Kinshozan Undoan Temple

Overview

Kinshozan Undoan Temple is a Soto Zen Buddhist temple located in Undo, Minamiuonuma City, Niigata Prefecture. Known as 'Echigo's number one temple,' it boasts a history of over 1,200 years. According to temple records and the *Nihon Dojo Rendenroku*, the temple's origins are traditionally attributed to Fujiwara no Senbi-ni, the mother of Fujiwara no Fusabue, who is said to have established a hermitage there. In 701 AD (Yo-ro 1), Fusabue is said to have founded a nunnery to commemorate his mother. During the Muromachi period, Uesugi Norimasa, the Kanto Kanrei (governor-general) based in Naoetsu, is said to have revived the temple as a Zen temple in 1430 (Eikyo 1) or 1420 (Oei 27), according to temple tradition, inviting Kendo Keishi, a dharma heir of Kettō Nōshō, the head priest of Kōun-ji Temple, the first Soto Zen temple in Echigo. Ueda-sho had ties with the Yamanouchi Uesugi clan, and Norimasa, who succeeded the Yamanouchi Uesugi clan, is said to have revived the temple, carrying on the wishes of his uncle, Uesugi Norisada, who had planned its restoration. Norimasa retired from politics in 1447 (Bun'an 4) and lived in seclusion at Undoan Temple. Later, it developed into a major temple in Echigo with 27 affiliated temples and was called one of the four training grounds of Echigo along with Kōun-ji Temple (Murakami City), Shūgetsu-ji Temple (Niigata City), and Jikō-ji Temple (Gozen City). Stones inscribed with individual characters of the Lotus Sutra are embedded under the approach from the red gate. There's a long-standing saying, "Did you tread the earth of Undoan, or taste the miso of Kankō-ji?", suggesting that walking the temple approach brings blessings. During the Sengoku period, Hokkō Zenshu became the 10th head priest. After training and becoming the head priest at Undoan, he was invited by Takeda Shingen of Kai Province in 1565 (Eiroku 8) to become the head priest of Ryūun-ji Temple in Iwamurada, Saku County, Shinano Province. It is said that Uesugi Kenshin, the lord of Echigo Province, and his retainer, Naoe Kanetsugu, studied under priest Tenten Zondatsu (the 13th head priest, the elder brother of Nagao Masakage) during their childhood. The temple grounds feature a red gate built during the Eikyo era and rebuilt during the Edo period, and the main hall, which was also rebuilt during the Edo period by the master carpenter, Koguro Jinnai from Izumozaki.