Heirin-ji

Coordinates: 35°47′23.86″N 139°33′36.81″E / 35.7899611°N 139.5602250°E / 35.7899611; 139.5602250

Heirin-ji
金鳳山平林寺

Front gate at Heirinji
Basic information
Location 3-1-1 Nobidome, Niiza-shi, Saitama-ken
Affiliation Rinzai
Deity Shaka Nyorai
Country Japan
Website Official website (Japanese)
Architectural description
Founder Sekishitsu Zenkyū
Completed 1375

Heirin-ji (平林寺) is a Rinzai temple of the Myoshin-ji branch located in Niiza city, Saitama prefecture, Japan, a city just outside Tokyo.

History

The temple was founded originally in Iwatsuki, Saitama in 1375 by Sekishitsu Zenkyū, who had previously served as the Abbot of Engaku-ji, Tenryū-ji and Shōfuku-ji.[1] During this period the original temple was destroyed in 1590 during an attack on Iwatsuki Castle by Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

It was rebuilt in 1603 by Tokugawa Ieyasu and moved to Niiza city sixty years later. The temple grounds are situated in a forested area and is considered to be a national monument. Heirin-ji differs from other temples in the Tokyo area by having no temple markets nor public festivals held at the temple.

The temple remains a training ground for monks. The monks can often be seen working in the grounds. The grounds of the temple preserve a stretch of the Musashino woodlands. Animals such as raccoon dogs that are now not often seen in the city are found around the temple. The grounds also provide a roost for a large murder of Japanese crows. The gardens are notable for the maple trees in autumn and the ume blossoms in early spring. The bell, with the ume blossom, was the inspiration for one of Toshi Yoshida's wood block prints.[2][3]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ http://kotobank.jp/word/石室善玖
  2. ↑ Watanabe, 39
  3. ↑ McDonagh

References


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