The legend of the golden buried gold of the Fujiwara clan of Oshu! What is Mt. Kinji in Hiraizumi? [Iwate Prefecture]

When you think of Japanese reserves, many people may remember the Tokugawa reserves, but the legend of the buried treasure itself actually remains everywhere in Japan.

There is also a mountain with such legends in Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture.

This is Mt. Kinji, a mountain of faith, which has been designated as one of the World Heritage Sites: Hiraizumi - Architecture, gardens and archaeological ruins that represent the French land (Pure Land)

Mt. Kinkeisan and the legend of buried treasure

Mt. Kaneki is a small mountain that looks like a small hill covered in trees, less than 100 meters above sea level, located in Hiraizumi Town, Nishiiwai District, Iwate Prefecture, and that it is an artificial mountain created in just one night to resemble Mount Fuji .

The treasure of the Oshu Fujiwara clan, who once boasted a great presence in this mountain, is said to be lying on the mountain .

According to legend, the third generation of the Fujiwara clan of the Oshu Fujiwara clan was Fujiwara no Hidehira, who wished to protect Hiraizumi, buried a pair of golden chickens at the top of this mountain, and hid 10,000 cups of lacquer and 10,000 ryo.

If it was an artificial mountain, as per the legend, it would have been easy to create a room to hide treasure, but locals say that the legend can be heard from the mountains "All lacquer is placed under a tree shining in the sunset while the sun sets .

Oshu Fujiwara clan's golden culture and Pure Land ideology

how enormous wealth and powerful power the Oshu Fujiwara clan possessed, if you look at Chusonji Temple

Chusonji Temple is a gorgeous and gorgeous temple built by Kiyohira, the first generation of the Oshu Fujiwara clan, without sparing his wealth.

Unfortunately, many of the buildings have been burned down and only a few remain at present, but if you visit, you can feel the prosperity of Hiraizumi in the past.

The Oshu Fujiwara clan is keen on the Pure Land philosophy and is known for their enthusiastic creation of temples, shrines and gardens. It is said that Mt. Kinji is also a mountain built for a temple, and to the east of Mt. Kinji, there was once a temple called Muryokoin

This temple was built by the third generation Hidehira, modeled after Byodoin in Kyoto, and although it was later burned down in a fire, it only remains a former site, but when it was built it is said to have been a gigantic, gigantic temple that surpasses the original Byodoin in the countryside

Mt. Kinji is located just behind the main hall of Muryokoin, and from the garden you can see the sunset sinking onto the ridge of the mountain.

If you can see the main hall from the garden at dusk, the sunset illuminates the main hall like a halo, making it seem like a beauty like the Pure Land of Paradise. is thought to have been the center and symbol of Hiraizumi's urban design

As it is still said to be a mountain of faith, it is known that at least nine sutra mounds were built on the summit, and past excavations have discovered sutra tubes and pots.

It is believed that many gold mines in Tohoku supported the wealth of the Oshu Fujiwara clan, which could build such a magnificent temple, and Tamayama Gold Mountain , which was in Rikuzentakata City, is one of the most famous gold mines, and the gold that is abundantly used in the Konjikido of Chusonji Temple is also said to be from Tamayama.

The family built one after another temple, such as Chusonji Temple, Mokoshiji Temple, and Muryokoin, and the Hiraizumi, a world heritage site was born. Incidentally, rumors about temples and shrines that were created without being struck by gold have been spreading far away to China, and it is said that Hiraizumi was the city that was the source of the "Golden Land Zipang," written by Marco Polo in the Eastern Records of the Eastern Records

Will it still remain? "Fujiwara clan's curse"

This treasure left behind by the Fujiwara clan of Oshu, and the buried treasure hidden by Hidehira, the most powerful of his family. Naturally, many people began searching for buried reserves in an attempt to make a fortune.

However, there is another rumor about the buried treasure. That is the "Fujiwara clan's curse .

The spirits of warriors protecting treasures have been seen around Mt. Kinji since ancient times, and it is said that anyone aiming for the buried gold will be cursed by this warrior.

Many people laughed at the fictional story that is common to the legend of the buried treasure, but even after five large-scale excavations from Edo to the Showa era, the buried treasure was not found, and even during the work, an unfortunate accident occurred, with the death of those involved, forcing both excavations to be cancelled.

the "Fujiwara clan's curse" may not be a lie...

Hiraizumi sunset

At the foot of Mt. Kinki, there is Senjudo, which houses the memorial tablets of the three generations of the Oshu Fujiwara clan, and there is also the graves of a relative of a certain person who contributed to the destruction. It was Minamoto Yoshitsune's wife and children.

After being hostile to his older brother Yoritomo, Yoshitsune was chased from the capital, and relied on the third generation Hidehira, who was also in conflict with Yoritomo. However, when Hidehira dies, the fourth generation Yasuhira succumbs to Yoritomo's pressure and attacks Yoshitsune's mansion. Yoshitsune reportedly killed his wife Gozen and his four-year-old daughter with his own hands and committed suicide.

Yasuhira sent Yoshitsune to Yoritomo, but Yoritomo never missed this opportunity and sent the soldiers to Oshu. the world's conquest of Oshu , Yasuhira is defeated, but is assassinated in Odate City, Akita Prefecture. This resulted in the fall of the Fujiwara clan of Oshu and the prosperity of Hiraizumi was put to an end.

lastly

Regarding Mt. Kinki, Matsuo Basho also left a passage saying, "Hidehira is the place in Tano, and only Mt. Kinki will remain in shape." The next section is the famous poem called "Summer grass and other things are dreams."

When sightseeing in Hiraizumi, you may not only visit Chusonji Temple and Mokoshiji Temple, but you may also want to think about the rise and fall of the Oshu Fujiwara clan at Mt. Kinji.

Don't try to find the reserves even if you make a mistake. The "Fujiwara clan's curse" may fall on him...

Mt. Kinkeisan trailhead <Information>

• Name: Mt. Kinkei trailhead
• Address: 44 Hiraizumi Hanatate, Hiraizumi-cho, Nishiiwai-gun, Iwate Prefecture 029-4102
• URL: http://www.town.hiraizumi.iwate.jp/heritage/asset/kinkei.html

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