# Kita-in

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Buddhist temple in Saitama Prefecture, Japan

[35°55′03.09″N 139°29′20.64″E / 35.9175250°N 139.4890667°E / 35.9175250; 139.4890667](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Kita-in&params=35_55_03.09_N_139_29_20.64_E_)

Kita-in 喜多院 星野山無量寿寺喜多院 Tahōtō Religion Affiliation Tendai Deity Amida Nyorai Location Location 1-20-1 Kosenba-machi, Kawagoe, Saitama Country Japan Interactive map of Kita-in 喜多院 Architecture Founder Ennin Completed 7th year of the Tenchō Era (830 AD) Website Official website (in Japanese)

**Seiya-san Muryōshuji Kita-in** (星野山無量寿寺喜多院) is a [Buddhist](/source/Buddhism) temple located in the city of [Kawagoe](/source/Kawagoe%2C_Saitama) in [Saitama Prefecture](/source/Saitama_Prefecture), [Japan](/source/Japan). It is noted for its [main hall](/source/Main_Hall_(Japanese_Buddhism)), which was part of the original [Edo Castle](/source/Edo_Castle), and the statues of 540 [Rakan](/source/Arhat_(Buddhism)), disciples of the [Buddha](/source/Buddha). It is also known informally as the **Kawagoe Daishi** (川越大師).

## Origins and history

Kita-in is believed to have been founded in 830 AD by the monk [Ennin](/source/Ennin) under the orders of [Emperor Junna](/source/Emperor_Junna), with the name *Muryōju-ji* (無量寿寺, temple of unending life), Muryōju being another name for [Amitabha Buddha](/source/Amitabha_Buddha), the main object of worship.[1] The [Tendai](/source/Tendai) temple was then divided in three parts called *Kita-in* (北院, northern temple), *Naka-in* (中院, middle temple) and *Minami-in* (南院, south temple).[1][2] Naka-in is now a separate temple, and of Minami-in there remains only a cemetery.

Burned down during a war in 1202, it was rebuilt in 1296 under [Emperor Fushimi](/source/Emperor_Fushimi) and nominated a head temple of the Tendai sect in 1300 by [Emperor Go-Fushimi](/source/Emperor_Go-Fushimi), with control over 580 temples in eastern Japan.

It achieved its greatest fame and influence under the priest [Tenkai](/source/Tenkai) and was patronized by the first three [Tokugawa](/source/Tokugawa_clan) shōguns [Ieyasu](/source/Tokugawa_Ieyasu), [Hidetada](/source/Tokugawa_Hidetada), and [Iemitsu](/source/Tokugawa_Iemitsu). Such was Tenkai's influence that when Kita-in burned in 1638, Iemitsu transferred part of [Edo Castle](/source/Edo_Castle) to Kita-in. Because the castle burned during the [Great Kantō earthquake](/source/1923_Great_Kant%C5%8D_earthquake) of 1923, Kita-in contains the only extant structures from the original Edo Castle. These structures contain the reception rooms, study, kitchen, toilet and bathroom that Iemitsu used, as well as the actual room where Iemitsu is believed to be born in. Also contained is the dressing room used by his wet-nurse [Kasuga no Tsubone](/source/Lady_Kasuga) who became mistress of the inner palace of Edo Castle.[3] It was at that time that Kita-in replaced Naka-in as the most influential of the three temples. In the same period, the Chinese character in its name was replaced with the present ones, to mean great happiness.[1] The temple was also patronized by the *[daimyō](/source/Daimy%C5%8D)* of [Kawagoe Domain](/source/Kawagoe_Domain).

What is today [Ueno](/source/Ueno%2C_Tokyo)'s [Kan'ei-ji](/source/Kan'ei-ji) [main hall](/source/Main_Hall_(Japanese_Buddhism)) was taken from Kita-in and transferred to the site of a former Kan'ei-ji subtemple.[4]

## Features

- Reception Hall – Constructed in the 15th year of the [Kan'ei](/source/Kan'ei) era (1638) as part of Edo Castle. The room itself is the birthplace of Tokugawa Iemitsu. The building is a [National ICP](/source/Important_Cultural_Property_(Japan)).

- Wriitin Hall – Constructed in the 16th year of the Kan'ei era (1639) as part of Edo castle, it contains the private quarters of [Lady Kasuga](/source/Lady_Kasuga) (National ICP).

- Priest's Quarters – Constructed in the 15th year of the Kan'ei era (1638). (National ICP)

- The [sanmon](/source/Sanmon) was constructed in the 9th year of the Kan'ei era (1632). (National ICP)

- [Shōrō](/source/Sh%C5%8Dr%C5%8D) – Constructed in the 15th year of the [Genroku](/source/Genroku) era (1702). (National ICP)

- Jigen-do - a chapel to the priest Tenkai, built in 1645 (National ICP)

- [Senba Tōshō-gū](/source/Senba_T%C5%8Dsh%C5%8D-g%C5%AB) enshrining the spirit of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Destroyed in the fire of 1638 which burned the rest of the temple, it was rebuilt in 1640 by order of Tokugawa Iemitsu with a structure closely resembling [Nikkō Tōshō-gū](/source/Nikk%C5%8D_T%C5%8Dsh%C5%8D-g%C5%AB).[1] (National ICP)

- A [tahōtō](/source/Tah%C5%8Dt%C5%8D), a Japanese type of pagoda.

- Behind the main hall are the graves of five [Matsudaira clan](/source/Matsudaira_clan) *[daimyōs](/source/Daimy%C5%8D)* who ruled [Kawagoe Domain](/source/Kawagoe_Domain) during the 18th and 19th centuries.

- Next to the entrance stand the statues of 540 disciples of Buddha known as the 500 *[rakan](/source/Arhat)* (五百羅漢, *Go-hyaku rakan*). Carved between 1782 and 1825, they portray the disciples in a great variety of positions, so that no two are alike.[5]

	- Some of the 500 [Rakan](/source/Arhat) at Kitain

## Notes

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-kitain_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-kitain_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-kitain_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-kitain_1-3) Kita-in English pamphlet

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** The suffix is normally used for minor temples or subtemples.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Moriyama, p. 40

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Ueno"](http://tokyo-tokyo.com/Ueno.htm). Tokyo.com. Retrieved September 6, 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** [Kitain](http://www.kawagoe.com/kitain/english/index.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20181023171158/https://www.kawagoe.com/kitain/english/index.html) October 23, 2018, at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) (Retrieved on March 22, 2009)

## References

- Moriyama, T. (1998). "Weekend Adventures Outside of Tokyo," Shufunotomo Co. Ltd., Tokyo Japan, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [4-07-975049-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/4-07-975049-8).

- [Kita-in web site](http://www.kawagoe.com/kitain/english/index.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20181023171158/https://www.kawagoe.com/kitain/english/index.html) October 23, 2018, at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) (in English)

- Kita-in's English pamphlet retrieved on December 12, 2010

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Kitain](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Kitain).

- [Kita-in](http://www.kawagoe.com/kitain/index.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20190809131520/http://www.kawagoe.com/kitain/index.html) August 9, 2019, at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) (in Japanese)

- [Kita-in](http://www.kawagoe.com/kitain/english/index.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20181023171158/https://www.kawagoe.com/kitain/english/index.html) October 23, 2018, at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) (in English)

v t e Buddhist temples in Japan Japanese Buddhist architecture Architectonic elements hidden roof hisashi irimoya kaerumata: see nakazonae kairō karahafu karesansui kentozuka: see nakazonae komainu katōmado mokoshi moya nakazonae Niō or Kongōrikishi sandō shichidō garan shōrō sōrin tokyō tōrō onigawara Mon (gates) karamon nijūmon niōmon rōmon sanmon sōmon torii Buildings chinjusha chōzuya/temizuya -dō main hall (kon-dō, hon-dō, butsuden) kuri kyōzō or kyō-dō shoin Japanese pagodas gorintō hōkyōintō hōtō kasatōba sotōba muhōtō tahōtō Styles Daibutsuyō Wayō Setchūyō Shoin-zukuri Shin-Wayō Zenshūyō Ōbaku Zen architecture Others A-un ken Schools and objects of worship Major schools Jōdo Nichiren Shingon Tendai Zen schools Sōtō Ōbaku Rinzai Nanto rokushū Jōjitsu Hossō Kusha Kegon Ritsu Sanron Objects of worship Amida Nyōrai Benzaiten Dainichi Nyorai Jizō Kannon Marishi-ten Shaka Nyorai Shitennō (Four Kings) Twelve Heavenly Generals (Jūni Shinshō) Yakushi Nyorai Other elements Implements kei (ritual gong) mokugyō Others bussokuseki butsudan Glossary of Japanese Buddhism Japanese Buddhist pantheon jingū-ji miyadera saisenbako

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