moving and ceramic pieces were floating around.
He had purifucation rituals held and died in the autumn of the year.
When the family decorated Hina dolls next year in March, the dolls begun to laugh.

......................................................................................... Kagawa 香川県
.......................................................................
木田郡 Kita district 三木町 Miki town

At the home of 三平 Sanpei, who lived near the graveyard at 二ノ坂 Ninosaka, they decorate Hina dolls and talk to them in a loud voice.
One day there was a fire at the home, but the Hina dolls seemed to come alive and rolled out of the danger.

.......................................................................
Kagawa 三豊市 Mitoyo city 仁尾町 Nio town

shishi koma 獅子駒 / シシコマ rice cake offerings like animals

Once there was the castle of 細川越中の守 the Hosokawa regent of Etchu, but the castle was lost in war and 長曽我部氏 Lord Chosokabe commited suicide on the day of the Hina Doll Festival.
Therefore the people of the area do not decorate Hina dolls in March, but on hassaku 八朔 the first of August.
His soul came back as a strange beast, and caused much trouble. To appease his soul people prepared special rice cakes.

. hassaku 八朔 (はっさく) first of August .
Many people in Western and Central Japan prepare these rice cakes for the Hassaku rituals.
hassakubina, hassaku hina 八朔雛

.......................................................................

......................................................................................... Kumamoto 熊本県
.......................................................................
玉名郡 Tamana district 南関町 Nankan town

Once upon a time
A father of two sons told them to leave home for three years to learn something and then come back.
The elder son became a skilled carpenter.
The other brought two beautiful ひーなさん Hina dolls - he had stolen them from the home where he had worked, and thus became a thief.

.......................................................................

......................................................................................... Niigata 新潟県
.......................................................................
糸魚川市 Itoigawa city

On March 3, the day of the Hina Matsuri it usually rains.
It also rains if people do not pack the dolls away on the fourth day it will rain and a daughter of such a home will have a hard time finding a husband.

.......................................................................

......................................................................................... Shizuoka 静岡県
.......................................................................
磐田市 Iwata city

. ujigami　氏神 clan KAMI deities .
The clan deities do not like Hina dolls and the villagers to not celebrate on March 3.
If a family keeps dolls, they would have bad luck and get ill.

.......................................................................

......................................................................................... Tokyo 東京都
.......................................................................
八王子市 Hachioji city

Two beautifully dressed girls kept going up and down the staircase. When the housewife went up there, she fould an old box in the corner with Hina dolls.
These two had wanted to be shown again and thus the family offered them to the local Shinto Shrine.

.......................................................................

......................................................................................... Yamagata 山形県

miruna no zashiki みるなの座敷 "don't look in the living room"
In the mansion there was a special room where men were not allowed to look inside.
One man did not adhere to this rule and stepped inside.
The first room was decorated for the New Year,
The second room was for the hatsu-uma 初午 first day of the horse in February.
The third one was for the Hina Doll festival in March.
May was for taue 田植え planting the rice fields.
June was for pulling weeds from the fields.
July (not August) was for bon odori 盆踊り the Bon dance.
September was for inekari 稲刈り cutting the rice.
October was for dakkoku 脱穀 threshing.
When he looked in the last room for December, there was a very strong snowstorm and the man died in the cold.

.......................................................................

......................................................................................... Yamanashi 山梨県
.......................................................................
富士吉田市 Fuji Yoshida

If the Hina dolls are not taken out for display until the 28th of February, they will begin to cry.

.......................................................................

Yamanashi Tsurushibina Kan つるし雛館 Museum for Tsurushibina hanging dolls
- reference source : katorihomes.com/blog... -

. tsurushibina, tsurushi bina つるし雛 / 吊るし雛 small hanging hina dolls .
These small dolls are suspended from the ceiling, an umbrella or a large branch ...

..............................................................................................................................................

- reference : nichibun yokai database 妖怪データベース -

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

. Kaido highway legends 街道と伝説 - - ABC list .

. animals and their legends 動物と伝説 - - ABC list .

. plants and their legends 　植物と伝説 - - ABC list .

. trees and their legends 　樹木, 木と伝説 - - ABC list .

. Persons, People, Personen and their legends - - ABC list .

. Legends about Kobo Daishi Kukai - 弘法大師　空海 - 伝説 .

. Japanese legends and tales 伝説　民話　昔話 - Introduction .

- Yookai 妖怪 Yokai Monsters of Japan -

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

. Join the friends on Facebook ! .

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
- #hinaningyo #hinadoll #hinamatsuri #dollfestival #hinafestival #hinaturu -
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

FUDO - Matsuida temple and Nakasendo

https://gokurakuparadies.blogspot.com/2020/03/matsuida-fudoji.html

Matsuida Fudoji

[ . BACK to Daruma Museum TOP . ]
. Pilgrimages to Fudo Temples 不動明王巡礼 .
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Matsuida Fudo 松井田不動
龍本山松井田院不動寺 Fudo-Ji

群馬県安中市松井田町松井田甲987 / Gunma, Annaka, Matsuida town

- Chant of the temple
そのかみは　いくよひぬらん　たよりにも　ちとせはここに　まついだのしゅく

Founded in 1243 by 慈猛上人 Saint Jimyo (1212 - 1277).

Main statue
千手観音菩薩 Kannon Bosatsu with 1000 Arms

........................................................................................................................

shuin 朱印 stamp

- Source with photos of the temple
- source : sakurasora-white...

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

This temple is Nr. 4 of the
. 北関東三十六不動尊霊場
36 Fudo Temples in Northern Kanto .

. Fudō Myō-ō, Fudoo Myoo-Oo 不動明王 Fudo Myo-O
Acala Vidyârâja - Vidyaraja - Fudo Myoo .

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

. Nakasendoo　中山道 Nakasendo Highway .
From Edo to Kyoto
15. Itahana-shuku 板鼻宿
16. Matsuida-shuku 松井田宿 postal station Matsuida
17, 坂本宿 Sakamoto-shuku

歌川広重　Utagawa Hiroshige

碓氷の役所　Usui no Seki Usui Checkpoint
was one of the four major checkpoints along the Nakasendō, located
between Matsuida-shuku and 坂本宿 Sakamoto-shuku.
Travelers who wanted to avoid this checkpoint could make use of a Hime Kaido that would take them over the mountains to 追分宿 Oiwake-shuku, the twentieth station on the Nakasendō.

. Usui Toge 碓氷峠 / 薄井の峠 Usui Pass .
It lies between Nagano and Gunma.

..............................................................................................................................................

. Yama no Kami 山の神 God of the Mountain .
Legends from Matsuida
. juunisama, jūni sama 十二様 Juni Sama .
In many villages this deity is called 十二様 Juni Sama, "Honorable 12" deities.

. Japanese Legends - 伝説　民話　昔話 – ABC-List .

................................................................................. Gunma 群馬県　
松井田町 Masuida city

The local Kami deity resides near a huge tree or a large rock.
Therefore people should not piss near it.

- - - - -

Amamitsu Mikami 天みつ御神 Local deity from Gunma
A man who had made bad business in Kyoto wanted yonige 夜逃げ to flee at night, and before he left he went to his favorite Shrine in Kyoto, the 北野天満宮 Kitano Tenmangu.
He fell in a dream-like state and was only able to make the second pard of 和歌 a Waka poem.
On his way along the Kiso Kaido he passed すい峠 the Usui Toge and stayed a few days at Matsuida.
There he had the inspiration to the first part of the Waka poem.
He was sure that the local deity had helped him and became a believer himself.

- - - - -

bakemono 化物 monster
At 大武士神社 the local Shrine there was a monster with large eyes on its knees. A brave man wanted to go see it and went to the Shrine at night. When the monster appeared, he was so afraid he run home as fast as he could.

- - - - -

daibamushi ダイバムシ insect called Daiba
Smaller as a gadfly, with a long tail. If it comes into the ear of a horse, the horse will get crazy and die.
This insect dislikes the red color, people prepare red silk cloth and hang it beside the ears of a horse.

- - - - -

. hebi 蛇と伝説 Legends about snakes and serpents .
hebi ishisama ヘビイシサマ / ヘービシ(蛇石) - stone that looks like a serpent
At 恩賀部落 the hamlet Onga they venerate a stone that looks like a serpent.
At 信州岩村田 Iwamurada they also use amulets to ward of the appearance of serpents in spring
If people leave their home to go working in the mountain forest, they call out
warabi no go-on 蕨のご恩 "Thanks to the Bracken!"

- - - - -

kamaishi 釜石 stone like a kettle
On the 中山道 Nakasendo Highway from 阪本 Sakamoto via Matsuida, there is a stone called Kamaishi.
It does not have the shape of a kettle. It is a stone that has fallen down and if someone hits it, it makes the sound of metal. If you hit other stones nearby, they do not make any sound.

- - - - -

. tanuki 狸 - mujina 狢－ racoon dog, badger legends .
Once a badger shape-shifted into a railway worker and swung a red flag to stop a train near 碓氷峠 the Usui pass.
He did this a few times, but in the end the train hit the badger and killed it.

- - - - -

. u no toshi 卯の年 year of the rabbit .
In a year of the rabbit a huge boulder would give birth to another stone.

..............................................................................................................................................

- reference : Nichibun Yokai Database -

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

. - Join Fudo Myo-O on facebook - Fudō Myō-ō .

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

. Pilgrimages to Fudo Temples 不動明王巡礼
Fudo Myo-O Junrei - Fudo Pilgrims .

[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
- - #fudoji #matsuidafudo #matsuida -
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

12 Mar 2020

KAIDO - Miyazu Kaido

https://edoflourishing.blogspot.com/2020/02/miyazu-kaido-highway.html

Miyazu Kaido Highway

[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
. Kaido 街道 Highways - ABC Index .
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Miyazu Kaido 宮津街道 Miyazu Highway
Connecting Miyazu, passing 大江山 Oeyama, leading to 福知山 Fukuchiyama.
Also called
Oda no michi 普甲道

Crossing the 普甲峠 Oda Toge Pass.
Used by the Daimyo of 宮津藩 the Miyazu domain for Sankin Kotai.
The pilgrims of Saigoku 33 Temples 西国三十三所 also used this road.

. Tango Kaido 丹後街道 Tango Highway .
From 敦賀 Tsuruga, Fukui to 舞鶴 Maizuru, Kyoto.

.......................................................................

Oda Toge 普甲峠 Pass with stone pavement

South of Miyatsu city, in the mountains of Oda. From the pass there is a nice view of the city and the 宮津湾 Miyazu bay.
The stone pavement was ordered by the lord of Miyazu province to use for his military activities.
About 1 km of this old road near Oeyama has been repaired and can now be seen.

oni 鬼 demon
Jiemon 大谷の治右ェ門 from Otani came home on a Winter day from Kyoto. After he had passed the 普甲峠 Oda Toge the 薦池の鬼 demon from Komoike appeared and asked him not to throw beans at him.
This is the reason why the the farmers from Otani never throw beans during the Setsubun festival.

. Setsubun 節分 the "Seasonal Divide" .

.......................................................................

. Oeyama 大江山 .
and the legend of 酒呑童子 Shuten Doji

. Nariaiji 成相寺 Nariai-Ji .
The main statue is a Bijin Kannon 美人観音 "Beautiful Kannon Bosatsu".
Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage 西国三十三所

.......................................................................

宮津市 Miyazu city
Located in Miyazu City is 天橋立 Amanohashidate, the "bridge to heaven", one of the three most beautiful sights of Japan.
The naturally formed land bridge is 3.6 kilometers long and covered in pine trees.
An Imperial decree in July 1899 established Miyazu as an open port for trading with the United States and the United Kingdom.

source :　www.sukima.com/temp/miyadu
宮津市化粧地蔵群

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .

.................................................................................　Kyoto 京都府
宮津市 Miyazu city

. Gengoroogitsune 源五郎狐 The Fox Gengoro .
and his wife Kojoroogitsune 小女郎狐 Kojorogitsune

- - - - -

. inu 犬と伝説 Legends about the dog / Hund .
Even if the old man taking care of the temple hall and the bell fell asleep in the afternoon, there always came a dog and woke them up in time. One day the old man and the dog slept both and there was no bell ringing at the usual time.
That night the dog took responsibility for this, cut his tongue and commited suicide.

- - - - -

. komajishi 高麗獅子 Korean lion dog .
Once a stone statue of a lion dog became alive, flew up to the sky and came to town. There it did a lot of bad things and troubles.
A roonin 浪人 masterless Samurai cut off its leg, the lion dog fell down but soon got up again and run away.
Next morning the leg of the stone statue was cut off and blood was oozing out.

- - - - -

O-Kiku Inari Shrine お菊稲荷
2159 Tsuruga, Miyazu, Kyoto

About 200 years ago there was a maid of the Lord of Miyazu castle, who was falsely charged with a misdeed. She felt so helpless she threw herself into the well to die.
This well, O-Kiku ido お菊井戸 was burred a few years ago, but a small shrine in her honor, O-Kiku Inari is still there.

- - - - -

oo-onna 大女 a huge woman
In 1702, there was an epidemic in the village of 宮津村 Miyazu, which finally ebbed down.
On the 7th day of the first lunar month in the evening, a villager saw a large woman of about 3 meters in white robes sitting at the foot of a pine tree. When he came home he fell ill with a fever, and mumbled the words of the woman:
"I was the servant of the lady of the castle and was executed because of an intrigue. To get my revenge I made the epidemic come to the village. If you hold a special ritual for me on the 17th day of the second lunar month, I will be saved and become the mamorigami 守り神 protector deity of this village."

- - - - -

. ryuutoo 龍燈 / 龍灯 / 竜灯と伝説 Legends about Ryuto, "Dragon Lantern" .
At Amanohashidate, at night on the 16th day of every month, there is a strange light coming from the ushitora 丑寅 North-East direction and heading to the Monju Do 文殊堂 Hall for Monju Bosatsu at the temple 智恩寺 Chion-Ji. In front of the hall is one pine tree, which is called
ryuutoo no matsu 竜灯の松 "pine of the Dragon Lantern"

- - - - -

shikazu no kane 撞かずの鐘 the bell which could not be made
The villagers were collecting money to have a bell, but one family had not yet made any contribution.
At the house there was an old man who said he was so poor, he could only give the baby of the family. So they took the baby and threw it into the ritual fire.
When they rang the bell for the first time there appeared the figure of a baby and the crying of the child was heard all over the village.

................................................................................. Tango no Kuni 丹後国

A person from 丹後国宮津出 Tango no Kuni, Miyazu came to Kyoto to do business, but he became ill and could not hear any more.
He followed the advise of a friend and went to Osaka for three years, but his deafness did not heal. Finally he went back to Miyazu.
But his language had changed and he now talked like someone with the dialect of Osaka!

..............................................................................................................................................

- reference : nichibun yokai database -

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

- - - - - H A I K U and S E N R Y U - - - - -

おれのはらのかわをためしてみおれ、にゃあ、にゃあ
try to shoot the skin of my belly, nyaa, nyaa

. Buson Yokai Emaki 蕪村妖怪絵巻 Buson Monster Scroll .
He painted this scroll while he was living in 丹後 Tango, 京都府宮津市 Kyoto, Miyazu city from 1754 - 1757.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

6 Mar 2020

FUDO - Murota no Taki Daifukuji

https://fudosama.blogspot.com/2020/02/daifukuji-muro-taki-waterfall.html

Daifukuji Muro Taki Waterfall

[ . BACK to Daruma Museum TOP . ]
. Pilgrimages to Fudo Temples 不動明王巡礼 .
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Daifuku-Ji 大福寺
室田之滝不動尊 Murota no Taki Fudo Waterfall
秀巌山 Shuganzan　瀧水院 Ryusui-In　　
Gunma 群馬県

群馬県高崎市 / 5558 Nakamurodamachi, Takasaki, Gunma

Founded most probably by 最澄伝教大師 Saicho Dengyo Daishi when he traveled in the area.
Saicho carved the statue of Fudo Myo-O and built the hall to shelter it. Then he held a ritual to purify the statue and took one of his ritual tools, the dokko 独鈷 thunderbolt, and threw it outside at the rock, where the waterfall started to flow. Saicho said:
「滝に沐浴すれば総じて苦悩を洗い、
去りて秘境の極に至ることこの清泉に勝るものなし」
The present-day hall was built in 1802.

Many pilgrims came to the waterfall to pray for healing from diseases of the brain.

........................................................................................................................

shuin 朱印 stamp

- reference and photos

.........................................................................................................................

- Yearly Festivals 年中行事 -

1月28日　January 28 Auspicious Daruma Market
大般若会大護摩供　福だるま市

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

This temple is Nr. 3 of the
. 北関東三十六不動尊霊場
36 Fudo Temples in Northern Kanto .

. O-Mamori お守り　Amulets and Talismans .

. Fudō Myō-ō, Fudoo Myoo-Oo 不動明王 Fudo Myo-O
Acala Vidyârâja - Vidyaraja - Fudo Myoo .

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

. - Join Fudo Myo-O on facebook - Fudō Myō-ō .

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

. Pilgrimages to Fudo Temples 不動明王巡礼
Fudo Myo-O Junrei - Fudo Pilgrims .

[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
- - #daifukuji ##murota #murotawaterfall - -
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

3 Mar 2020

EDO - Matsumae Kaido Highway

https://edoflourishing.blogspot.com/2020/02/matsumae-fukuyama-kaido.html

Matsumae Fukuyama Kaido

[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
. Kaido 街道 Highways - ABC Index .
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Matsumae Kaido 松前街道 Matsumae Highway
Fukuyama Kaido 福山街道 Fukuyama Highway

1900: Fukuyama town was founded.
1940: Fukuyama changed its name to Matsumae.

The Matsumaedō 松前道 Matsumaedo connected 仙台 Sendai via Matsumae
with 函館 Hakodate, 北海道 Hokkaidō.

Also called
Hamamichi 浜道 beach road
Sotogahama Kaido 外ヶ浜街道
Sotogahama is a town in Aomori.

. Ōshū Kaidō 奥州街道 Oshu Kaido Highway .
Sendai and the Oshu Kaido

- Postal stations along the Matsumae Highway in Hokkaido
Matsumae 松前
Fukushima 福島
Shiriuchi 知内
Kikonai 木古内
Hakodate 函館

..............................................................................................................................................

. Matsumae city 松前宿 Hokkaido .

. Matsumaebune 松前船 Matsumae trade ships to Hokkaido .
Kitamaebune 北前船 North-bound trade ships

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

- quote

Matsumae Castle 松前城, Matsumae-jō
is a castle located in Matsumae in Hokkaidō, Japan, and is the northernmost castle in Japan.
The only traditional style Edo period castle in Hokkaidō, it was the chief residence of the han (estate) of the Matsumae clan.
- History
First built in 1606 by Matsumae Yoshihiro under orders from the Tokugawa shogunate requiring his clan to defend the area, and by extension the whole of Japan, from the Ainu 'barbarians' to the north, it burned down in 1637 but was rebuilt in 1639. It once controlled all passage through Hokkaidō to the rest of Japan.
The present castle complex,
which dates from 1854, was constructed to deter attacks by foreign naval forces. Only the 30-metre-high tenshu (main tower) and a gatehouse survived destruction following the Meiji Restoration, which began in 1868. However, the tenshu burned down in 1949 and a concrete replica was built in 1960.
All of the castle site is today a public park.
- source : wikipedia

..............................................................................................................................................

source and more photos : hakodate.travel...

- quote -
Hakodate (函館市, Hakodate-shi)
is a city and port located in Oshima Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. It is the capital city of Oshima Subprefecture.
- History
Hakodate was Japan's first city whose port was opened to foreign trade in 1854, as a result of Convention of Kanagawa, and used to be the most important port in northern Japan. Also, the city had been the biggest city in Hokkaido before the Great Hakodate Fire of 1934.
... Pre-Meiji restoration
Hakodate (like much of other parts of Hokkaido) was originally populated by the Ainu. They lived in the Oshima Peninsula.
The name "Hakodate" might originate from an Ainu word. Another possibility is that it means "box" or "building" in Japanese which refers to the castle built by the Kono (Kano) clan in the fifteenth century.
Hakodate was founded in 1454,
when Kono Kaganokami Masamichi constructed a large manor house in the Ainu fishing village of Usukeshi (the word for bay in Ainu).
... Hakodate flourished during the Hoei period (1704–11), and many new temples were founded in the area. The town's fortunes received a further boost in 1741 when the Matsumae clan, which had been granted nearby areas on the Oshima Peninsula as a march fief, moved its Kameda magistracy to Masamichi's house in Hakodate. ...
- - - More in the WIKIPEDIA !

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .

- quote -
Genko 玄狐 / Kurogitsune 黒狐 black fox
A black furred fox that incarnated into a Big Dipper.
Before becoming a manifestation of a constellation, Genko was an ordinary black fox that served under the Shinto agricultural deity Ukanomitama as it migrated to Northern Japan. In the historical manuscript "Hokuho-bunmei-shiwa" [北方文明史話] (1930) by Shunzo Nakajima [中島峻蔵] , the descendant of the Matsumae Feudal Family [松前藩], Genko was originally from Kujo [九条] in Kyoto that travelled to Hokkaido with Princess Hatsuhime [初姫] the daughter of Lord Tokimasa Kazanin [花山院常雅] during the Edo Period.
Since the day she began to live with the Matsumae Family in the year 1771, Princess Hatsuhime continued her devotion towards Ukanomitama and for this, whenever she went to the land of Ainu people in Ezo [蝦夷地], a horde of foxes discreetly followed her as guards under the command of Ukanomitama and Genko was one of them.
Unfortunately, Princess Hatsuhime died due to illness only a few years later, but Genko remained in Northern Japan instead of returning to Kyoto for he made a family there.
Then in the year 1788, Genko reappeared as a vulpine spirit at the Benten Buddhist Monastery [弁天堂] in Hakodate City [函館市], Hokkaido.
Discovered by the yamabushi mountain monk Daishoin [山伏大昌院] one night after his spiritual training. Genko told the Yamabushi how it died after being shot down by a hunter for its fur and how it waited for him for 99 days in the monastery to ask Yamabushi a favor.
The favor was to build a shrine for Genko since its soul was never able to pass-on to the afterlife and in return, Genko promised to become a guardian of Northern Japan, forever.
Yamabushi fulfilled Genko's request and thus the Genko Inari Shrine [玄狐稲荷神社] in Matsumae City was established during the Kyowa Era (1801-1804).
This story above is one of the several legends regarding Genko.
- reference source : kaldibeta/7-types-of-kitsune-spirits-in-japan...-

知内の玄古稲荷
- reference source : donan.org/history-legend/kurokitune... -

nishin 鰊 herring， Genko 玄狐 / Kurogitsune 黒狐 black fox
Since the herring dislike foxes, they never came to this area after a Shrine for Genko was erected.
鰊は蝦夷の物産であった。文化三年に、知内山から玄狐を取ってきたことがあった。それからこの狐が祟りをなすようになった。狐を嫌う鰊も、この頃からさっぱり獲れなくなってしまった。
.
殿様の行列の前を怪しげな男が通り、家臣がこれを無礼打にしたが、よく見ると1匹の黒狐だった。その家臣が短刀でその皮を剥いで襟巻きにでもしようかと思っていると、彼の子供が病気になり、巫女に口寄せを頼むと狐が祟っているという。家臣は驚いてその皮を祀り、祠を建てて皮を剥いだ短刀を松前神社に奉献したという。
.
文政6年に鰊漁をした網を乾かしていたところに、黒狐がひっかかって死んでいた。それを町役所に献上し、同じ年に稲荷ができ、狐の皮を神体とした。鰊は狐を嫌うため、稲荷を建てて狐の祟りを鎮めたのである。
.
昔、松前家が7代の公広公のときの話である。殿様は帰途家来を連れていたが、先を歩くものがいたので不審に思って家来に尋ねると、玄古という狐だという。殿様は、殿様を守っているのだからという家来の進言を聞き入れずに目障りだから打ち取れと命じたが、弾はまったくあたらなかった。殿様が羽織を家来に渡し、それを肩にかけた家来が「君命なるぞ」というと、狐は手を広げて腹を打たせたという。その狐を祀ったのが玄古稲荷神社である。

. nishin 鰊 / 鯡青魚 herring .

. Ukanomikami, Uka no Mikami 宇迦之御魂神 / 倉稲魂神 .
Deity venerated at Inari fox shrines.

..............................................................................................................................................

- - - - - The three famous Cherry Trees of Matsumae - - - - -

Ezo Kasumizakura 蝦夷霞桜
at the temple 龍雲院 Ryuun-In, the oldest temple in Matsumae
. . . CLICK here for Photos !

- - - - -

kechimyakuzakura sakura 血脈桜 blood-line cherry
Near the castle of Matsumae there were two temples, 光善寺 Kozen-Ji and 龍雲寺 Ryuun-Ji with two cherry trees, their roots intertwined.
Legend knows this:
Once upon a time, a girl named お芳 O-Yoshi had come from 芳の山 / 吉野山 Yoshinoyama with a branch of a cherry tree. This branch begun to grow into one cherry tree with yaezakura 八重の花 double-flower blossoms. This tree was the first in the line of trees, but for a long time nobody came to visit.

Kechimyaku Zakura from which the Naden descend . . .
- - - More in the WIKIPEDIA !

- - - - -

Meotozakura 夫婦桜 Couple Sakura
. . . CLICK here for Photos !

Hokkaido's vividly colored cherry blossoms.
- source : en.visit-hokkaido.jp -

..............................................................................................................................................
松前領 Matsumae region

reija 霊蛇 "spirit snake"
In the year 1823, the wife of 立之助 Ryunosuke from Ahinoma village was simple and not greedy.
In the sixth lunar month when she worked in the fields, she found a lot of kozen 古銭 old coins. She kept working in the fields but then took some coins home.
On her way back home, a small snake followed her, but was not to be seen any more when she was home.
When Ryunosuke heard this, he checked the basket for carrying soil, there was a small snake inside. He killed the snake with his kiseru キセル metal pipe.
Then he went out to the field, hoping to find more coins, but did not find anything. This was because he had killed the serpent.

. hebi 蛇と伝説 Legends about snakes and serpents .

- - - - -

yanone ishi 矢ノ根石，yajiri ishi 鏃石 arrowhead stone
Once after a strong rain-storm in Matsumae, it begun to rain stones in the form of an arrowhead.

......................................................................
松前町 Matsumae town

daifuku mai 大福米 "Good Luck Rice"
At the estate of 蠣崎友広 Kakizaki Tomohiro (1598 - 1658), the chief retainer of the Matsumae domain, a lot of rice came out of a well.
Tomohiro called it "Great Luck Rice" and offered it to his lord. The lord filled them into many bottles and kept them.
This rice kept clean for many generations to come. Each time someone opened a bottle, there was something lucky happening.

- - - - -

yamabushi 山伏 mountain priest
The fishing for herrings had been very bad, so the villagers asked a Yamabushi for a purification ritual.
The priest fasted for seven days and nights and then had a divine revelation.
The villagers were happy and made new nets.
But how much they waited, the herring did not come. Eventually the herring season was over and they hat caught nothing. Now the village was in deep trouble.

. nishin 鰊 / 鯡青魚 herring .

.......................................................................
Matsumae 厚岸町 Akkeshi town

reiki 霊亀 "spirit turtle"
In the year 1825, in the region of Akkeshi, they caught a large turtle, in fact a suppon スッポン soft-shelled turtle.
When the fish dealer 惣助 Sosuke came, the turtle made him cry. The man who had caught the turtle also felt sorry, so they let it go.
Since then they never had a bad fishing season. This must have been the magical power of the turtle.

. kame 亀 turtle legends .

.......................................................................
爾志郡 Nishi district 乙部町 Otobe town

Sasayama Jinja 笹山神社 Sasayama Inari Shrine
About 200 years ago, there was a traveler visiting the Sasayama Shrine, oan on his way back he saw three shika 鹿 deer.
He felt lucky and performed a 鹿子舞 deer dance at the shrine.
The wife of the Lord of Matsumae had been ill, but this dance helped her to get well again.
This is a pun with
shishimai 獅子舞 lion dance

..............................................................................................................................................

- reference : nichibun yokai database -

松前怪談十種
深瀬春一 Fukase Harukazu

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

- - - - - H A I K U and S E N R Y U - - - - -

松前の漁師の厚司波模様

城村貞子 Jomura Sadako

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::