[Miyagi Prefecture] The demon-slaying legend of brothers Iwajiro and Iwasaburo passed down in Akiu, one of the leading hot spring towns in Tohoku

Akiu, located in Miyagi Prefecture, has been loved by people since ancient times as a hot spring town with beautiful autumn leaves. The legend of Iwasaburo Iwaji is famous for having brought various legends and folklore to various places, from Akiu to the prefectural borders of Iwate and Akita prefectures in the north, and the Ou Mountains in Tochigi prefecture in the south. In this article, we will explain about two brothers named Iwajiro Iwasaburo.

 

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

The story begins when one of two women traveling through a mountain range near Akiu called Koto Pass suddenly complains of abdominal pain and has to take a break. Her companion, the wet nurse, returns to the village for help. However, Princess Monaka suddenly disappeared from the place where she was resting.

 

Encounter with a mysterious monster

While complaining of abdominal pain, the princess encounters a strange monster. The princess faints as she feels that she will be killed, but when she comes to, she is released by the monster and all her pain and wounds have been healed. When she lets down her guard, the monster gives the princess food and treats her well. The monster's true identity was a silver monkey. Although they cannot communicate through words, the two communicate through their hearts and eventually have two children. That is Iwajiro Iwasaburo, who has become a legend.

 

Today, Iwajiro and Iwasaburo, the two children born to the princess and the monkey who were treated as monsters, are said to be worshiped at the foot of the mountain as mountain gods.

 

What is the legend of Iwajiro and Iwasaburo brothers?

There are many legends about Iwajiro and Iwasaburo. From here, we will introduce a number of legends that are said to have been carried out by the brothers.

Demon extermination and Ishigamori upside down bamboo

The area around Akiu is located at the foot of mountains and is a little far from human settlements, so there were constant rumors of robbers and demons. After the brothers Iwajiro and Iwasaburo grew up and began flying across the mountains, rumors began to appear that demons appeared in the area called Namiki (Nagabukuro). He lured travelers with sweet words, invited them into his mansion, then killed them and stole everything.

 

Up until now, the brothers Iwajiro and Iwasaburo had been doing similar things, but now that they had reformed their minds, they were determined to defeat the demon. It is said that after he used his special martial arts and sword skills to fight off the demons, he threw a bamboo stick in pursuit of the fleeing demon, and the bamboo pierced deep into the spot where the demon's mansion had been.

 

People who came to see it later decided to enshrine the bamboo there as a sign of gratitude because the bamboo was stuck so deeply that it would not come out. It is said that bamboo eventually took root in the ground and turned into a bamboo thicket. The bamboo thicket still exists today, and is passed down in Akiu as the upside-down bamboo of the brothers Iwajiro and Iwasaburo.

 

During the yabusame competition held in Akiu, it was also customary to offer bamboo and make arrows from it to celebrate good health. Brothers Iwajiro and Iwasaburo left behind anecdotes that show that they became the foundation of Akiu's culture.

 

Encounter with Jikaku Daishi

Jikaku Daishi is a legendary figure passed down in Akiu and Miyagi and Yamagata prefectures. There is a legend that he was actually an ordinary hunter, but when he got tired of hunting, he moved to Yamadera in present-day Yamagata Prefecture and lived as a monk. Jikaku Daishi and brothers Iwajiro and Iwasaburo met during their training and became friends.

However, Jikaku Daishi gradually became more religious and began to dislike hunting. On the other hand, the brothers Iwajiro and Iwasaburo made a living by hunting. The brothers and Jikaku Daishi, who grew closer and began to respect each other's opinions, decided to go their separate ways.

 

Jikaku Daishi dreamed of opening the Yamadera Sanctuary in the land of Yamadera. The brothers moved to Akita and pursued a career in hunting. Jikaku Daishi and the brothers Iwajiro and Iwasaburo once had disagreements, but the fact that their graves are now located in Yamadera suggests that they remained close friends even after their deaths. There must have been a friendship that could not be conveyed through thoughts or words alone.

 

summary

We introduced the brothers Iwajiro and Iwazaburo, who are said to have traveled across a wide range of mountain ranges from Akiu to Iwate, Akita, and Tochigi. Even though the roads have been improved, Akiu is still an area full of nature. In autumn, the autumn leaves are at their best. When you look at the forests and bamboo thickets, you will be reminded of the Iwajiro and Iwazaburo brothers of yesteryear. If you are interested, please visit Akiu at least once.

 

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