Zuiganji Temple, a temple rebuilt by Date Masamune, located in Matsushima, one of Japan's Three Most Viewed Sites (Miyagi Prefecture)

Zuiganji Templeis a Rinzai Zen Buddhist temple located in Matsushima Town, Miyagi District, Miyagi Prefecture. Its official name, including its mountain name, is Matsushima Seiryuzan Zuigan Enpuku Zenji.

one of Japan's three mostbeautiful views, this temple stands atop a rocky outcrop, with the Godaido building and the pier for sightseeing boats that tour the islands visible from its gate, making it a popular tourist destination.

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A Tendai Buddhist temple founded by Jikaku Daishi Ennin

The origins of Zuiganji Temple are recorded in the "Tendai-ki," a document believed to have been compiled during the Nanboku-cho period or the early Muromachi period. It is said to have been a Tendai sect temple founded in 828 (Tenchō 5) by Jikaku DaishiEnnin as an imperial. At that time, it was called Enpukuji.

During an excavation of the grounds of Zuiganji Temple in 1992, a salt furnace from the 9th century was discovered, so it is believed that Enpukuji Temple during the Heian period was located in a different place from the current Zuiganji Temple, and its location is unknown

Converted to Zen Buddhism (Rinzai sect) under the patronage of Hojo Tokiyori

During the Kamakura period, under the patronage of the regent Hojo Tokiyori, the temple changed its sect from Tendai Buddhism to Zen Buddhism (Rinzai sect) , and its name was also changed to Enpuku-ji

Enpuku-ji Temple was founded by a monk named Hoshin who had practiced Zen Buddhism in Song Dynasty China. His successor wasRankei Doryu, also known for founding Kencho-ji. The temple was highly regarded by the Kamakura shogunate and flourished, achieving the status of one of the five major temples under the Gozan system.

Later, around 1573 (Tensho 6) , 実堂during the time of the 93rd head priest, Jitsudo Sochu, the temple became affiliated with the Myoshinji branch of the Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism.

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A temple rebuilt by Date Masamune

Afterwards, the temple fell into ruin due to war, but in the Edo period, DateMasamune, the daimyo who became the ruler of Oshu, restored Enpuku-jihis academic teacher, the Zen monk Kosai Soitsu, and renovated the temple buildings, including the main hall, during the Keicho era.

at this time"Matsushima Seiryuzan Zuigan Enpuku Zenji (Zuiganji)"was established, and all of the buildings, including the main hall and the priest's quarters, which are now designated as national treasures, were constructed by Date Masamune.

During the Edo period, with the backing of the Sendai Domain, it became the largest temple in the region, boasting over 100 branch temples, and even the haiku poetMatsuo Bashovisited this place.

The main hall of Zuiganji Temple is a large structure, nearly 40 meters long at the front, and is built in the style of a Zen Buddhist abbot 's quarters combined with the shoin (study) of a samurai residence. Inside the main hall, there are colorful sliding screen paintings depicting peacocks and other subjects, as well as the principal image of the temple , the Holy Kannon Bodhisattva , and the memorial tablets of Date Masamune and his retainers who committed suicide to follow him in death .

Additionally, within the temple grounds, the Seiryu-den treasure house houses a wooden statue of Date Masamune in armor, as well as paintings and tea utensils related to the Date clan of the Sendai domain, and calligraphy related to the Rinzai sect of Buddhism. It is open to the public

A corner of the Four Temple Corridor

Currently, it forms a pilgrimage route called the "Four Temples Corridor" along with Chūson-ji and Mōtsū-ji temples in Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture, and Risshaku-ji temple in Yamagata Prefecture, all of which are said to have been founded by Jikaku Daishi Ennin

The Four Temples Corridor is famous for being visited by the haiku poet Matsuo Basho in the 17th century, and this pilgrimage, along with other events, is compiled into "Oku no Hosomichi," one of Japan's most representative travelogues .

Link:Pilgrimage to Ancient Temples in Michinoku "Four Temple Corridor"

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Current Zuiganji Temple

In 1953, the main hall (including the attached imperial entrance) was designated a National Treasure , and in 1959, the corridor connecting the priests' quarters and the main hall was designated a National Treasure. In addition, most of the buildings on the grounds have been designated as cultural properties

The large study was completed in 1968, and the Treasure Museum opened in 1974. It houses approximately 30,000 items, including artifacts from the Enpukuji period that were unearthed during excavations on the site

From 2008,the "Great Heisei Restoration"was underway, butthe Great East Japan Earthquake, inundated the temple grounds, killing many of the cedar trees along the approach to the temple. However, the repairs continued and were completed in 2018. A dedication ceremony was held on June 24, 2018.

Learn about the history of Zuiganji Temple through sutra copying and zazen sessions

Completed in 1968, the Great Study Hall of Zuiganji Temple holds almost monthly sutra copying sessions such as "The Heart Sutra," "Hakuin Zenji Zazen Wasan," and "Shabutsu Sha," as well as zazen sessions, the most basic training of the Rinzai sect

For details on prices, dates, times, and how to make a reservation, please see the link below

Link:Zuiganji Temple's page for information on sutra copying and Zen meditation sessions.

Zuiganji Temple <Information>

• Name: Zuiganji Temple
• Address: 91 Matsushimacho, Matsushima-cho, Miyagi-gun, Miyagi Prefecture, 981-0213
• Phone number: 022-354-2023
• Official URL:http://www.zuiganji.or.jp/

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