[Miyagi] Zuiganji Temple, a temple rebuilt by Date Masamune in Matsushima, one of the three most scenic spots in Japan

Zuigan-ji Temple is a Rinzai sect temple located in Matsushima-cho, Miyagi-gun, Miyagi Prefecture, and its official name including the mountain name is Matsushima Seiryuzan Zuigan Enpuku Zenji.

It occupies a part of the scenic Matsushima landscape known as ` `Japan's Three Scenic Views,'' It has become a place visited by many tourists.

A Tendai sect temple founded by Jikaku Daishi Ennin

The origin of Zuigan-ji Temple is recorded in the Tendai-ki, which is thought to have been established during the Nanbokucho period or the early Muromachi period, and in 828, it was established It is said to have been a Tendai sect temple founded by Daishi Ennin At that time, it was called Enpukuji.

Since a 9th century salt-making furnace was discovered during an excavation on the grounds of Zuigan-ji Temple in 1992, it is thought that Enpuku-ji Temple in the Heian period was located in a different location from the current Zuigan-ji Temple, and its location is unknown. It has been with.

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

In the Kamakura period, under the patronage of the regent Hojo Tokiyori, the sect changed from Tendai to Zen (Rinzai) was changed to Enpukuji

Enpukuji was founded by a monk named Hoshin who practiced Zen in the Song Dynasty of China, but the next chief priest was Rankei Doryu, The temple was highly regarded by the Kamakura shogunate , and flourished by gaining the status of a temple as one of the various mountains in the Gozan system.

Later, around 1573, during the reign of the 93rd Sochu Jitsudo, the school belonged to the Myoshinji school of the Rinzai sect.

A temple rebuilt by Date Masamune

After that, it was devastated by war, but in the Edo period, Date Masamune, a feudal lord who , met his scholarly master, the Zen monk Kosai Soutsu. ) , Enpuku-ji Temple was rebuilt and the main hall and other temple buildings were constructed during the Keicho period.

At this time, ``Matsushima Seiryuzan Zuigan Enpuku Zenji (Zuiganji)'' was born, and the buildings such as the main hall and kuri, which are now designated as national treasures, were all built by Date Masamune. is.

During the Edo period, it had the backing of the Sendai domain, and became the largest temple in the territory, with more than 100 branch temples, and haiku poet Matsuo Basho and others have visited this area.

The main hall of Zuigan-ji Temple is large, with a front length of nearly 40 meters, and its structure combines the Zen sect's hojo style with the addition of a samurai residence's shoin. Inside the main hall, there are colorful fusuma paintings including peacocks, and in addition to the principal image of Sho Kannon Bodhisattva the memorial tablets of Date Masamune and the vassals who died under Date Masamune are enshrined. Masu.

In addition, Seiryu-den has been opened as a treasure hall within the precincts, and includes a wooden statue of Date Masamune in armor, as well as paintings and tea utensils related to the Date family of the Sendai domain, calligraphy related to the Rinzai sect, etc., and is open to the general public. is also published.

A corner of the four-temple corridor

it forms a pilgrimage course known as the Four Temples Corridor, along with Chusonji and Motsuji in Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture, which are also said to have been founded by Jikaku Daishi Ennin, and Rissekiji in Yamagata Prefecture

The Four Temples Corridor is famous for being visited by Matsuo Basho ``Oku no Hosomichi'' is a representative travelogue of Japan that includes this pilgrimage.

Link: Michinoku Ancient Temple Pilgrimage “Four Temple Corridors”

Current Zuiganji Temple

In 1953, the main hall (attached entrance) was designated as a national treasure, and in 1959, the corridor connecting the vault and main hall was a national treasure , and most of the buildings on the grounds are designated as cultural properties.

The Great Shoin was completed in 1968, and the Treasure Museum was opened in 1974. Approximately 30,000 items, including relics from the Enpukuji period, were unearthed during excavations on the premises.

The ``Heisei Major Repairs'' had been carried out since 2008 the Great East Japan Earthquake invaded the shrine grounds, causing many of the cedar trees along the approach to wither and die. It's gone. However, repairs continued after that and were completed in 2018. A memorial service was held on June 24, 2018.

Experience the history of Zuiganji Temple through sutra copying and zazen sessions

Completed in 1968, Zuiganji Daishoin holds sutra copying sessions such as ``Hannya Shinkyo'', ``Hakuin Zenshi Zazen Wasan'', and ``Shabutsu'', as well as zazen sessions, the most basic training of the Rinzai sect, almost every month.

Please check the link below for details such as fees, dates and times, and how to make a reservation.

Link: Zuiganji Temple's sutra copying session and zazen session information page

INFORMATION

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

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