## [[Hidehira-zakura Cherry Tree (秀衝桜)]] | Nakahechi 11 | [[Yukawa-oji (湯川王子)]] #trail/kumano-kodo/nakahechi > [!NOTE] Jagata Jizo > Within the small roofed enclosure is a stone statue of Jizo, a Buddhist deity, who is the saviour and protector of children and travelers. Behind the Jizo is a rock with snakeskin-like markings (jagata). Travelers in the area are sometimes overcome by daru spirits, serpent-like witch creatures capable of assuming invisible form, penetrating the human body, and inflicting a variety of painful torments. Because serpents are fond of eggs, oval-shaped rocks are offered to appease these evil spirits. Another local legend recommends never to eat all of your lunch, as it is best to have some extra nourishment to fight off the fatigue-inducing daru. ![[jagata jizo IMG_7863.png]] ![[jagata jizo IMG_6431.png]] ![[jagata jizo IMG_6433.png]] ![[jagata jizo IMG_7864.png]] ![[jagata jizo IMG_6435.png]] ![[jagata jizo IMG_6437b.png]] > [!NOTE] Ruin of the Doyukawa Hamlet > The Doyukawa hamlet is known as the place of origin of the Yukawa clan, which exerted strong influence over the Hidaka District in the Muromachi period (1336-1573). This hamlet is referred to as the "Yukawa-shukusho (Yukawa post station) in the diary Fujiwara no Teika kept when accompanying the pilgrimage of the retired emperor Gotoba in October 1201, while the diary of Fujiwara no Yorisuke mentions that the pilgrim party of Shumei-mon'in (consort of the retired Emperor Gotoba), including Yorisuke, took a rest around the hamlet in May 1210. In addition, a document says that the pilgrim party of Kitano-dono, a concubine of the late shogun Ashikaga yoshimitsu, received hospitable treatment from a powerful local clan who called themselves "Oku-no-Yukawa" in September 1427. These records suggest that this hamlet was populated at the latest from the Kamakura period (1185-1333) and flourished as a post station or rest station for nobles throughout the Muromachi period. A travel essay written in 1798 in the Edo period (1603-1867) also states, "The hamlet has many houses, as well as teahouse-inns." After being populated and bustling with pilgrims for a long time, this hamlet became uninhabited in 1956 when the last residents left it. > > An excavation survey conducted by Wakayama Prefecture in 2018 to 2019 discovered the remains of a structure supported by pillars sunk into the ground, which dates back to the Kamakura to Muromachi and Azuchi Momoyama periods (1185-1603), and a structure dating back to the Showa period (1926-1989). Moreover, various vessels were also excavated from those remains and around the excavation site, including unglazed yamajawan bowl dating back to the Kamakura period, Chinese-made celadon vessels dating back to the Muromachi period, unglazed Haji-style dishes dating back to the Muromachi to Edo periods, and Edo-period ceramic vessels. Given that the above-mentioned pillar-supported structure in particular seems to have been relatively large-scale and the Chinese-made celadon vessels were excavated from around the structure, it can be supposed that the structure may have been used as a post station or rest station building for such noble pilgrims as mentioned above. The remains of the pillar supported structure are a focus of special historical interest. > > Wakayama Prefecture ![[jagata jizo IMG_6446.png]]