Chishaku-In Temple

紅葉の名所

History

The Chishaku-In is the HQ temple of Shingon Sect: Chisan-ha. Chishaku-in temple has a complexed history. It is said that the temple is related to the Shoun-ji temple which was constructed for Turumatsu son of shogun Hideyoshi Toyotomi and Daidenhou-in temple which used to be in the Kishu area. The Chishaku-in temple was originally the memorial tower for the high priest of Kishu-Nemuro-Daiden-In (so called “Negoro-ji temple”). Daiden-hoin is the temple established by the priest of Singon Sect; Kakuban on Koya-san Mountain in 1130. He left from the Koya-san Mountain due to the religious conflict in 1140 and transferred Daiden-hoin to the Negoro-san Mountain and formed a New Shingon Sect. It is said that Daiden-hoin was constructed during the Nanboku-cho era and used for an academic office in Negoro-san.
Entering the early modern period, Negoro-san Daiden-hoin opposed to Hideyoshi Toyotomi and was burnt down by his attack. Genyu who used to be a priest of Chicyaku-in at that time, evaded from the attack with his disciple and moved to Koya-san Mountain and prayed for the revival of Chichaku-in to protect the doctrine of New Shingon Sect.
In 1601, one year after the victory of Tokugawa side at the Sekigahara battle, Ieyasu donated the land and building of subsidiary temple of Fukoku Shrine and reorganized the Chichaku-in.
After the demolition of Toyotomi family, Chichaku-in was provided more lands and expanded the temple, renamed itself as the Negoro-ji temple on the Ihobo-san Mountain in Negoro.

translation:MAKOTO

Garden

The garden of Chicyaku-in was on of the favorites of tea master, Rikyu. It is said that it was created with influence of Rozan in China. At the front and right side, in the back of the stone bridge, the area there was created at the period of Shounzen-ji, and visitor are likely to feel a grandeur of wildness and valiance like you can imagine being in the deep of mountains with the background of shaped grasses, having the nature stones being a symbol of Momoyama culture period, and borrowed landscape of wood outside of the garden.

translation:MAKOTO

Chishaku-in and Art

In Chishaku-in, many treasures and valuable ancient documents written by high ranked priest including the national treasures such as small and large wall paint have been preserved carefully. Especially, the most famous one is the picture of cherry wood and maple wood made by Touhaku Hasegawa family. Also there is the picture of a tea room with ladies made by Insho Doumoto and many more arts are preserved as well. In autumn, thousands of leaves in the garden become absolutely red.

translation:MAKOTO

Address: 964 higashi-ouji Shichijyo-Sagaru, Higashikawara-machi, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto city, 605-0951
TEL: +81-75-541-5361
Formal Name: Ihobu-san Chichaku-in Negoro-ji
Sangou (Mountain Name): Ihobu-san
Sect: Shingon Sect. Chisan School
Idol: Kougokai Dainichi Nyorai
Founding Patron: Genyu
Cultural Properties: Shihonkinjichakusyokusyounisouka-zu (6 ink and color on gold leaf background paper images of pine trees and flowering plants) / Kongokyo (National Treasures), Kinjichakusyokushounibai-zu / Kenponchakusyokukujyakumeiou-zou, etc. (Important Cultural Properties), Main hall, Praying hall, Daishi-do (Prefecture Properties and Important Properties), garden (Special Place of Scenic Beauty)
Admission: In the ground of temple, free of charge
Hours: 9:00 – 16:00
Access Guide: Get off at Higashiyama Shichijyo Station of Municipal bus and 3 minutes walk
Get off at Shichijyo Station of Keihan Railway and 10 minutes walk
Official Website: https://chisan.or.jp/