Eigen-ji
Eigen-ji (永源寺) is a Buddhist temple in the Eigenji-Takano neighborhood of the city of Higashiōmi, Shiga Prefecture, Japan. It is the head temple of one of the 14 autonomous branches of the Rinzai school of Japanese Zen[1] HistoryEigen-ji was founded in 1361 by the famous poet and roshi Jakushitsu Genkō under the sponsorship of the shugo of Ōmi Province, Sasaki Ujinori.[1] At its peak, the temple had over 2000 priests and 56 chapels on the mountainside. During the Onin War, many priests from the Kyoto Gozan temple sought sanctuary at Eigen-ji; however, the temple burned down in 1492 and again in 1563 and fell into decline afterwards.[1] According to a tradition in Inabe city in Mie Prefecture, a priest from Eigen-ji escaped over the Suzuka Mountains into Ise Province bearing the temple's treasures when the temple was destroyed by Takigawa Kazumasa on orders of Oda Nobunaga in 1570; however, there are no records of such an event at Eigen-ji itself.[2] During the Edo period, the temple was revived by an abbot named Isshi Bunshu from Myōshin-ji in Kyoto, under the sponsorship of Emperor Go-Mizunoo, his consort Tofukumon-in and Hikone Domain.[1] Present dayToday Eigen-ji is the head temple of the Eigen-ji branch of Rinzai Zen and governs more than 120 temples and one monastery.[3] The temple is a noted spot for hanami cherry blossom viewing in spring, with a variant of the sakura known as the "Eigenji-zakura" growing around the temple area.[4] It is also known for the autumn colours of its maple trees in the autumn.[3] Because of the natural beauty surrounding the temple, it is one of the 100 Views of nature in Kansai.[4] Principle imageThe principle image of Eigen-ji temple is the Yotsugi Kannon. Legend has it that the first abbot of the temple, Jakushitsu, found a small Kannon statue on a rock near the temple. He invited the renowned Buddhist sculptor Gotokan to come to the temple and create a larger statue - inside which the small Kannon statue was embedded.[5] The principle image of Eigen-ji temple is a hibutus, or “hidden Buddha”. The image is hidden from public view behind a set of closed doors. However, once every 25 years or so, the doors are temporarily opened so that worshippers can gain a glimpse of the statue. The last time that this occurred was in 2016.[5] Gallery
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External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Eigen-ji.
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