[Iwate Prefecture] Chusonji Temple, a World Heritage Site famous as the temple of three generations of the Oshu Fujiwara clan

located in Hiraizumi-cho, Nishiiwai-gun, Iwate Prefecture,Chūson-ji Templeis the head temple of the Tendai sect in the Tohoku region.an extra temple on the 33 Kannon pilgrimage route of Ōshū, its mountain name is Kanzan, and its principal image is Shakyamuni Buddha.

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Chusonji Temple, said to have been founded by Jikaku Daishi Ennin

According to the history of Chūson-ji Temple, it is said to have begun in 850Jikaku Daishi Enninfounded Kanzan Kōdaijuin Temple.

However, no reliable historical documents or archaeological findings have yet been discovered to support the claim that Jikaku Daishi Ennin founded the temple. In reality, the prevailing view is that the "founding of Chūson-ji Temple" refers to the construction of a large-scale temple complex in the early 12th centuryFujiwara no Kiyohira, to enshrine Shakyamuni Buddha and Many Treasures Buddha.

Currently, in accordance with the temple's history, itthe "Four Temple Pilgrimage,"which also includes Motsuji Temple in Hiraizumi, Risshakuji Temple in Yamagata Prefecture, and Zuiganji Temple in Miyagi Prefecture, all of which were founded by Jikaku Daishi Ennin.

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

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About the name of Chusonji Temple

While there are various theories, the temple name "Chūson-ji" (the name of a Buddhist temple) isthe poetSaigyō when he visited the area during the Kōji era (1142-1144), which mentions "a place called Chūson."

"Chūzon""located in the center of Ōshūis interpreted as meaning

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Temples of the three generations of the Oshu Fujiwara clan

As mentioned above, the temple dates back to the mid-9th century, but it is famous as the temple of three generations of the Oshu Fujiwara clan, and has many cultural assets such as the Golden Hall and art and crafts from the Heian period

The Oshu Fujiwara clan built a powerful presence in the Tohoku region in the 12th century, and in 1105 AD, Fujiwara no Kiyohira began the restoration of Chuson-ji Temple in Hiraizumi.His purpose was to appease the spirits of those who died in the Former Nine Years' War and the Later Three Years' War that took place in the Tohoku region in the latter half of the 11th century, and to establish a Buddhist paradise in the Tohoku region, which was considered a remote frontier known as "Michinoku."Therefore, the temple's actual founding dates back to this period.

The Golden Hall was completed in 1124. This hall was built by Kiyohira as his own mausoleum, and houses the remains of the three Fujiwara lords and the head of the fourth lord, Motohira

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After the fall of the Oshu Fujiwara clan, it survived under the protection of Minamoto no Yoritomo

The Oshu Fujiwara clan was destroyed in 1189. After that, the temple continued to exist as a temple of "Emperor Toba's prayers" under the patronage of Minamoto no Yoritomo

In addition to the Golden Hall, Chusonji Temple at that time is said to have had other buildings, such as the Taho-ji Temple, which houses Shaka Nyorai and Taho Nyorai statues, the Shaka-do Hall, which houses 100 Shaka Nyorai statues, the Ryokai-do Hall, which houses wooden statues of the Buddhas of the Ryokai Mandala, and the Nikai Daido Hall (Daichoju-in), which houses a 9m-tall Amida Buddha and nine 5m-tall Amida Buddha statues

Although Chusonji Temple has weathered the changing times, there is a record that in 1337 there was a major fire that burned down almost all of the buildings except for the Golden Hall

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During the Edo period, it became part of the Sendai domain and was under the protection of the Date clan

During the Edo period, the temple became part of the Sendai domain and came under the patronage of the Date clan, who repaired and rebuilt the temple buildings

In 1654, due to the trend of Shinbutsu Shugo (a movement to combine and reconstruct indigenous Japanese gods and Buddhist gods), the temple was placed under the management of Sengaku-in Temple in Sendai, and in 1665 it became a branch temple of Kan'ei-ji Temple in Edo

However, when Matsuo Basho visited the temple in 1689 while on his journey to the "Hosomichi of the Deep North," he is said to have "lamented the state of dilapidation at Chusonji Temple," so it may have been in a state of neglect, with the "management" being merely a name

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Chusonji Temple regained its splendor in modern times

Later, in modern times, the main hall was rebuilt in 1909. In 1950, an academic investigation was carried out on the remains of the four generations of the Fujiwara clan that had been enshrined in the Golden Hall for 800 years, and it was discovered that the heads enshrined there were in fact those of the four generations of the Oshu Fujiwara clan (the first generation, Kiyohira, the second generation, Motohira, the third generation, Hidehira, and the fourth generation, Yasuhira)

In 1962, the Golden Hall was dismantled and repaired, and was completed six years later in 1968. The temple's past glory has been restored to the present

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The Golden Hall, designated a national treasure as a representative example of Jodo sect architecture

For approximately 100 years, Hiraizumi enjoyed a splendid, imperial-style culture. In 2011, the culture of Hiraizumi, including Chūson-ji Temple,the name "Hiraizumi – Temples, Gardens and Archaeological Sites Representing the Buddhist Pure Land."aWorld Heritage Site and an Intangible Cultural Heritage Sitewas registered as

The Konjikido (Golden Hall) is a popular and well-known attraction for tourists visiting Chusonji Temple. This Amida Hall, covered in gold leaf both inside and out, is, along with the Byodoin Phoenix Hall, a representative example of Heian period Jodo sect architecture anda National Treasure. Inside, in addition to the remains and severed heads of a deceased person, burial goods and a total of 31 Buddhist statues are enshrined, all of which are designated as National Treasures or Important Cultural Properties. It is also a valuable resource for understanding the art and cultural background of the Heian period.

In addition to the Konjikido, the mountain air creates a majestic view on Tsukimizaka, the pilgrimage route leading to Chusonji Temple. There are many buildings worth seeing, including the main hall, the Fudo Hall, a prayer hall built in 1977, and the Sankozo, which houses over 3,000 cultural assets. Many ceremonies and memorial services are still held here, and the main hall is open to the public from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm (until 4:30 pm from November to February)

The most convenient way to get to Hiraizumi is by taking the Tohoku Shinkansen, which takes 2 hours and 20 minutes from Tokyo to Ichinoseki Station. Transfer to the Tohoku Main Line and you'll arrive at the nearest station, Hiraizumi Station, in about 10 minutes. Tsukimizaka is about 1.6 kilometers away, so taking a taxi may be a good option

Chusonji Temple <Information>

• Name: Chusonji Temple
• Address: 202 Kinuzeki, Hiraizumi, Hiraizumi-cho, Nishiiwai-gun, Iwate Prefecture, 029-4102
• Phone number: 0191-46-2211
• Official URL:https://www.chusonji.or.jp/

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