The Golden Legend of Mutsu Province | The Koganeyama Gold Mining Site in Wakuya Town, said to be Japan's first gold-producing region [Miyagi Prefecture]

The official history "Shoku Nihongi" records that in 749 (the 21st year of Tenpyo) during the Nara period, gold dust was presented to the Imperial Court from Mutsu Province. The gold source for this presentation is believed to be the Mt. Kogane gold mining site .

In this article, based on the descriptions in the Shoku Nihongi and the results of archaeological surveys, we will introduce how the Koganeyama gold mining site fits into the history of gold mining in Japan, and how that history has been passed down to the present day.

Gold dust from Mutsu Province was the first domestically produced gold to be presented to the Imperial Court

In the mid-Nara period, the culture of donating gold to Buddhist temples and statues was spreading in Japan, but at the time gold was mainly imported from the continent.

Since there were no stable gold producing areas identified within the country, "securing domestic gold" was considered an important issue for the Imperial Court. Meanwhile, in February 749, a report of gold dust offerings arrived from Mutsu Province (present-day Tohoku region) to the Imperial Court.

The Shoku Nihongi states the following:

Mutsu Province's first tribute of 900 ryo of gold

The "900 ryo" mentioned here is equivalent to around 13 kg in today's weight.

the donated gold was used to gild the Great Buddha (Rushana Buddha) at Todaiji Temple , and this marked the beginning of the era name being changed from "Tenpyo" to "Tenpyo Kanpo,"

The Tenpyo Kanpo served its purpose in an extremely short period of about three months, and the era name was changed again to Tenpyo Shoho within the same year, so only the first year exists. This is thought to be because it was a temporary era name change to express gratitude to the gods and Buddha for the first gold mined in Japan.

The person who made this gold dust offering Mutsu no Kami Kudara no Konikishi Keifu, who .

King Gyeongbok of Baekje is said to be a descendant of the royal family of Baekje, Korea, who discovered a mineral vein in the Tohoku region and reported it to the capital. The historical fact that an official of foreign descent ushered in Japan's "golden age" makes this story even more grandiose.

Traces of gold mining and faith lie hidden at the Koganeyama gold mining site

The source of this first gold offering in Japan is the Koganeyama Gold Mine Site (a nationally designated historic site) in Wakuya Town, Toda District, Miyagi Prefecture. The site is a hilly area about 200 meters above sea level, and is surrounded by streams believed to contain gold dust, one of which is called "Koganezawa."

Excavations have been carried out at Mt. Kogane several times, and as a result, remains of buildings from the Nara period, tile fragments, and tiles inscribed with the characters "Tenpyo" have been discovered.

Furthermore, remains of waterways that appear to have been artificially constructed have been found in the mountains. These remains suggest that gold mining in this area was not just a temporary process, but was carried out in a fairly organized manner.

Koganeyama Gold Ruins＜Information＞

• Name: Koganeyama Gold Ruins
• Address: Wakuya, Wakuya-cho, Toda-gun, Miyagi Prefecture
• Phone number: -
• Official URL: Wakuya Town Official Website – Designated Cultural Property (Historic Site) Koganeyama Gold Mine Site

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Koganeyama Shrine, located near the top of the hill

Koganeyama Shrine , which is located near the top of the hill, cannot be determined with certainty, but it is believed to have been a Buddhist temple built to express gratitude to the gods and Buddha for the gold produced in this area.

being listed as a "sha within the Engishiki" in the Engishiki Shinmei-cho, a list of official shrines (shrines under the protection of the state) at the time

Koganeyama Shrine (Wakuya) <Information>

• Name: Koganeyama Shrine (Wakuya)
• Address: 23 Wakuya Golden Palace, Wakuya-cho, Toda-gun, Miyagi Prefecture, 987-0121
• Phone number: 0229-42-2619
• Official URL: Koganeyama Shrine Official Website

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The legacy of the "gold panning experience" continues to this day

Approximately 1,300 years have passed since gold dust was donated to the Imperial Court, and Wakuya Town continues to preserve its golden history as part of its local culture.

Wakuya Manyo no Sato Tenpyo Romankan in the center of town , you can try gold panning all year round. Although the amount of gold you can collect is small, you can actually experience the process of "shaking and separating" the gold.

Inside the museum, there are excavated artifacts and panel displays from that time, and you can learn about the gold mining process and historical background. Gold leaf-decorated sweets and amulets are also sold, making it a space where you can enjoy "seeing, learning, and tasting."

Tenpyo Roman Museum <Information>

• Name: Wakuya Manyo Village Tenpyo Roman Museum
• Address: 1-3 Wakuya Koganeyama, Wakuya-cho, Toda-gun, Miyagi Prefecture
• Phone number: 0229-43-2100
• Official URL: Wakuya Manyo Village Tenpyo Roman Museum

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The cultural development of "gold" inherited in Tohoku

The gold mining in Wakuya during the Nara period is considered to be an early example of the Tohoku region being recognized as a gold-producing region. This recognition has been passed down through the ages and has influenced subsequent cultures.

When the Fujiwara clan of Oshu built the Golden Hall of Chusonji Temple in Hiraizumi at the end of the Heian period, gold was used inside and outside the hall.

Tohoku Rokken Trivia Media NEFT

[Iwate Prefecture] Chusonji, a world heritage site famous as the temple of the third generation of the Oshu Fujiwara clan

https://jp.neft.asia/archives/74

Chusonji, located in Hiraizumi-cho, Nishiiwai-gun, Iwate Prefecture, is the head temple of the Tendai sect of Tohoku. It is the outer temple of the Oshu 33 Kannon temples, the name of the temple is Kanzan, and the principal image is Shaka Nyorai. Chusonji Temple is said to have been founded by Jikaku Daishi Ennin.According to the history of Chusonji Temple, it is said that it began in 850 when Jikaku Daishi Ennin founded Sekizan Kodaijuin. However, no reliable historical materials or excavation results have been found to date that support the founding of Jikaku Daishi Ennin, and it is believed that Fujiwara no Kiyohira, the first generation of the Oshu Fujiwara clan, founded the mountain in the early 12th century. A large-scale temple and pagoda was built to enshrine Shakyamuni Buddha and Taho Nyorai...

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Although there are no confirmed records indicating that the gold used in the Konjikido was produced in Wakuya, as the Agency for Cultural Affairs indicates in its " Japan Heritage: Michinoku Gold Romance ," it is believed that the regional understanding that Tohoku was a gold producing region was a premise that supported this golden culture.

A clue to tracing the history of gold mining in Tohoku

At the Koganeyama Gold Mining Site, you can see traces of gold mining during the Nara period in the form of topography and remains. At Wakuya Manyo no Sato Tenpyo Romankan, you can see exhibits of excavated materials and try gold panning, learning about the gold mining process.

By visiting both sites, you can understand the recorded gold mining process in terms of the topography and the flow of work. It might be interesting to actually visit and see for yourself the "origins of gold" that have been passed down for over a thousand years.

[List of sources]

• Agency for Cultural Affairs | Japan Heritage "Michinoku GOLD Romance"
• Miyagi Prefectural Board of Education | Nationally Designated Historic Site: Koganeyama Gold Mining Site
• Wakuya Town Official Website | Koganeyama Gold Mining Site (Japan's first gold mining area)

Ryoko

A freelance writer who loves delicious food and history. Traveling around the towns and people of Tohoku is her life's work.