Is the origin of the legendary "The Crane's Return"? "Uruyama, Nanyo City, Yamagata Prefecture" and "Tsurufuyama Jinzoji Temple"

"The Crane's Return of Favor," which begins with "Once upon a time..." , is a story that many people have probably heard at least once.

It is a famous folktale with similar versions found all over the country, but the legend of "The Crane's Return" that is passed down in the Urushiyama district of Nanyo City, Yamagata Prefecture, is said to be an area with particularly long-standing records of similar stories that are spread throughout the country

The legends of this area are recorded in the ancient Edo period document "Kakujo Chimei Sen" (1804), and have unique characteristics compared to stories from other areas

This time, we will introduce the legend of "The Crane's Return of Favor" that is passed down in this area

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The legend of "The Crane's Return" passed down in the Urushiyama area

Long ago, there lived an honest man named Kinzo on the banks of the Orihatagawa River that flows through this area

One day, Kinzo saves a crane that is being bullied by some children

That night, a beautiful woman visits the house, and Kinzo takes her as his wife

She is skilled at weaving and weaves beautiful cloth, which she sells to support Kinzo's life

One day, she devotes herself to weaving, saying, "Please don't peek into my room for seven days," but Kinzo, out of curiosity, peeks into her room

There he sees a crane weaving its own feathers into the fabric. ​Having discovered its true identity, the crane hands the woven fabric over to Kinzo and flies away into the sky

After that, Kinzo became a monk, built a temple, and is said to have named it "Kakufuzan Chinzoji Temple."

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What is Kakufuzan Chinzoji Temple?

This ancient temple is said to have been founded in 1460 by the Soto sect's Kongozan Rinnoji monk Gokudo Sosan, and the legend of its founding is said to be the "Gratitude of the Crane" that took place here

If legend is correct, the monk Gokudo Sosan, who is said to have founded the temple, would have been the honest treasurer, but this is not certain. However, there is also a legend that during the time of the treasure trove, fabrics woven from crane feathers were kept as temple treasures.

Legends that can be seen from place names

The place names that appear in the legend actually exist, and the name of the river that flows near "Tsurupuyama Chinzoji Temple" "Orihata River," and it is believed that Kinzo lived somewhere on the banks of this river.

There are other place names in the vicinity "Hanetsuki" and "Tsurumakida."

With so many traces remaining in place names, it makes you think that the legend may have actually happened

Chinzoji Temple <Information>

• Name: Kakufuzan Chinzoji Temple
• Address: 1747-1 Urushiyama, Nanyo City, Yamagata Prefecture, 992-0474
• Phone number: 0238-47-2264
• Official URL: -

Google Map

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The crane's return of gratitude also appears at the station building

Orihata Station on the Flower Nagai Line, the nearest station to Tsurufusan Chinzoji Temple, is a small, unmanned station building, but it is an essential means of transportation for students and elderly people living in the area.

The station building has been renovated in honor of the legend of "The Crane's Return of Favor." The silhouette-like illustrations are reminiscent of the story and blend in with the surrounding rural landscape

Orihata Station <Information>

• Name: Orihata Station
• Line: Flower Nagai Line
• Address: Urushiyama, Nanyo City, Yamagata Prefecture, 992-0474

Google Map

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"The Crane's Gratitude" Folktale at the Museum

In the Urushiyama area, there is the "Yuzuru no Sato Museum," a facility dedicated to passing on the legend of the crane's return of gratitude to future generations

Here you can experience the world of the story through weaving experiences, performances by folk tale storytellers, and exhibits about the crane's return of gratitude

The Urushiyama area was so prosperous during the Meiji period that it engaged in overseas trade through its silk industry

Yuzuru Village <Information>

• Name: Yuzuru Village
• Address: 2025-2 Urushiyama, Nanyo City, Yamagata Prefecture
• Opening hours: 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
• Closed: Every Monday (open on public holidays), New Year's holidays (December 29th to January 3rd)
• Admission fee: Adults: 330 yen, Elementary and junior high school students: 110 yen
• Official URL: Yuzuru Village Homepage

Google Map

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summary

"The Crane's Return of Favor" is a famous folktale with similar versions found all over the country

Among these, the Urushiyama district has particularly old records, and there are place names related to the crane's gratitude, including Tsurufusan Chinzoji Temple. Perhaps this is where the legend really began

It might be a good idea to visit and enjoy the feeling of traveling back in time to the world of fairy tales in this traditional rural landscape

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