Learning from the Past (32) Tago Stele, Tago Hitsuji-dayu (Ukohei), Nyu Castle Ruins, Yamanokami Kofun, Qiang People, Chichibu Imamiya Shrine, Kora Shrine, Uhe Shrine, Kameyama Hachimangu, Shimosuwa Aotsuka Kofun, Akimaro, Kanesashi Clan, Zenko-ji Temple

The Kozuke Sanpi (Three Steles of Kozuke) located in Takasaki City, Gunma Prefecture, consists of three stone monuments: the Yamanoue Stele (681), the Tago Stele (c. 711), and the Kanai-zawa Stele (726). They are considered extremely important historical materials that demonstrate the reality of cultural exchange in East Asia and are registered as UNESCO Memory of the World heritage. The Yamanoue Stele is valued as one of the oldest historical materials featuring kanji arranged in Japanese word order, and the regular script (kaisho) of the Tago Stele (Photo 1) is highly regarded in the world of calligraphy as being extremely close to the majestic Six Dynasties regular script of the Northern Wei.

The "Hitsuji" (sheep) said to have discovered the wadō (copper) on the Tago Stele is represented as a "circle with a cross" in Sumerian. According to the town history of Yoshii, where the Tago Stele is located, it seems he was worshipped by the local people as "Hitsuji-sama" and has been familiarized through the legend of Hitsuji-dayu. Since there is a legend that Tago Hitsuji-dayu lived in Ogano Town and copied sutras, it is presumed that Hitsuji-dayu was related to the Nakamura clan (Nyu clan), the direct line of the Tan-to based in Ogano Town. There is a Nyu Castle ruin (Kami-Nyu, Tomioka City) at the same latitude as the Tago Stele, and because there is a Nyu Shrine (Shimo-Nyu, Tomioka City) near the Nyu Castle ruins (Figure 1), Nyu Castle may have been a castle built by Tago Hitsuji-dayu.

The Hitsuji Shrine in Nagoya City is said to be named after the residence where Hitsuji-dayu, who ruled Tago District in Kozuke Province, would stop when visiting the capital of Nara. According to the origins of the Hitsuji Shrine in Nakanoya, Annaka City, Gunma Prefecture, Hitsuji-dayu was suspected by the Imperial Court due to the slander of Koma no Jakkō and was subsequently defeated. Koma District in Musashi Province was established in 716 after the Imperial Court relocated immigrants from Goguryeo, which had been destroyed by Tang and Silla and had fled to Japan, to Musashi Province in 668, the year Emperor Tenji ascended the throne. The Koma Shrine in Hidaka City, Saitama Prefecture, enshrines Koma no Jakkō, who, according to the Shoku Nihongi, was granted the surname "Ko" (King) by the Imperial Court in 703. Hitsuji-dayu is said to have lived during the same era as Emperor Tenmu of the Nara period (reigned 673–686). Therefore, based on the genealogy of the Nyu clan, Hitsuji-dayu is thought to be "Ukohei," the predecessor of "Iekage," who was of the same generation as Emperor Kanmu (737–806).

Below "Ukohei" in the genealogy of the Nyu clan, it is written "Nyu Aimi Kamibe." Searching for "Aimi" reveals it is located in Kota Town, Nukata District, Aichi Prefecture, and since "Aimi" also appears in the names of JR stations and elementary schools, it is considered a place name that has existed since ancient times. The line connecting Aimi (Kota Town, Nukata District, Aichi Prefecture) and the Nyu Castle ruins (Kami-Nyu, Tomioka City, Gunma Prefecture) intersects almost at a right angle with the line connecting Mt. Hongu in Okazaki City, Aichi Prefecture, and Mt. Olympus (Figure 2). Mt. Hongu is a sacred mountain where the divine spirit of Ōkuninushi-no-Mikoto has resided since the age of the gods. Near the line connecting Mt. Hongu and Mt. Olympus are the Ontake Shrine Kaya-no-miya (Kayaba-minami, Gifu City), the Oyahachiman Shrine ruins (Ibigawa Town, Ibi District), and the Omushi Shrine (Echizen City, Fukui Prefecture), which is also said to be a temple of the Nyu clan (Figure 2). This suggests that Nyu Castle (Kami-Nyu, Tomioka City) was the castle of "Ukohei." Near Mt. Hongu is the Mikawa Ichinomiya Toga Shrine Okumiya (Toyokawa City, Aichi Prefecture), which enshrines Ōkuninushi-no-Mikoto, and in Okazaki City, adjacent to Kota Town where Aimi is located, is Daiju-ji Temple, the family temple of the Tokugawa (Matsudaira) clan (Figure 3).

In Omiya, Chichibu City, Saitama Prefecture, there is Oyamazumi Shrine, and nearby is Hitsujiyama Park. In Ogano Town, there is the Yamanokami Kofun (Photo 2), and there is also a place name called Yamanokami around Suwa Taisha, which is at almost the same latitude as the Yamanokami Kofun. The Yamanokami Kofun (Figure 4), located at the southwestern end of the Maemiya Kofun group centered on the main hall of Suwa Taisha Maemiya, is presumed to be the tomb of a person connected to the Suwa clan, built around the 7th century.

There is a tombstone near the Yamanokami Kofun with the ancestor's name written on it (Photo 3), but it is not in the dictionary and resembles Qiang or "rabbit" (usagi). "Qiang" contains the character for "sheep," and in the "Western Qiang Biography" of the Book of the Later Han, it is stated that "the origin of the Qiang is the Sanmiao, a different branch of the Jiang clan." There is a theory that the origin of "Jiang" is that Emperor Shennong grew up by the Jiang River. The resemblance to "rabbit" might be an allusion to " King Yu," who founded the Xia Dynasty. The "Hu" in "Ukobe" and "Tago" refers to foreign peoples living in the north and west of China. According to the " Classic of Mountains and Seas," the " Yi" are located to the east of the "Hu," and "Hu" is understood to mean "Zhou," with "Zhou" being considered a coalition government of the Hu and Yi peoples (" Dongyi - Wikipedia"). Therefore, the "Hu" in Tago Hitsuji Dayu is thought to be the "Hu" of the Ji surname of the Western Zhou. "Ta" might represent the Ta clan. From this, it is presumed that the Yamanokami Kofun (Ogano Town) is the tomb of Tago Hitsuji Dayu (Ukobe).

Y-chromosome haplogroup D lineage is assumed to be the oldest layer in East Asia, but men belonging to D-M15 have been found among multiple ethnic groups living in southern China (Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture Butuo County Yi people (Yi ethnic group) 7/43 = 16.3% D-M15, Miao people 5/58 = 8.6% D-M15). The Yi people (former ethnic names: Yi tribe, Wa tribe) are descendants of the ancient Qiang in western China, and the ancient Qiang are said to be the ancestors of the Tibetan, Naxi, and Qiang people. If the Y-chromosome haplogroup of the Nyu clan's "Ukobe" is the D lineage, it is consistent with the presumption that there is a relationship between the Nyu clan and the Imperial Family.

The line connecting the Otsuka Kofun (Ogano Town), which is said to be the tomb of Hitsuji Dayu, and Palermo passes near Oga Shrine (Ogano Town) (Figure 5). The line connecting Palermo and Yamanokami Kofun intersects with the line connecting Göbekli Tepe and Oga Shrine at Hitsujiyama Park (Omiya, Chichibu City, Saitama Prefecture) (Figure 5). Perhaps Tago Hitsuji Dayu's (Ukobe) residence was in this vicinity.

Takara-tamateru-no-mikoto (presumed to be Toyotama-hime-no-mikoto)) is enshrined at Takara Shrine (Photos 4, 5), which is located near the line connecting Chichibu Imamiya Shrine and Alexandria, while Yamanokami Kofun is located near the line connecting Alexandria and Chichibu Shrine (Figure 6).

Yamate Town in Hanno City is home to Kannon-ji Temple (Figure 7), whose principal image is Nyoirin Kannon. It is one of the Musashino Seven Lucky Gods temples, and Jurojin is enshrined in the Fudo-do Hall. Takara Shrine is located near the line connecting Kannon-ji Temple and the ancient city of Selinus in southern Turkey (Selinus Ancient City), which is presumed to have been related to Susanoo-no-mikoto (Emperor Korei) (Figure 7).

Jurojin is considered an incarnation of the South Pole Star (Canopus), is accompanied by a stag, and holds a peach. The peach is presumed to be related to Himiko (presumed to be Toyotama-hime-no-mikoto). Kannon-ji Temple has a sazare-ishi (pebble). There is a theory that the gods of Japanese mythology were Sumerians who migrated to Japan, and it is said that the "treasure ship" famous in the Seven Lucky Gods may have originated from the Sumerians, who possessed an advanced civilization, arriving by ship. Alexandria is located near the ruins of Canopus, a city that was on the Mediterranean coast. Kannon-ji Temple's Fudo-do Hall enshrines Jurojin (Canopus), who is presumed to be Susanoo-no-mikoto, and since the "Hu" (胡) in Tago no Hitsuji Dayu means "Ebisu," the "Takara" in Takara Shrine may have originated from the "treasure ship" of the Seven Lucky Gods.

Ube Shrine, the Ichinomiya of Inaba Province, is located near the line connecting Mount Maya and Palermo (Figure 8). Uhe Shrine (Figure 8) in Okada-shimo, Ayauta-cho, Marugame City, Kagawa Prefecture, was, according to shrine tradition, established by inviting the deity from Ube Shrine. The "Uhe" in "Ukohei" is thought to be related to the "Uhe" of Uhe Shrine. The shrine crest of Uhe Shrine (Okada-shimo) is Maru ni Ken-katabami (a wood sorrel crest in a circle), a family crest widely favored by the samurai class. Katabami is called mirror grass, and in ancient Japan, its leaves were apparently crushed and used to polish the surfaces of mirrors. Also, the sword is modeled after the double-edged straight bronze swords used in ancient Japan. If Tago no Hitsuji Dayu is "Ukohei," it connects to the "Mountain God." There are two Uhe Shrines in Ayauta-cho; the other Uhe Shrine is in Kurikuma-nishi and is a shrine founded by Sakabe no Masuko-maru, who is mentioned in the Shinsen Shojiroku as "Sakabe no Kimi, same ancestor as Sanuki no Kimi, descendant of Kamikushibetsu-no-mikoto." Near the line connecting Palermo and Uhe Shrine (Okada-shimo) is Kameyama Hachimangu (Age, Jinsekikogen-cho, Jinseki-gun, Hiroshima Prefecture) (Figure 8). Kameyama Hachimangu is located near the line connecting Ube Shrine and Usa Jingu, and there is a Kameyama Hachiman Shrine in Kobatake, Jinsekikogen-cho (Figure 9).

Similar to "Ukohei," Akimaro, presumed to be the great-grandson of Emperor Keitai (Nyumaro), is the "Aki-no-Hogi-no-So" (ancestor of the autumn ritualists) of the O-Nyu clan according to the Nyu Clan Genealogy. Since the Shimosuwa Aotsuka Kofun is located near the Akimiya (Autumn Shrine) of the Shimosuwa Grand Shrine, there is a view that it was originally a site for ancestral rites of the Kanasashi clan (the family of the Grand Priest of the Lower Shrine). The local deity of Akimiya is considered to be the Thousand-Armed Kannon, and since the Kanasashi clan's progenitor is Kamuyamimi-no-Mikoto and their origin is said to be the O clan, it is presumed that the "Aki-no-Hogi" refers to the Kanasashi clan who enshrined Akimiya. The Shimosuwa Aotsuka Kofun is estimated to have been built between the latter half and the end of the 6th century. Given that Emperor Keitai ascended the throne in 507, and adding 75 years for three generations (at 25 years per generation) results in 582, it is presumed to be the tomb of "Akimaro." Near the line connecting the Shimosuwa Aotsuka Kofun and the Temple of Artemis is the Noto Province Ichinomiya Keta Taisha (Hakui City, Ishikawa Prefecture) (Figure 10), which is thought to indicate a relationship between "Akimaro" and Emperor Kogen. The shape of the Aotsuka Kofun is a keyhole-shaped tumulus, and it is presumed that the front part faces north-northwest because the Suwa Grand Shrine Kamisha Honmiya is located to the south-southeast (Figure 10).

Among the figures representing the district governors (gunji) of Shinano, there is Kanasashi-no-Toneri Hachimaro of Ina District, who also appears to have been the person in charge (Makishuto) overseeing all the imperial pastures (maki) under the direct control of the Bureau of Horses (Umaya-ryo) established within Shinano Province. Among the Kanasashi clan, the family that became the district governors of Minochi District is said to have been involved in the founding of Zenko-ji Temple (Nagano-motozen-cho, Nagano City).

Shinano Thirty-three Kannon Pilgrimage 16th temple, Seisui-ji Temple (Wakaho-hoshina, Nagano City), and near the line connecting to Palermo are Zenko-ji Temple and Togakushi Shrine Chusha and Okusha (Togakushi, Nagano City) (Figure 11). The Okusha enshrines Ameno-tajikarao-no-Mikoto, and the Chusha enshrines Ameno-yagokoro-omoikane-no-Mikoto, but the history of Togakushi Shrine is ancient, and in addition to these deities, it enshrines the Kuzuryu-no-Okami, the great deity of water and bountiful harvests, as the local tutelary deity.

Since the Kanasashi clan belongs to the O clan and the Mononobe clan is of the same lineage, it is considered not to be a historical fact that the principal image of Zenko-ji Temple was once thrown into the Naniwa-no-Horie by the anti-Buddhist Mononobe clan. The manji (swastika) symbols found throughout Zenko-ji Temple originate from the Sanskrit word "svastika" and seem to mean "happiness" or "good fortune." A similar "sauwastika (reversed manji)" can be found on Athenian pottery from around the 8th century BC, and the oldest manji symbols appear to be like the painted pottery excavated from Susa from around 4000 BC, so it is thought to be related to the "cross in a circle" of Sumer and Linear B. Since the Sumerian "cross in a circle" means "sheep", it may be related to the "Ancient Qiang" or "Hitsuji-dayu." The characteristic of Zenko-ji Temple, where one can make a vow regardless of sect, and anyone can attain paradise regardless of status, gender, or good or evil, may perhaps be an influence from the Aegean civilization or the ancient Orient, which worshipped goddesses in a polytheistic system.