Shimotsuma City (下妻市) is located in the southern west plain of Ibaraki Prefecture or about 60 km away from Tokyo.  It has an area of 80.88 sq km and the current population is 46,077 (April 2007).  It merged with Chiyokawa Village [千代川村] on January 1st, 2006.  Two rivers flowing in the city, Kinu-gawa River (鬼怒川) and Kogai-gawa River (小貝川) are popular among fishermen.  Lake Sanuma (砂沼) is also known as a mecca for fishing "Herabuna" (a crucian carp).  The landscape of the ricefields with the background of Mt. Tsukuba (筑波山, 877 m) is scenic indeed.  

IMAGE	IMAGE NO.	DATA
Sodo Station		Sodo Station (宗道駅) on Kanto-tetsudo Joso Line.  This area, "Honsodo" (本宗道), was a part of Chiyokawa Village: now a part of Shimokawa City.
	ism2007-001	(Saturday 21 April) Sodo Station on Kanto-tetsudo Joso Line
Muneto-jinjya		Muneto-jinjya Shrine (宗任神社) is also called "Sodo-jinjya" (宗道神社).  This shrine enshrines Muneto Abe (阿倍宗任; 寛仁3年?-康平5年9月17日; AD1019?-10/22/1062) and his elder brother Sadato Abe (阿倍貞任;長元5年-嘉承3年2月4日; AD1032-3/18/1108) who was beaten by the coalition forces of Yoriyoshi Minamoto (源 頼義, 988-1075) and Takenori Hiyohara (清原武則) at the battle of Kuriyagawa (厨川; now a part of Morioka) in the Early Nine Years' War (前九年の役, 1051-1062).  This shrine was reportedly constructed in AD. 1110 by Muneto's retainers Shichiro Hidenori Matsumoto (松本七郎秀則) and his son Hachiro Hidemoto (八郎秀元) following the oracle of Lord Muneto's spirit.  They constructed this shrine with more than20 veteran retainers of the former Abe clan.  On foundation, they brought Muneto's armor and other relics from the foot of Mt. Chokai (鳥海山, 2236 m) between Akita and Yamagata.  They also renamed this place "Sodo" (宗道) praying for Muneto's spirit going to the Road to Heaven [天道] following the path of humanity [人道]).   During the Kamakura Period, this shrine was worshipped my many people as the head shrine of the 33 Toyoda counties (豊田郷) and the 12 Kojima counties (幸嶋郷).  In the Edo Period, the third shogun Iemitsu Tokugawa (徳川 家光) promised to give five koku (石; a stipend of 5 koku in rice) every year and also constructed the buildings of the worshippers' hall and the main hall during the Kan-ei era (1624-1644).   In the eleventh century Tohoku District, the powerful Abe clan (阿倍氏; also scribed 阿部氏), the chief of "Fushu" (俘囚; the Emishi people reverted to the Kyoto government) had a semi-independent dominion over the Oku-Rokku-gun (6 counties in Oshu; now the Tohoku District).  In 1051 Yoriyoshi Abe (阿倍頼良; later Yoritoki Abe [阿倍頼時]), father of Sadato and Muneto, defeated the Mutsu-no-kami (陸奥の守; the governor of Mutsu) Narito Fujiwara (藤原登任, 987-?) at Battle of Onikiribe (鬼切部; now Onikobe, Narugo Town, Miyagi).  It broke out the long war.  In 1053, when the Kyoto government sent Yoroyoshi Minamoto, "Mutsu-no-kami Chinjyu-fu-shogun" (陸奥の守 鎮守府将軍; the guardian of Mutsu and generalissimo of the military government), and Yoshiie Minamoto (源 義家, 1039-1106), they began to provoke the Abe clan to anger in various ways.  Finally Sadato attacked Yoriyoshi at Isawa-jo Castle (胆沢城, now in Oshu City, Iwate).  In the early stage of the war, the Abe clan united and was at an advantage, with the support of Korekiyo Fujiwara (藤原 経清, ?-1062) who was a descendant of Hidesato Fujiwara (藤原 秀郷) who defeated Masakado Taira (平 将門) in AD 940.  The Abe clan defeated Yoriyoshi again at Battle of Kinomi (黄海; now Fujisawa Town, Iwate) in November 1057.   In spring in 1062, Yoriyoshi asked Mitsuyori Kiyohara (清原 光頼), who was on neutral ground until then, to enter the battle, even paying homage to him.  The Kiyohara clan was another head of "Fushu" in Dewa (出羽; now Yamagata).  Mitsuyori ordered his young brother Takenori (清原武則) to lead their powerful soldiers (about 7,000) to join Yoriyoshi's 3,000 soldiers to defeat the Abe clan at Kuriyagawa, etc. in 1062.  Later Takenori was assigned to be the Chinjyu-fu-shogun for his distinguished services in war.  He became the first "Fushu" shogun and exercised influence over the former Abe's dominion, which later caused the Late Three Years' War (後三年の役) in 1083-1087.   What happened to the Abe clan after the war?  Sadato died at Battle of Kuriyagawa and his head was sent to Kyoto.  (Later Yorotomi Minamoto (源 頼朝) also ordered to bring the last lord of the Oshu-Fujiwara family (藤原 泰衡)'s head to Kamakura according to that historical fact.)  However, Muneto, alive, was sent to Iyo (伊予) and stayed in Tomita (富田; now part of Imabari [今治], Emihe) for three years, and then resent to Chikuzen-oshima Island (筑前大島), Fukuoka.  He played a great role for trading with Korea and China, coping with the Munakata clan (宗像氏).  Muneto died at the age of 77 on February 4, 1108.  His third son (阿倍季任) became the founder of the Matsuura clan (松浦氏) which later dominated over the sea in North Kyushu area.  In the Tohoku District, several clans claimed to be descendants of the Abe clan, including the Ando clan (安東氏) and the Akita clan (秋田氏).  It is also known that Kiyohira Fujiwara (藤原 清衡), son of Korekiyo Fujiwara and founder of the Oshu-Fujiwara family, Hiraizumi, was an indirect descendant of both the Abe clan and the Kiyohara clan.  The wife of the second lord Motohira Fujiwara (藤原 基衡) was reportedly a daughter of Muneto.  She founded the elegant Kanjizaio-in Temple (観自在王院) next to "Io-zan Motsu-ji" Temple (医王山 毛越寺) in Hiraizumi (平泉).
	ism2007-003	(Saturday 21 April) "Enmei Jizo-son" (延命地蔵尊; Statues of Jizo [Skt. Ksitigarbha-bodhisattva] of the Prolongation of Life) in front of Muneto-jinjya Shrine, Honsodo, Shimotsuma
	ism2007-005	(Saturday 21 April) Ishi-dorii (Stone Shrine Gate), Muneto-jinjya Shrine
	ism2007-006	(Saturday 21 April) Ishi-dorii (Stone Shrine Gate), Muneto-jinjya Shrine
	ism2007-007	(Saturday 21 April) "Koma-inu" (狛犬; Foo dogs or a pair of stone-carved guardian dogs at the gate of a Shinto shrine), Muneto-jinjya Shrine.  The "Koma-inu" on the right, which was donated by people under the protection of the community deity in July 2000, the 890-year-anniversary of the foundation.
	ism2007-008	(Saturday 21 April) "Koma-inu" (狛犬; Foo dogs or a pair of stone-carved guardian dogs at the gate of a Shinto shrine), Muneto-jinjya Shrine.  The "Koma-inu" on the left, which was donated by people under the protection of the community deity in July 2000, the 890-year-anniversary of the foundation.
	ism2007-009	(Saturday 21 April) Ishi-dorii (Stone Shrine Gate), Muneto-jinjya Shrine
	ism2007-010	(Saturday 21 April) Memorial Inscription for the 870-year anniversary of the foundation on November 25, 1980 by the shrine priest Hidekatsu Matsumoto (松本 秀勝), Muneto-jinjya Shrine
	ism2007-011	(Saturday 21 April) Stone inscription of the list of donator for building the shrine fence in 1993, Muneto-jinjya Shrine
	ism2007-012	(Saturday 21 April) Stone monument of "Yatsuno-Baishin" (弥津波毓賣神; 弥津能売神) or Mizu-jinjya Shrine (水神社), Muneto-jinjya Shrine
	ism2007-013	(Saturday 21 April) Inscription stones, Muneto-jinjya Shrine.  The commemorative stone (right) for the Diamond [60th] anniversary of Emperor Showa (昭和天皇; Hirohito (裕仁), 1901-1989)'s reign in 1985.  The memorial stone (left) for the 880-year anniversary of the foundation in the 2,650th year of Koki (皇紀; the Japanese Era beginning with the coronation year of the first emperor Jimmu [神武] in 660 BC) in 1990.
	ism2007-014	(Saturday 21 April) The inscription of the brief history (由来記) built on April 3, 1979, Muneto-jinjya Shrine
	ism2007-016	(Saturday 21 April) Ruins of the old well and the holy tub, Muneto-jinjya Shrine
	ism2007-018	(Saturday 21 April) Ni-no-Torii (Second Shrine Gate), Muneto-jinjya Shrine
	ism2007-019	(Saturday 21 April) Muneto-jinjya Shrine
	ism2007-020	(Saturday 21 April) Mitama-jinjya Shrine Hall (御霊神社) enshrining the Holy Spirit (御霊; the Holy Spirits) of the Reverent Society of the Funeral Service and Festivals Conducted in Shinto Rites (神葬祭崇敬会), Muneto-jinjya Shrine
	ism2007-022	(Saturday 21 April) Holy Stones including the inscription stone saying "Wago" (和合; concord, unity), Muneto-jinjya Shrine
	ism2007-023	(Saturday 21 April) O-Mizu-ya" (御水舎; washbasin), Muneto-jinjya Shrine
	ism2007-024	(Saturday 21 April) "O-Mikoshi-den" (御御輿殿; Hall of the Sacred Palanquin), Muneto-jinjya Shrine
	ism2007-026	(Saturday 21 April) A small stone shrine, Muneto-jinjya Shrine
	ism2007-027	(Saturday 21 April) Probably the priest's residence, viewed from Muneto-jinjya Shrine
	ism2007-028	(Saturday 21 April) Shamu-sho (社務所; Shrine Office), Muneto-jinjya Shrine
	ism2007-029	(Saturday 21 April) "Hai-den" (拝殿; Worshippers' Hall), Muneto-jinjya Shrine
	ism2007-030	(Saturday 21 April) "Hai-den" (Worshippers' Hall), Muneto-jinjya Shrine
	ism2007-032	(Saturday 21 April) "Hai-den" (Worshippers' Hall), Muneto-jinjya Shrine
	ism2007-034	(Saturday 21 April) Interior of "Hai-den" (Worshippers' Hall) enshrining Muneto Abe and Sadato Abe with the present Japanese royal family, Muneto-jinjya Shrine.  You see the commemorative hanging screen of the birth of Prince Hisahito (悠仁親王, 2006-).
	ism2007-037	(Saturday 21 April) Interior of "Hai-den" (Worshippers' Hall) enshrining Muneto Abe and Sadato Abe with the present Japanese royal family, Muneto-jinjya Shrine
	ism2007-039	(Saturday 21 April) "Hon-den" (本殿; Main Hall), Muneto-jinjya Shrine.  It was donated by the third Tokugawa shogun Iemitsu (徳川家光, 1604-1651; r.1623-1651) during the Kan-ei era (寛永年間, 1624-1644).  However, it burnt down by fire in 1879 and it was reconstructed in 1885.
	ism2007-040	(Saturday 21 April) "Hon-den" (Main Hall), Muneto-jinjya Shrine.  It was donated by the third Tokugawa shogun Iemitsu (1604-1651; r.1623-1651) during the Kan-ei era (1624-1644).  However, it burnt down by fire in 1879 and it was reconstructed in 1885.
	ism2007-041	(Saturday 21 April) "Soto-Yatsu-Hokora" (外八祠; the Outer Eight Small Shrines)Muneto-jinjya Shrine
	ism2007-042	(Saturday 21 April) "Soto-Yatsu-Hokora" (外八祠; the Outer Eight Small Shrines)Muneto-jinjya Shrine
	ism2007-043	(Saturday 21 April) "Soto-Yatsu-Hokora" (外八祠; the Outer Eight Small Shrines)Muneto-jinjya Shrine
	ism2007-044	(Saturday 21 April) Shrine halls, an inscription stone and a stone lantern, Muneto-jinjya Shrine
	ism2007-045	(Saturday 21 April) A shrine hall, Muneto-jinjya Shrine
	ism2007-046	(Saturday 21 April) Muneto-jinjya Shrine
	ism2007-047	(Saturday 21 April) Stable for "Go-Shin-ba" (御神馬; the Holy Horse), Muneto-jinjya Shrine
	ism2007-048	(Saturday 21 April) "Kagura-den" (神楽殿; the Sacred Dance Hall), Muneto-jinjya Shrine
	ism2007-049	(Saturday 21 April) The landscape of Muneto-jinjya Shrine, viewed from the "Hai-den" Hall

        

Copyright (c) 2007 Eishiro Ito.  All rights reserved.