Legend of the demon-stopping brothers of Iwajiro and Iwazaburo, passed down in Akiu Onsen [Miyagi Prefecture]

Akiu Onsen located in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture , has long been loved by people as a hot spring town with beautiful autumn leaves.

The legend of Iwaji Iwasaburo, who has brought various legends and traditions to various places, centered around Akiu, from Iwate Prefecture to the north to Akita Prefecture and the Ou Mountains in Tochigi Prefecture to the south.

In this article, we will explain the folk tales of two brothers, Iwajiro Iwasaburo.

Who are the Iwajiro and Iwasaburo brothers that are passed down in Akiu?

The story begins when a princess, who was traveling around the mountains nearby Akiu, called Koto Pass, brings his companion's nurse, suddenly complains of stomach pain and ends up taking a break.

The nurse returns to the village in search of help, but the princess suddenly disappears from the place she was resting.

Encounter with a mysterious monster

While complaining of stomach pain, the princess meets a strange monster. The princess fainted after feeling killed, but before she knew it, she was being cared for by a monster and all the pain and wounds had healed.

If you try to relieve your vigilance, the monster will give you food and make you happy. The true identity of the monster was a silver monkey.

Although they cannot communicate, two children will eventually be established between them, who are connected in their hearts. Iwajiro and Iwazaburo, who have become legendary .

Today, Iwajiro and Iwazaburo, two children born between a princess and a monkey, who were treated as monsters, are said to be enshrined at the foot of the mountain as gods of the mountains.

What is the legend of Iwajiro and Iwasaburo brothers?

There are many legends about Iwajiro and Iwazaburo. From here we will introduce some of the legends that the brothers are said to have visited.

Demon extermination and Ishigamori upside down bamboo

The Akiu area is home to many mountain foothills and is a little far from the village, so rumors of things that there were still some ogres being caught and demons appearing.

As the Iwajiro and Iwazaburo brothers grew and began to fly across the mountains, rumors began to appear in the area called Namiki (Nagabukuro). They would use sweet words to invite travelers into the mansion, kill them, and stolen their bodies.

Until now, the Iwajiro and Iwazaburo brothers had done the same thing, but as they had changed, the two were determined to defeat the demons. It is said that after using his specialist physical techniques and sword techniques to defeat the demon, bamboo, which slammed away in pursuit of the escaped demon, thrust deep into the place where the demon mansion was.

People who came to see the bamboo were so deeply stuck there that they couldn't come out, so they decided to just wear it as a sign of gratitude. It is said that bamboo eventually became rooted in the ground and turned into a bamboo grove.

The bamboo groves still exist today, and are passed down to Akiu as an upside-down bamboo for the Iwajiro and Iwazaburo brothers.

During the Yabusame ceremony held in Akiu, bamboo was also dedicated, arrows were made from bamboo, and it was also possible to celebrate the good health. By leaving behind anecdotes, it is clear that Akiu's culture was also the foundation of Akiu's culture.

Meeting Jikaku Daishi Ennin

Jikaku Daishi Enjin was a high-ranking monk who has legends throughout the Tohoku region, including Akiu, and is said to have opened famous temples such as Tateishi-ji Temple in Yamagata, Zuigan-ji Temple in Matsushima, and Chuson-ji Temple in Hiraizumi, and there are also more than 331 other temples in various parts of Tohoku that Enjin is said to have opened or revived the temple.

In the legend of Iwajiro and Iwazaburo, the events that occurred when Ennin built Tateishi-ji Temple at the mountain temple.

Ennin, who had been on a trip to Tohoku to build temples and shrines all over the Tohoku region at the Emperor's order, was planning to build a temple on the grounds of the mountain temples. He then decides to turn the neighborhood into a sacred place that prohibits the murder of animals, and meets the brothers Iwajiro and Iwazaburo, who were the heads of the two-timber hunters.

Impressed by Ennin's ideas, the Iwajiro and Iwazaburo brothers stopped hunting in the neighborhood and are said to have been enthusiastic about helping with the construction of the temple.

The sardine dance, dedicated every August by the Yamaji Iwa Priest at Tateishi-ji Temple, is said to be a recreation of the dances of animals who were pleased to be forbidden to hunt at this time.

summary

We introduced the Iwajiro and Iwazaburo brothers, who are said to have traveled across a wide range of mountain ranges, mainly in the Akiu region, from Iwate, Akita and Tochigi.

Despite the roads being developed, Akiu is still a region full of nature. In autumn, the autumn leaves are in full bloom. Looking at the forests and bamboo groves, you will be able to reflect on the Iwajiro and Iwazaburo brothers in their days. If you're interested, be sure to come and visit us.

Information

• Akiu Onsen Ryokan Association official website: http://www.akiuonsenkumiai.com/
• Mt. Hoju/Rissyakuji: https://www.rissyakuji.jp/