At the entrance of Kita Shirakawa River, northwest of the Y-shaped intersection of Imadegawa Dori and Shigakoshi Doro,An especially large stone Buddha is enshrined.Do you know that there is a huge stone statue of Buddha standing tall in the corner of a busy street? The huge stone Buddha standing sturdily in the corner of a busy street has such an impact that you may turn around and look at it.

Shigakoshi (Yamanakakoshi) Road sign

that isOne of the three stone Buddhas of KitashirakawaIn,Shirakawa Koyasu KannoncalledStone Buddha about 2 meters highIt is said that this stone Buddha was made in the Kamakura period (1185-1333). The stone Buddha is said to have been made in the Kamakura period (1185-1333), and was carved from Shirakawa stone, which is found in this area. Weathered over the years, its huge body has become rounded, but this gives it a generous and gentle atmosphere.

Koyasu Kannon" seen from Imadegawa Dori

Up close, you can feel the generous and gentle atmosphere.

The following episode has been handed down to this stone Buddha to this day.

In the Azuchi-Momoyama period (1568-1600), a strange rumor began to be whispered in the Rakucho area. It was said that "from time to time, the stone Buddha of Shirakawa River walks. This rumor reached the ears of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who had become the ruler of Japan. Hideyoshi, who was fond of big things, forced the stone Buddha into the garden of Jurakudai and enjoyed looking at it, saying, "Oh, if it is so huge and powerful, it is suitable for protecting the castle of a naturalized ruler.

However, strange rumors began to spread throughout the castle.Night after night, the voice of the stone Buddha pleads, "Return me to the Shirakawa River.The people who heard the voices were either creeped out or felt sorry for them. People who heard the voice were either horrified or depressed. Finally, Hideyoshi relented and the stone Buddha was returned to its original location.

In 1830, there was a big fire in Shirakawa Village, during which both hands and neck of the stone Buddha were broken. Since then, the stone statue has also been called "Kubekiri Jizo," which means "Jizo with broken heads.

Eventually, this stone Buddha was moved to its present location at the entrance to Shirakawa Village,Believed as "Koyasu Kannon" (Goddess of Mercy) for the safety of children.The first time the company was founded in 1949, it was called the "Municipal Corporation of Japan".

There was once an accident in which a truck hit this stone Buddha and his head fell off. However, no accident involving a child has ever occurred, according to local residents. Local residents say that the stone Buddha protects children from accidents.

 

Shirakawa is famous for the "Shirakawa Women" who sell flowers on a winnowing basket on top of their heads, asking, "Would you like a flower? Since the old days, Shirakawa women always put flowers on this stone Buddha,I prayed for prosperity and safety before going out to do business..

Shirakawa woman on a postcard from 100 years ago

 

Now, Hideyoshi had his favorite giant stone Buddha returned to its original location, but he just could not give up on the giant stone Buddha.

Hideyoshi then learned that there were two other huge stone Buddhas nearby. These two stone Buddhas, now known as the three stone Buddhas of Kitashirakawa, were said to have been visited by Ashikaga Yoshimasa, the eighth shogun of the Muromachi Shogunate, on his way to the Ginkakuji Temple. When Hideyoshi learned of this, he had one of them brought to Juraku-dai. It is said that this one did not cry out to be returned and remained at Juraku-dai for a long time.

According to legend, only one of the stone Buddhas was left in Shirakawa, but another was placed next to it at some point,The two bodies are now lined up in a friendly row and continue to watch over the city..

Located in the middle of the old Shigakoshi Road (Yamanakakoshi)
Two stone Buddhas of Dainichi Nyorai

According to an elderly person in the community who interviewed us,I hear that Koyasu Kannon still moves from time to time."He told me this as if it were a secret.

The huge stone Buddha is secretly for the safety of the community, not a night watchman.Maybe he's playing "night watchman."You may .......