Legend of the buried gold treasure of the Fujiwara clan of Oshu! What is Kinkeiyama in Hiraizumi? [Iwate Prefecture]

When it comes to buried treasure in Japan, many people may think of the Tokugawa buried treasure, but in fact, legends of buried treasure remain all over Japan

There is also a mountain in Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture, where such a legend remains

That mountain is Mount Kinkei, a sacred mountain that is also designated as one of the World Heritage Sites "Hiraizumi – Temples, Gardens and Archaeological Sites Representing the Buddhist Pure Land."

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Kinkeiyama and the legend of buried treasure

Kinkeizan is a small, tree-covered hill-like mountain less than 100 meters high located in Hiraizumi-cho, Nishiiwai-gun, Iwate Prefecture . It is a mysterious mountain with a legend that it is an artificial mountain that was created in just one night to resemble Mount Fuji

believed to lie dormant in this mountain arethose of the Oshu Fujiwara clan.

According to legend, the person who created this mountain and hid the treasureFujiwara no Hidehira, the third head of the Oshu Fujiwara clan.that Hidehira prayed for the protection of Hiraizumi and buried a pair of golden chickens at the top of the mountain, as well as hiding 10,000 cups of lacquer and 10,000 gold coins.

If it were an artificial mountain as the legend says, it would have been easy to create a room to hide treasure, but locals haveroosters can be heard crowing from the mountain, and a children's song that is said to indicate the location of the buried treasure:"Under the tree where the morning sun shines and the evening sun glows, ten thousand cups of golden lacquer are buried.

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The Golden Culture of the Oshu Fujiwara Clan and Pure Land Buddhism

The immense wealth and powerful influence of the Oshu Fujiwara clan are immediately apparent when you look at Chūson-ji Temple , which still stands today

Chusonji is a magnificent temple built by Kiyohira, the first head of the Oshu Fujiwara clan, who spared no expense in constructing it

Unfortunately, many of the buildings were burned down and only a few remain today, but if you visit, you can get a sense of the prosperity of Hiraizumi in the past

The Oshu Fujiwara clan was devoted to Pure Land Buddhism and is known for their enthusiastic construction of temples, shrines, and gardens. It is said that Mount Kinkei was also created for the purpose of building a temple, and there was onceMuryokoin.

This temple was built by the third generation Hidehira, modeled after Byodo-in Temple in Kyoto. It was later destroyed by fire, and only the site remains today, but it is said that at the time of its construction, ita magnificent and opulent temple that surpassed even the original Byodo-in Temple.

Kinkeisan is located just behind the main hall of Muryokoin Temple, and from the garden you can see the sun setting over the mountain ridge

If one were to view the main hall from the garden at dusk, the setting sun would illuminate it like a halo, creating a beauty reminiscent of paradise. Mount Kinkei 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 sutra tubes and jars have been discovered in past excavations

It is believed that the wealth of the Oshu Fujiwara clan, which allowed them to build such a magnificent temple, was supported by numerous gold mines in the Tohoku region. TheTamayama gold minewas particularly famous among them, and it is said that the gold used extensively in the Golden Hall of Chuson-ji Temple also came from Tamayama.

The family successively built temples such as Chūson-ji, Mōtsū-ji, and Muryōkō-in, giving rise to the present-day World Heritage site of Hiraizumi . Incidentally, rumors of the temples and shrines built without regard for cost spread as far as China, and it is said that Hiraizumi was the city that inspired Marco Polo's description of "Zipangu, the land of gold" in his Travels .

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Does the "Fujiwara Clan Curse" still remain?

The treasure left behind by the Oshu Fujiwara clan was buried treasure hidden by Hidehira, the most powerful member of the clan. Naturally, many people began searching for the buried treasure in the hopes of making a fortune

However, there's another rumor surrounding the buried treasure: the"curse of the Fujiwara clan.

Since ancient times, the spirit of a warrior guarding treasure has been sighted around Mt. Kinkei, and it is said that anyone who tries to steal the buried treasure will be cursed by this warrior

Many people scoffed at the idea of ​​buried treasure legends, dismissing it as a made-up story. However, despite five large-scale excavations conducted from the Edo period to the Showa era, no treasure was found. Furthermore, unfortunate accidents occurred during the work, including the deaths of those involved,forcing the cessation of all subsequent excavations.

the "curse of the Fujiwara clan"might not be entirely untrue...

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Sunset in Hiraizumi

At the foot of Mount Kinkei, there is the Senjudo Hall, which houses the memorial tablets of three generations of the Oshu Fujiwara clan, as well as the grave of a relative of a certain person who was one of the causes of their downfall: the wife and child of Minamoto no Yoshitsune

After antagonizing his brother, Yoritomo, Yoshitsune was driven out of the capital and sought refuge with Hidehira, the third head of the family, who was also in conflict with Yoritomo. However, after Hidehira's death, the fourth head of the family, Yasuhira, succumbed to pressure from Yoritomo and attacked Yoshitsune's residence. It is said that Yoshitsune killed his wife, Gogozen, and their four-year-old daughter with his own hands, and then committed suicide

Yasuhira sent Yoshitsune's head to Yoritomo, but Yoritomo did not miss this opportunity and dispatched troops to Oshu. In what is known asthe Oshu Campaign, Yasuhira was defeated and fled, but was assassinated in Odate City, Akita Prefecture. With this, the Oshu Fujiwara clan was destroyed and the prosperity of Hiraizumi came to an end.

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lastly

Regarding Mount Kinkei, Matsuo Basho also left a line that reads, "Hidehira's former residence has become a field, and only Mount Kinkei remains in shape." The following line is the famous poem, "Summer grasses—the remnants of warriors' dreams."

When sightseeing in Hiraizumi, in addition to visiting Chusonji Temple and Motsuji Temple, it might also be a good idea to visit Mt. Kinkei and reflect on the rise and fall of the Oshu Fujiwara clan

Don't make the mistake of searching for buried treasure. The curse of the Fujiwara clan may befall you..

Mt. Kinkeisan trailhead <Information>

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

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