Daishoin Temple

Overview

Daishoin is a Rinzai Zen Buddhist temple of the Nanzenji school located in Hagi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. It's also the 20th temple on the Chugoku Sanjusankannon pilgrimage. While it's said that a predecessor temple, Getsurinzan Kanonji, existed during the Enryaku period (late 8th - early 9th century), the details of its founding remain unclear. Later, in the late Kamakura period, Gion Oshō of Kenchoji Temple renamed it Daichunzan Kanki-ji and established it as a Rinzai Zen temple. However, it later fell into disrepair. Then, Mouri Tsunoniro, the second lord of the Hagi domain, rebuilt it from 1654 to 1656 as a memorial temple for his father, the first lord Hideoki. At that time, it was renamed Reitsubakiyama Daishoin, after Hideoki's posthumous Buddhist name. A fire in 1747 destroyed the temple, and the existing main hall and other buildings were rebuilt by the sixth lord, Mouri Muneniro. Daishoin houses the mausoleum of the Mori clan, lords of the Hagi domain, designated as a national historic site. This mausoleum contains the graves of lords from the second to the twelfth generations (counting Hideoki as the first lord of the Hagi domain, not Terumoto), including Hideoki, Tsunoniro, Yoshihiro, Muneniro, Haruchika, Narihiro, and Narimiro, along with their wives and retainers. More than 600 stone lanterns donated by the retainers line the paths, a breathtaking sight that speaks volumes about the temple's history and prosperity. Daishoin is a precious place where you can experience history and culture. Be sure to visit when you're in Hagi.