Zuiganji Temple, a temple revived by Date Masamune, located in Matsushima, Japan's three-scenestors of Japan [Miyagi Prefecture]

Zuiganji Temple is a Rinzai sect temple located in Matsushima Town, Miyagi County, Miyagi Prefecture, and its official name, including the mountain name, is Matsushima Seiryuzan Zuigan Enpuku Zenji Temple.

one of the "Three Views of Japan." In front of the temple gate, the Godaido building stands tall on the rocks, and the pier for sightseeing boats that tour the island can be seen, making it a popular tourist destination.

---

A Tendai Buddhist temple founded by Jikaku Daishi Ennin

The origins of Zuiganji Temple are recorded in the Tendai-ki, which is thought to have been written during the Nanboku-cho period or the early Muromachi period, and it is said to Ennin At the time, it was called Enpuku-ji Temple.

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 to Zen (Rinzai) was changed to Enpukuji

The founder of Enpuku-ji Temple was a monk named Hoshin, who had trained in Zen in the Song Dynasty in China, but the next chief priest was Rankei Doryu, who a highly respected figure in the Kamakura shogunate, the temple flourished by gaining the status of a temple within the Five Mountains system.

After some time passed, around 1573 , under the reign of the 93rd head priest, Jitsudo Sochu, the temple became part of the Myoshinji school of the Rinzai sect.

---

A temple rebuilt by Date Masamune

The temple was later devastated by wars, but in the Edo period, Date Masamune, his academic teacher, the Zen monk Kosai Soitsu , and during the Keicho era, renovated the main hall and other buildings.

At this time "Matsushima Seiryuzan Zuigan Enpuku Zenji (Zuiganji)," and the main hall, priests' quarters, and other buildings, which are now designated as national treasures, were all built by Date Masamune.

During the Edo period, with the backing of the Sendai domain, it became the largest temple in the domain, with over 100 branch temples, and haiku poet Matsuo Basho and others visited the area.

The main hall of Zuiganji Temple is large, with a front length of nearly 40 meters, and is built in the style of a Zen sect's abbot's chamber combined with the study of a samurai residence. The interior of the main hall is decorated with colorful sliding doors painted with images of peacocks, and houses the principal image of the Bodhisattva Kannon , as well as the memorial tablets of Date Masamune and his vassals who died for him

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

it forms part of the "Four Temple Corridor" , along with Chusonji Temple and Motsuji Temple in Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture, and Risshakuji Temple in Yamagata Prefecture, which are also said to have been founded by Ennin, the

The Four Temple Corridor is famous for being the pilgrimage made by Matsuo Basho , "Oku no Hosomichi .

Link: Michinoku Ancient Temple Pilgrimage “Four Temple Corridors”

---

Current Zuiganji Temple

a national treasure in 1959. Most of the buildings on the premises are also designated 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

The "Heisei Great Repairs" began in 2008 the Great East Japan Earthquake , invaded the temple grounds, killing many of the cedar trees along the approach to the temple. However, 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 Sutra Calligraphy and Zen Meditation Sessions Information Page

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/

Google Map

---