Hirasawa Mida’s Cedar

Hirasawa Mida’s Cedar

Hirasawa Mida’s Cedar

Nature

Hirasawa Mida’s Cedar

When you see closely, you can feel it.

It is a giant cedar of tree of about 900 years old and listed in Miyagi Prefectural Designated Natural Treasure. In the Meiji period, an obstetrician Igarashi Bunsai spread a belief of safe childbirth, Daruma Kou, around this area, so it is also called Daruma Cedar. The monument he made to preserve this tree is still standing near the roots of the cedar.
It is one of the largest cedars in the prefecture, which is about 45 meters in height and about 9.7 meters in circumstance, with the estimated age of 850 to 900 years. It is a left over tree of the avenue of cedars around Jouroku Amidado in the Anyou Temple. It is considered that the Northern Fujiwara (Oshu Fujiwara) planted the tree at the time of the creation of Jouroku Amidado. Fujiwara clan dominated Oshu in the late Heian period, which is about 930 to 820 years ago, and this timeframe matches with the estimated age of this cedar. Perhaps Fujiwara planted cedar seedlings at the time of the establishment of Jouroku Amidado._x000D_
From the late Edo period to the beginning of the Meiji period, this avenue of cedars was logged as timber and only one cedar was left. In one theory, it is said that this cedar was left because the trunk was divided into four, which came from its bad habitual behaviour. There is also a story that people here tell their kids "Do not grow up as bad as the cedar. If you do, you will be left alone forever". A belief of safe childbirth, Daruma Kou, was held in this place by Igarashi Bunsui in the early Meiji Period. He made the monument which carved the statement "Dear minor official in the village, please never ever cut this cedar" in order to protect the tree. After that, this cedar has been called Daruma Cedar, the sacred tree of Daruma Kou. To this day, it has been protected as a symbol of the Hirasawa area.
Postal Code
989-0831
Address
78-1 Jouroku, Hirasawa, Zao Town, Katta-gun, Miyagi prefecture
Access Method
By bus: Take Miyako Bus. It is 15 minutes walk from the bus stop "Hirasawa"
Parking area
Yes

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Introduction of Zao-sama
The spring shows the charm of Zao town
Shiroishi Sightseeing Navigation

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Introduction of Zao-sama
The spring shows the charm of Zao town

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