TEMPLE

Pass through.

Tower Gate (Romon) / Nio Guardians / Imperial Envoy Gate (Chokushimon)

Built in the Muromachi period. Among the largest in Shiga. Tower Gate (Romon) Important Cultural Property

The Romon Gate of Jogonin Temple is a historic gate said to have been built at its predecessor, Jion-ji Temple, during the Muromachi period. It is said to be the largest in Shiga Prefecture, and its imposing appearance welcomes people walking along the approach to the temple. It is said to have been built by Kora carpenters, and conveys the craftsmanship and dignity cultivated over a long history.

The gate's two guardians. Once painted in color. Nio Guardians

The Nio statues guarding the tower gate welcome visitors with their powerful physiques and piercing gazes. The current appearance, with the bare wood exposed, is very impressive, but according to the observations of lacquer craftsmen, traces of past painting remain, allowing visitors to imagine the vibrant appearance of the statues in the past.

Trivia

Whose temple did this gate belong to?

This was once the site of Jion-ji, built by Sasaki (Rokkaku) Ujiyori to pray for his late mother. The Tower Gate was Jion-ji's gate.

You may pass.

Tower Gate (Romon)

Everyone is welcome.

You may not.

Imperial Envoy Gate (Chokushimon)

Traditionally reserved for the Emperor and his envoys.

A gate built to welcome the Emperor's envoys. Imperial Envoy Gate (Chokushimon)

The Chokushimon Gate of Jogonin Temple is a formal gate said to have been built by Oda Nobunaga to welcome the Emperor and his envoys. Its imposing appearance, featuring Zen Buddhist design, conveys the authority of the Warring States period to the present day. The painting installed on the fence in the foreground is a work by Suzume Hachiko (2024 Art Festival).

Look up.

Main Hall / Seated Amida Buddha / Standing Shaka Buddha

A Momoyama-period hall, moved here by Nobunaga from another temple. Main Hall Important Cultural Property

The main hall of Jogonin Temple was built in the Momoyama period, and it is said that Oda Nobunaga relocated the Miroku Hall from the former temple, Koryuji, to serve as the main hall. When you enter the hall, you will be enveloped in the silence and majesty that evokes the history of the Warring States period, and you will be able to experience a special moment. The orange monument installed on the stairs is a work by Nao Taki (2024 Art Festival).

Trivia

Where did the Main Hall stand before?

Nobunaga is said to have moved the Miroku Hall of Koryu-ji, a temple in Taga Village (now part of Omihachiman City), and made it the Main Hall.

About 2.7 meters tall. The principal image, whose halo Nobunaga is said to have had cut down. Seated Amida BuddhaBelieved to date from the Heian period

The seated Amida Buddha statue, the principal image of Jogonin Temple, is believed to date from the Heian period and is an imposing Buddha statue that stands approximately 2.7 meters tall from its base. It is said to be from the school of Jocho, who also created the Amida Buddha statue in Byodo-in Temple's Phoenix Hall, and its gentle facial expression and powerful physique are in perfect harmony. The halo features several flying celestial beings dancing in slightly different poses to those seen in Byodo-in Temple, adding to its splendor. The small portion of the top of the halo is missing, and it is said that Nobunaga ordered it to be cut off so that the Great Buddha could fit inside the main hall. Its stunning appearance when viewed from within the hall is truly captivating, inspiring visitors with a deep sense of peace.

Trivia

What did the Amida Buddha do on the way here?

Nobunaga had the Amida brought from Nikaido in Kora. On the way, carried by horse, it is said to have kept turning back toward its old temple, no matter how often it was set straight.

Kamakura period. A rare form, with robes rippling out in circles. Standing Shaka Buddha City-designated

The wooden standing statue of Shaka Nyorai is believed to have been made in the Kamakura period, and has an unusual design in which the robes covering both shoulders spread out in concentric circles at the chest, similar to the statue at Seiryoji Temple in Kyoto. In recent years, it was moved to the back of the main hall rather than the Shakado hall. When it was moved from the Shakado hall to the main hall, it was wrapped in cloth and photographs of it looking like a mummy were published in the newspapers. Its serene figure, which can be seen inside the hall, exudes a profound presence in the stillness.

Climb.

Bell Tower

A two-story tower from the mid-Edo period. Climb up for a view of the grounds. Bell Tower City-designated

The bell tower of Jogonin Temple is a two-story, old-fashioned structure built in the mid-Edo period. The upper floor is surrounded by a corridor with a balustrade, while the lower floor is a sturdy, hakama-koshi style structure. From the second floor, you can enjoy views of the temple grounds and surrounding area, and its historic appearance provides a special experience for visitors. During the art festival, artworks are displayed on the first and second floors, making it a popular spot.

Wander.

Garden / Fudo Hall / Kannon Hall / Stone Pagoda (Hokyointo) / Grave of Wada Koremasa

A stroll garden around a pond said to be modeled on Lake Biwa. Garden

The garden of Jogonin Temple is a strolling garden with a large pond in the center that is said to be modeled after Lake Biwa. It has been neglected for a long time and has become overgrown with vegetation, making it difficult to walk in some places, but the garden is being improved little by little as part of the art festival activities.

Built around 1702. Now a hall for memorial tablets. Fudo Hall City-designated

The Fudo Hall of Jogonin Temple is estimated to have been built around 1702 (Genroku 16). It stands small but elegantly to the southeast of the main hall, and is characterized by its compact structure of one bay and one bay, with a hogyo-zukuri (hogyo-style) structure and a shingled roof. Its appearance quietly draws the hearts of visitors, and it now serves as a memorial tablet hall, quietly watching over prayers.

A small mid-Edo hall. Now a place for art. Kannon Hall

This small chapel within the grounds of Jogonin Temple is said to have been built around 1721 (Kyoho 6) in the mid-Edo period. Originally it enshrined the Kannon Bodhisattva, but now it is an empty hall with no statue inside, and is used as an exhibition space during the art festival. Its simple, old-fashioned design creates a tranquil atmosphere, and it is a corner where you can encounter modern art amidst a hint of history. The Buddha statue housed inside the hall is the work of Jun Matsuyama (2024 Art Festival).

Nanbokucho period. Said to honor Rokkaku Ujiyori, founder of Jion-ji. Stone Pagoda (Hokyointo) City-designated

In the cemetery on the temple grounds, there is a Hokyoin pagoda from the Nanboku-cho period, which is said to be a memorial tower for Rokkaku Ujiyori, who is said to have founded Jionji Temple. This stone pagoda quietly records a long history, and makes visitors feel the weight of prayers that transcend the ages.

The warlord who introduced Luís Fróis to Nobunaga. Grave of Wada Koremasa

The grave of Wada Koremasa, located near the entrance to the Jogonin Temple cemetery, is known as a Sengoku period warlord who served as the lord of Takatsuki Castle and was also involved in the protection of Iga. He also left his mark in history as the man who introduced the missionary Luis Frois to Oda Nobunaga. The quietly standing gravestone conveys to us the era when the Sengoku period and missionary work intersected.

Trivia

How did Nobunaga get the monk to Azuchi?

Nobunaga met the monk Myokan while out hawking, saw his virtue, and ordered him to move to Azuchi. Nobunaga's vermilion-seal letter says the temple's lands would be seized if he refused.

Go back in time.

A thousand years of this temple

The temple's origins are said to go back to Prince Shotoku.

Sasaki (Rokkaku) Ujiyori builds Jion-ji to pray for his late mother.

The Tower Gate of Jion-ji is built.

The Tower Gate alone survives the fires of Nobunaga's wars.

Nobunaga founds Jogonin on the site of Jion-ji.

The Azuchi Debate.

The Bell Tower, Fudo Hall and Kannon Hall are built.

A thousand years of history, caught on your phone.

Seek.

Blood Ceiling

Said to bear the blood of monks who lost the Azuchi Debate. Where it is, no one knows. Blood Ceiling

The "Azuchi Debate" (Azuchi Questions and Answers) held by Oda Nobunaga under Azuchi Castle was a historic sectarian debate in which monks from the Jodo and Nichiren sects of Buddhism fiercely argued, and the setting for this was Jogonin Temple. Legend has it that the defeated monk was slashed with a sword, and his blood remained on the ceiling, earning it the nickname "Blood Ceiling." Furthermore, the chanting of Buddhist prayers by the Jodo sect's victorious monk is still heard today as "Victory Nembutsu," allowing visitors to simultaneously feel the tension of the Warring States period and the lingering echoes of prayer. The location of the bloody ceiling is currently unknown. Please try to find it.

Treasures of Jogonin Temple