Dewa Sanzan Shrine

The History of Dewa Sanzan Shrine

"Dewa Sanzan", or the Three Mountains of Dewa, is the collective name for Hagurosan, Gassan, and Yudonosan Mountains. The shrine was founded by Prince Hachiko, the son of Emperor Sushun. The Prince, fleeing the troubles of the Soga-no-Uji clan, had entered Dewa by sea. It is said that he was led to Hagurosan Mountain by the spirit of a three-legged bird, where after an arduous journey, he worshiped the deity Haguro Gongen. He then built Haguro Jakkoji Temple at the summit of Hagurosan Mountain to worship the god of the mountain. Following this the Prince started worship at the Gassan and Yudonosan Mountains, and enshrined the deities of these mountains on Hagurosan Mountain as the Dewa Sansho Dai-Gongen, or the "Great God of the Three Places of Dewa". Following this, seeking the virtue of the prince, people began to come to the mountain for ascetic practices. Some of the people who came to the mountain include the priest Taicho, who began worship at Ishikawa Prefecture's Kaga Hakusan Mountain; En-no-Gyoja, the founder of Shugendo asceticism; Kuukai, the founder of the Shingon Sect; Saicho, the founder of the Tendai sect and his disciple Ennin; as well as others. Through this the disciplines of the prince were developed through subsequent generations and Haguro Shugendo was developed, a name that soon became known throughout Japan. As generations passed the religion attracted the fervent faith of the people. During the age when Buddhist and Shinto beliefs intermingled, the three mountains were used as a mountain of learning for many religions, but in particular Shingon Buddhism. In the Edo period this changed to the Tendai Sect, but in the Meiji Restoration the area reverted to its old Shinto kanabi designation when the government split Buddhist and Shinto beliefs. Under the old engi system, Gassan Shrine was a myojin taisha, and Dewa Shrine was a kosha (old shrine) joined with a shosha (minor shrine). After the Meiji split of Buddhism and Shinto, Gassan Shrine became a kanhei taisha, and the shrines at Haguro and Yudonosan received kokuhei shosha designations. Regardless of changes in name or system, the faith that draws people to the three mountains remains unchanged from ancient times.