Chūson-ji Temple

Chūson-ji

Chūson-ji is a Tendai sect temple located in Hiraizumi, Nishiiwa District, Iwate Prefecture, Japan. Also known as Hiraizumi-dera, it has the mountain name "Sekizan" and has been designated as a Special Historic Site of Japan. The principal image enshrined at the temple is Amida Nyorai. Legend says that the monk Jikaku Daishi Ennin founded Chūson-ji, though some believe Fujiwara no Kiyohira was the temple's true founder.

In the “Prayer for the Consecration of Chūson-ji,” Fujiwara no Kiyohira, the first head of the Fujiwara clan, expressed his wish to create an ideal land free from war. As such, the construction of Chūson-ji fully embodies the Pure Land cultural ideals integrated with nature. The temple houses over 3,000 national treasures and important cultural properties, including Japan’s oldest national treasure — the Golden Hall built in 1124 — making it a treasure trove of Heian-period (794–1192) art. Most of these national treasures and cultural assets can be viewed by visitors in the temple’s Treasure House and the Zenshō Collection. In addition, the temple’s scripture depository preserves the “Chūson-ji Sutras,” written in real gold and silver ink, as well as the “Song Edition of the Complete Buddhist Canon” imported from China. It is said that 1.3 kilograms of gold sand were spent to acquire this sutra collection at the time, attesting to its immense value.

Chūson-ji

Why go: One of Japan’s most important temples

Continent where the attraction is located: Asia【Asia】

Country/Region where the attraction is located: Japan[Japan]

Province/State where the attraction is located: Iwate Prefecture [Iwate Prefecture]

City where the attraction is located: Hiraizumi [Hiraizumi]