Batō Kannon Tower

The worship of Bato Kannon is believed to have started around the Nara period, but it was not very active until the latter half of the Edo period. This is thought to be due to the spread of horses in rural areas and the increasing role they played. As a result, stone monuments were erected in various places to commemorate this faith. Horses were often used for agricultural work and transporting goods, and it is believed that the practice of memorializing beloved horses that died from illness or accidents also increased. Additionally, prayers for safe travels, abundant harvests, and peace became part of this faith.
In the city, there are 45 stone monuments of Bato Kannon that remain from the latter half of the Edo period to the 30th year of the Showa era. Among these, I will introduce the older Bato Kannon monument from the Edo period.

The most representative one is located in Nakajima, Yanokuchi, where 14 horse-headed Kannon stone towers are lined up along the old road. The stone tower in the center was built in the 13th year of the Bunka era (1816) and is the oldest horse-headed Kannon tower in the city. It is also the largest stone tower (height 184 cm) and is notable for its authentic bas-relief of the horse-headed Kannon. The base stone of the tower is engraved with the names of the donors, starting with the residents of Yanokuchi Village, as well as the names of 19 neighboring villages, indicating that the tower was constructed with the cooperation of these villages. Since the old road where the stone tower stands leads to the Yanokuchi ferry terminal, it is believed that the villages using the ferry built it to pray for safe transportation. This stone tower has been designated as a city cultural property as a material that demonstrates the role of horses and the importance of the ferry terminal.

Bato Kannon Tower in the city

Looking at the distribution of the Batō Kannon Towers located in the city, 18 out of a total of 45 are in the Yanokuchi area, indicating a concentrated distribution. Of these, 14 are located along the old road near the Yanokuchi ferry terminal, and excluding these, the distribution is almost the same as in other areas. Overall, the quantity is not large, and they are dispersed across various regions, mainly along the old roads in the city.
The construction dates range from the oldest, which is from the 13th year of the Bunka era (1816), to the newest, which is from the 39th year of the Shōwa era (1964), covering a very long period from the late Edo period through the Meiji, Taisho, and Shōwa periods. If we categorize the stone towers built over approximately 150 years by era, there are 6 from the Edo period, 16 from the Meiji period, 9 from the Taisho period, and 9 from the Shōwa period, indicating that the Meiji period was the peak.
In terms of the shape of the stone towers, the main types are square pillars and horse-shaped (where the top of the stone tower resembles a shogi piece), which can be considered a general trend. Additionally, the condition of the surface of the stone towers is mostly inscribed with only the characters "Batō Kannon," and the only example of a Batō Kannon statue represented with three faces and eight arms through elaborate relief is found in Yanokuchi and Nakajima. There are three examples where a horse's face is carved above the characters.
Here are some of the Batō Kannon Towers that can be seen in the city.

1 is located near the Yatogawa Bridge in Omaru and is the second oldest structure in the city, built in the 13th year of the Bunsei era (1830). It was constructed by the local community of Omaru.
2 is located on the north side of the Hirao neighborhood park, where the names of horses and their years of death are engraved on the side of the stone monument, indicating it was built in memory of beloved horses.
3 is situated facing the ferry landing road in Oshitate, where a relief of a horse's head can be seen.

Distribution by Region

Region	Quantity
Yanokuchi	18
Oshitate	3
Higashi-Naganuma	6
Omaru	1
Momura	3
Sakahama	8
Hirao	6

Total: 45