Abstract
RYUSUIZAN-ENGI (流水山縁起) is a story narrating the legendary origin both of Rengein (蓮華院) temple and Mizunuma-Jinja (水沼神社) shrine. The manuscript of RYUSUIZAN-ENGI is a hand scroll written in ink in the second half of the Edo period. It is in the possession of Mrs. TOTSUKA Yoko.
Most of the content is concerned with Rengein temple, and the description of Mizunuma-Jinja shrine is in only several lines of the end. The brief outlines of the story are as follows:
In A.D.824, the fearful god of the Mt. Togakushi (戸隠山) and long-nosed goblins of the Mt. Marudake (丸嶽) brought evils in Sannokura (三ノ倉) village, Kozuke province. The imperial Court commannded Fujiwara Sadamichi to exterminate them. Sadamichi prayed the Kannon (観音) sculptured by Jikakudaishi (慈覚大師) for victory. Then he was able to exterminate the fearful god and goblins through the protection of the Kannon. He erected a temple to enshrine the Kannon in it. The temple was named Rengein. After that, Furununo-Myojin (古布明神) was enshrined near the temple. The Myojin is called Misunuma-Jinja by the present.
We are able to associate the name of Sadamichi with Usui Sadamitsu (碓氷貞光) who was a legendary hero in Kozuke province. It is clear that this story was affected by the legend of Usui Sadamitsu and was formed. We should recognize the story as a variation of the legend of Usui Sadamitsu.
In this paper, I have pointed out important characteristics of RYUSUIZAN-ENGI and reprinted the text of it.
