| Native name | 永源寺 |
|---|---|
| Relief | 1 |
| Location | 41 Eigenjitakano-chō, Higashiōmi-shi, Shiga Prefecture |
| Coordinates | 35.08057°N 136.31992°E |
| Religious affiliation | Buddhist |
| Rite | Rinzai school |
| Deity | Yotsugi Kanzeon Bosatsu (Avalokiteśvara of prosperity to descendants) |
| Country | Japan |
| Functional status | Head Temple |
| Website | Official website |
| Founded by | Sasaki Ujiyori and Jakushitsu Genkō |
| Year completed | 1361 |
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]
History
Eigen-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 day
Today 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 image
The 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]
See also
References
- Dumoulin, Heinrich (2005). Zen Buddhism: A History. World Wisdom, Inc. ISBN 0-941532-90-9.
Notes
- ^ "About Eugene-ji Temple 永源寺について｜臨済宗永源寺派 大本山 永源寺" (in Japanese). eigenji-t.jp. Retrieved 2025-07-08.
- ^ Nishio, Hisaichi (1988). 鈴鹿の山と谷 3 (Mountains and Valleys in Suzuka 3) (in Japanese). Japan: Nakanishiya Publishing. p. 65. ISBN 9784888480826.
- ^ "Rinzai-Obaku zen | Head Temples - Eigenji Temple". zen.rinnou.net. Retrieved 2025-07-08.
- ^ "関西自然に親しむ風景100選－検索する". www.global-kansai.or.jp. Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2025-07-08.
- ^ "Eigen-ji Temple, Head Temple of the Eigen-ji Branch of the Rinzai Zen Buddhism". eigenji-t.jp. Retrieved 2025-07-08.
External links
- "Head Temples - Eigen-ji". Official Site of the Joint Council for Japanese Rinzai and Obaku Zen. Retrieved 2008-01-20.
- Shiga-Biwako Tourist Information