What is the Kitamuki Kannon Statue? – Traces of the “Hidden Christians” in Ogatsu, Akita
table of contents
In the early Edo period, hidden Christians (hidden Christians) were discovered in the Akita domain, and many were martyred. the Kitamuki Kannon statue and the Christian Martyrs' Memorial still remain in the Ogachi area. This article focuses on the local remains and introduces their history.
We also introduce traces of the "Hidden Christians" that remain in Miyagi and Iwate prefectures in the past. If you read both, you will gain a better understanding of the history of the "Hidden Christians" that spread throughout Tohoku.
Why did Christianity spread in Akita Prefecture?
There are several social factors behind the acceptance of Christianity in Akita, and there are some similarities with the spread of "hidden Christians" in northern Miyagi Prefecture and southern Iwate Prefecture, as introduced in the article above.
It is also said that at that time, the Sendai and Akita domains had churches and were the centers of Christianity in the Tohoku region.
Spread through traders and miners
From the end of the 16th century to the beginning of the 17th century, the Innai Silver Mine and Ani Copper Mine in the Akita region was active, and workers and engineers flocked to the area from all over. In an era when indigenous lifestyles were the norm, it was rare for so many people to come from outside the area, and it is believed that some of these people were already Christians.
Proselytizing by foreign missionaries
In 1602-1603, Pedro Hitomi baptized 200 people in the Senboku region.
It is also recorded that there was a time when Jesuit and Franciscan missionaries visited Noshiro, Kakunodate, and even the mining areas of Ogatsu, and preached with the tacit approval of the local lords.
* Pedro Hitomi - A Christian warrior from Fushimi, Yamashiro Province. He served the Satake clan, a feudal lord during the Sengoku period, and spread Catholicism in the northern part of Dewa Province (present-day Akita Prefecture). His name is said to be Kyuemon. Quoted from Wikipedia
A time of religious tolerance
It has been pointed out that in the early days of the reign of Satake Yoshinobu, the first lord of the Akita domain, there was no overt policy of banning Christianity, and therefore some religious activities in rural and mountainous areas may have been overlooked.
The Sendai domain was in a similar situation at the same time, but it is thought that the lord of the Sendai domain, Date Masamune, overlooked this because he was more attracted to the "overwhelming technological prowess of overseas countries" than to the threat of Christianity spreading within his domain.
However, just like other regions, Christianity that spread to Akita would later face a tragic history.
The meaning and origin of the Kitamuki Kannon statue
Kitamuki Kannon statue erected in Terasawa Park in Yokobori, Yuzawa City, Akita Prefecture , is a Buddhist statue made to mourn the Christians who lost their lives in the persecution of Christians in the early Edo period. The background to this is that 15 Christians from Terasawa village were among the 32 people executed outside Kubota Castle in Akita on June 20, 1624
It is common for Kannon statues to be placed facing south, but this statue is placed facing north instead
It is said that the statue faces north (towards Akita City) as a sign of mourning for the executed believers, and it is interpreted that the Kannon statue is of the executed believers and offering prayers "to the far north, in the direction of the martyrs."
In this way, the Kitamuki Kannon statue is considered to be a Buddhist statue that contains a background of Christian repose for martyrs, and is attracting attention among researchers.
History of its construction and historical background
Records show that the Kitamuki Kannon statue was erected in 1859 (the 6th year of the Ansei era). This was a time when approximately 250 years had passed since the Edo Shogunate banned Christianity, and memories of the persecution of Christians were beginning to fade.
However, even if the surrounding area tried to forget, the local residents did not forget, and the incident was passed down through the generations, suggesting that they had a desire to "mourn the victims someday."
In 1968, local volunteers erected a Christian Martyrs' Memorial , and together with the Kannon statue, it is regarded as a historical religious site in the Ogatsu area.
On the back of the Christian Martyrs Memorial, it is inscribed that the first martyrdom occurred in the Akita domain in 1624, and that 15 people were arrested in the Ogatsu area and executed on June 20th of the same year in Sado, east of Kubota Castle, within Yachiyo (the exact location is currently unknown).
The names of the 15 people executed in the Ogatsu area are also engraved, along with a prayer for their souls.
Right next to the Christian Martyrs Memorial is a small shrine, and if you look inside you can see what appears to be a figure of the Virgin Mary.
Kannon statues as a form of faith
At first glance, this Kitamuki Kannon statue appears to be a Buddhist memorial, but its connection to Christian faith has been suggested. In particular, the belief in Kannon Bodhisattva as the Virgin Mary (Maria Kannon) was a common form of faith among hidden Christians throughout the country, and it is thought that this statue may also symbolize the transformation of that faith.
In fact, statues and documents of the Maria Kannon Bodhisattva have been found in nearby temples, indicating that Buddhist beliefs with Christian elements were widespread throughout the region.
Preservation and utilization of the present
The Kitamuki Kannon statue and the memorial monument are now carefully maintained and preserved as Terazawa Park by the city of Yuzawa and the local community association. There are also explanatory signs at the site, which continue to inform visitors of the history.
Information
- Name: Kitamuki Kannon (Terazawa Park)
- Address: Terazawa Hirakata, Yuzawa City, Akita Prefecture, 019-0203
Google Map
Christian remains visible on site
In the Ogatsu area of Yuzawa City, Akita Prefecture, in addition to the Kitamuki Kannon statue and the Martyrs' Memorial, there are several other remains that bear vestiges of the faith and activities of the Hidden Christians. While avoiding overt Christianity, these have been quietly passed down in the region as a sign of the continuation of their faith.
The legend of Innai Silver Mine and hidden Christians
Innai Silver Mine was a mine that flourished from the Sengoku period to the early Edo period, and it is said that Christians were
Much of the work in the mines was done by seasonal workers and refugees, some of whom are said to have been believers who had been baptized in other countries. There is a legend that missionaries secretly stayed there
Legend of the cave as a place of worship
Near the mine, caves and spaces that believers used for worship they are known locally as the " remains of a hidden place of worship fragments of a wooden cross and stone tools that appeared to be candle holders were discovered there.
Google Map
Hidden Christian remains at Ono Castle ruins
The ruins of Ono Castle located in the Ono district of Yuzawa City , is a mountain castle that is said to have been built by a retainer of the Sengoku period daimyo Onodera clan, but details about the builder and local lord are still unknown.
There is a theory that a man named Ono Genba was the castle's builder, but this is based on local legend and no historical documents have been able to confirm this at present .
There is a legend that hidden Christians were hiding here in this area where the ruins of Ono Castle are located.
On this day, when we visited Terazawa Park (Kitamuki Kannon), we had hoped to also visit the "Hidden Christian Ruins" which are said to be located on the mountain path leading to the main castle of Ono Castle, but as you can see in the photo below, the path was overgrown with trees and difficult to navigate. Also, there had been recent bear sightings, so we decided to give up.
According to research, the "Hidden Christian Remains" of Ono Castle Ruins have a stone tower on the mountain path, and a cross can be seen on the back of the stone tower. Some people have actually visited the site and posted photos in the reviews on Google Maps, so if you're interested, it's a good idea to check it out on the map.
Google Map
I'm a member of the Neft editorial team. I love alcohol, music, and traveling, so I indulge in some drinks after work on weekdays, and on weekends, if I have free time, I travel to nearby areas.
I work hard every day with the goal of eventually traveling overseas to find connections to Tohoku through NEFT reporting.
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