Sendai's Famous Temples! What are the "Kitayama Gozan" that the Date Clan Adhered To? [Part 2] | The "Date Gozan" Established by Masamune's Ancestors and Types of Zen Buddhism

What was the "Date Gozan" before the Kitayama Gozan?

the Kitayama Gozan templesunderwent changes due to shifts in the Date clan's territory before settling in their current locations, and how the temples themselves differ from those of the time of Masayori, the fourth head of the Date clan, who initially established the Gozan.

These five temples, established by the Date clan at the time of their founding,the "Date Five Mountains". The names of these five temples are listed below.

• Komyoji Temple
• Toshoji Temple
• Manshoji Temple
• Kannonji Temple
• Kofuku-ji Temple

Of these, Komyoji, Toshoji, and Manshoji were similar to the later Kitayama Gozan temples, and Kannonji, although later changing its sect from Rinzai to Jodo, was the only one of the Date Gozan temples to remain in Date County, where it was founded, and did not accompany the relocation of the Date clan

There is another famous temple with the same name, the head temple of the Hossō sect in Nara, but in the Date Gozan region, this temple was also written as "Kōfuku-ji"

As mentioned earlier, Kannonji and Kofukuji were abolished, but they were absorbed by Shifukuji, one of the Kitayama Gozan temples, and from there, Kakuhanji, also one of the Kitayama Gozan temples, was founded independently

Therefore, although there are differences between the temples of the Date Five Mountains and the Kitayama Five Mountains, it could be said that their lineages have not been completely extinguished

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Location characteristics of "Kitayama Gozan" at a transportation hub

As mentioned in the previous part, the temples of Kitayama Gozan are located north of Sendai Castle town, and are situated at a junction of important transportation routes such as the Oshu Kaido and Nebaishi Kaido

These mountains are concentrated in the hilly area known as "Kitayama," which gave rise to the name "Kitayama Gozan" (Five Mountains of Kitayama) , and it has been pointed out that they also functioned as strategic points controlling transportation routes

Many temples and shrines are located on elevated areas such as hills and terraces, or in mountainous regions, and it is not uncommon for them to be situated in highly visible locations that serve as objects of worship. One could assume that there is a psychological reason for enshrining them in high places as symbolic facilities, but there are also examples of them being used as natural fortresses during times of warfare from the Middle Ages onward

For example, during wartime, it was a common tactic to seize temples on high ground or in mountainous areas and use them as mountain fortresses. If you look at maps of historical sites and cultural properties, you will notice that names like "○○ Temple Fort" and "○○ Temple Castle" appear frequently

Furthermore, it can be imagined that the vast grounds and buildings of large temples were ideal for stationing troops, and there are countless examples of warlords seizing them to establish their headquarters or use them as lodgings

This wasn't limited to the Sengoku period; much later, during the Satsuma Rebellion at the beginning of the Meiji era, temples were used as field hospitals, demonstrating that their location and function were utilized during wartime

"Demon gate sealing" by shrines and temples to protect against evil spirits

Another religious function of temples and shrines that you may often see or hear is the expression "warding off evil spirits."

The term "kimon" (demon's gate) originates from an ancient Chinese legend that demons invaded from the northeast. In Japan, the northeast was also historically"ushitora" (ox-tiger/northeast)and was considered the direction from which evil spirits entered.

Furthermore, the opposite direction, southwest, is called "Hitsujisaru" (未申/坤) , and this is known as the "back demon gate."

Therefore, they erected shrines and temples to create an invisible line of defense to prevent ominous entities, symbolized by the word "oni" (demon), from entering their territory

It can also be described as a type of magical urban defense based on faith, and it is said that in Heian-kyo, this was actually the case with Enryaku-ji Temple on Mount Hiei, while the back gate (the "back demon gate") was said to be protected by Iwashimizu Hachimangu Shrine

Furthermore, the northwest corner of the Kyoto Imperial Palace is cut out to avoid the unlucky direction (kimon), and a statue of a monkey, considered to be a messenger of Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine, the guardian shrine of Enryaku-ji Temple, is enshrined there

The monkey (申) is believed to act as a counter to the unlucky direction (kimon) because it is located opposite the ox and tiger when the twelve zodiac signs are assigned to directions

In the case of Edo Castle, the front "demon gate" is said to be protected by "Kan'ei-ji Temple" and "Kanda Myojin Shrine," while the back "demon gate" is protected by "Zojo-ji Temple" and "Hie Shrine."

Is it true that the Kitayama Gozan temples were built to ward off evil spirits from the northeast direction of Sendai Castle town?

I've heard and read explanations that the Kitayama Five Hills were meant to ward off evil spirits from the northeast direction of Sendai Castle town, but to what extent are they related to the "northeast" direction we've been looking at? Of course, this depends on which point you use as your reference, but if we assume that the Sendai Castle ruins are the center, the hills where the Kitayama Five Hills are concentrated are located almost due north

Even if we broaden the area to include "Sendai Castle Town," the theory that the Kitayama Five Mountains protect the northeast direction, the "front demon gate," seems difficult to accept

In fact, during the time of Date Masamune, the temple that was reported to the shogunate as a guard against evil influences at the front gate of Sendai Castle"Jōzenji," which. It is said that this temple belonged to the Shingon sect of Buddhism, not the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism, and was a temple dedicated to prayer.

Furthermore, it is said that the Sendai Toshogu Shrine, founded in 1654 by Date Tadamune, the second lord of the Sendai domain, also plays a role in warding off evil spirits from Sendai. Its location is currently Toshogu 1-chome, Aoba-ku, Sendai City, which is precisely in the northeast direction from the site of Sendai Castle.

The term "Toshogu" refers to a group of shrines throughout Japan that enshrine Tokugawa Ieyasu as "Toshodai Gongen," and it suggests that he was considered a deity worthy of protection against evil influences in the Sendai domain

Based on these points, it seems more likely that the Kitayama Gozan were not so much a magical ritual to ward off evil spirits, but rather a symbolic group of temples located at a strategic transportation hub, while also receiving the reverence of the Date family

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What exactly is "Zen Buddhism"?

Now, let's take a break from the main topic. The name of the sect "Rinzai Zen" has come up several times, but it is generally known as "Zen Buddhism" in general.
But what kind of Buddhist sect is Zen Buddhism in the first place?

When we think of Zen, we often picture the meditation techniques involving mudras (hand gestures) and a unique leg posture, and it is one of the most well-known Buddhist practices worldwide. While I will omit the details of its doctrines, I would like to provide an overview of the main schools of Zen Buddhism in Japan

Below is a list of Zen Buddhist sects, including those whose lineages were once extinct and then revived

Rinzai Zen Buddhism

The Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism was introduced from China during the early Kamakura period by Eisai, who originally studied under the Tendai school

In addition to seated meditation, Zen practitioners consider "koans," or Zen dialogues, to be an important part of their training. This style, in which practitioners approach enlightenment by answering philosophical questions given by their master, is also called "kannazen" (観話禅)

A distinctive feature of this style of Zen meditation is that the monks gather together and face each other, which is said to symbolize mutual encouragement and practice

In the Kitayama Gozan temples of the Sendai domain, there were two branches of the Rinzai sect, the Tofuku-ji school and the Myoshin-ji school, but now they are divided into as many as 14 or 15 different schools

Soto Zen Buddhism

The Soto Zen school was introduced to China in the early 13th century during the Kamakura period by Dogen, a Tendai monk who traveled to Song China with Myozen, a Rinzai monk

Although it is considered a single sect without any splinter groups, it has two head temples: Eiheiji in Yoshida District, Fukui Prefecture, and Sojiji in Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture. Currently, the head priests of each temple take turns serving as representatives of the sect every two years

In contrast to the Rinzai school's Kanwa Zen, which emphasizes Zen dialogue, this school is characterized by a style called "Mokushō Zen," which focuses solely on sitting in meditation with single-minded devotion. Therefore, this attitude of sitting in meditation with single-minded devotion is expressed as "Shikan Taza."

A major difference between the Rinzai and Soto schools of Zen Buddhism is that in the Rinzai school, monks sit facing each other, while in the Soto school, monks sit facing a wall

This is based on the story of Bodhidharma , considered the founder of Zen Buddhism , who attained enlightenment by sitting in meditation facing a wall for nine years.

Obaku sect

The Obaku school of Zen Buddhism was founded in the mid-17th century during the Edo period by Ingen , a Rinzai Zen monk who came to Japan from China

This sect, with Manpuku-ji Temple in Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture as its head temple, was originally a branch of the Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism, and its doctrines, rituals, and methods of practice are said to be the same

However, what is particularly noteworthy is that they pronounce scriptures and terminology in a style reminiscent of early modern Chinese, making them known as a Zen Buddhist sect with a unique character

The sect gained independence in 1876 (Meiji 9), and is also famous for its vegetarian cuisine called "Fucha Ryori," which incorporates Chinese cooking techniques

Fuke sect

The Fuke sect was introduced to Japan from Southern Song China around the mid-13th century during the Kamakura period by Shin Chikakushin, a Rinzai Zen Buddhist monk

It can be considered a branch of the Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism, and it is said that it was only in the early modern period that they began to publicly call themselves the Fuke school and start their activities under that name

Incidentally, the Komuso, the mendicant monks familiar from period dramas who wear deep straw hats and play the shakuhachi while begging for alms, are practitioners of this sect.

The group operated for a long time under the patronage of samurai families, but was disbanded in 1871 by order of the government. However, the shakuhachi playing techniques were preserved, and in 1950, the Fuke Shoshu Myoanji Temple was re-established as a religious corporation

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