When I started working in Kitashiobara Village, there was a place I was taken to by a local who said, 'There is an amazing place.'
At the beginning and end, there are steep stairs, and after climbing the narrow mountain path surrounded by trees, a quietly standing hall appeared. Looking up while catching my breath, I couldn't believe that such magnificent carvings were under the roof, built so deep in the mountains.
Why do you think the people of old went to the trouble of building a magnificent hall on the "high mountain peak," where transporting materials was difficult? There was a profound reason hidden in the earnestness of their "prayers" and their deep respect and fear of nature.
The miracle that the feudal lord's wife relied on. "The beginning of the 'Two-Year-Old Pilgrimage'"
This hall is called "Kitayama Urushi Yakushi" and is an important Buddha that protects the northern part of the "Aizu Five Yakushi" introduced in the previous article.
Around the early Edo period, the eldest son of the Aizu feudal lord, Gamō Hidetaka, was born with severe health issues. In an era without pediatrics or medicine like today, the survival of a young life was always on the brink of death. If you were a parent back then, wouldn't you pray to the gods and Buddhas with a desperate heart?
A custom born from a mother's prayer, lasting 400 years
The feudal lord's wife, Furuhime, climbed the steep mountain path to this Kitayama Yakushi to save her child. She continued the goma ritual three times a day for seven days, fervently praying for healing. Miraculously, Kamechiyo Maru regained his health.
At that time, since Kamechiyo Maru was "2 years old," a custom called "Two-Year-Old Pilgrimage" was born in Aizu, where children climb this mountain when they turn 2 and press their bellies against a large stone (Harauchi Stone) in the precincts to pray for health. This custom has been cherished and passed down for 400 years.
[Ancient Mystery] The "Inner Sanctuary" that only receives light on the winter solstice
Furthermore, this mountain has many mysterious spots that stir the romance of history.
For example, the stone statue called "Onba-sama" located along the approach.
For some reason, the eyes and nose areas of the face have been worn away, and it is said to have been a marker of the "barrier" for the ascetics (Yamabushi) who once practiced severe training here.
And the highlight is a small spiritual cave (Inner Sanctuary) about one tsubo behind the main hall.
Did they calculate the sun's trajectory? A sacred device
This cave is designed so that "light shines in precisely during the morning of the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year." It has an astronomical mechanism reminiscent of ancient ruins. Is it mere coincidence, or is it a deliberately calculated sacred device...?
Standing on site, one cannot help but feel an overwhelming energy (the power of a power spot) that words cannot explain.
A village submerged at the bottom of the lake. Together with the harsh and beautiful nature of Urabandai.
The history of Kitashiobara village has always been intertwined with the natural fury of the "eruption of Mount Bandai."
The strong belief in the Kitayama Yakushi stemmed from the fear of nature, which could erupt at any moment. In the great eruption of Meiji 21 (1888), the village of Hibara-juku at the foot of the mountain was completely submerged.
Even today, during the winter drought period (when the water level drops), the torii gate of "Yama Shrine," which was the main shrine of the former village, emerges from the lake bottom, quietly conveying memories of that time.
At Tabinoito, we offer Academic style tours that trace the dynamic natural history of Urabandai and the traces of prayers from the people who lived there.
This deep history, which local middle school students learn as the "treasure of the village," cannot be reached by just the superficial information in guidebooks. Would you like to experience the "truth of Urabandai" that satisfies your intellectual curiosity with us?
[Experience the truth of history on an academic journey]
The harsh nature of Urabandai and the traces of prayers that remain there.
Our dedicated guide will take you on a deep historical exploration that satisfies your intellectual curiosity.
Feel free to consult with us on LINE first.
