Shōun-ji Temple

Overview

Shōun-ji Temple is a temple of the Myōshin-ji school of Rinzai Zen Buddhism located in Ichinoseki, Iwate Prefecture, known by the mountain name Daiji-zan. It was relocated to Ichinoseki in 1682 and took on its present name, becoming closely tied to the Tamura family, lords of the Ichinoseki Domain.

Highlights

• ●The burial ground of the Tamura family, lords of Ichinoseki Domain, arranged as a mound-style grave modeled on that of their ancestor Sakanoue no Tamuramaro
• ●The Hase Kannon Hall and the Tenrin Issaikyōzō sutra repository, a property designated by Ichinoseki City, both of which survived a Meiji-era fire
• ●The main hall, rebuilt in 1921, connected to the Hanazono Kaikan hall built in the mid-Shōwa period
• ●The Hoshōin mortuary shrine, a property designated by Iwate Prefecture, viewable along with other items by reservation

History

Shōun-ji originated as Hase-san Daiji-ji, founded in Iwanuma (present-day Miyagi Prefecture) by Tamura Muneyoshi, lord of the Iwanuma Domain. In 1682, when his son Tamura Taketaka moved to Ichinoseki, the temple relocated with him and was renamed Shōun-ji. It is said to have been founded by Fusahime (Shōunin-den) with Daiki En'ō Zenji of Zuigan-ji in Matsushima as its first abbot. In 1913, the graves of the Tamura family from Ichinoseki and from Tōzen-ji in Shinagawa, Tokyo, were consolidated at Shōun-ji and arranged into the current mound-style grave.

Map

38.9188, 141.1299 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1Visit the main hall, rebuilt in 1921, and view its architecture
2. 2Visit the Tamura family burial ground and learn about the history of Ichinoseki Domain
3. 3See the Hase Kannon Hall and the Tenrin Issaikyōzō sutra repository, which survived the Meiji-era fire
4. 4Visit the Tamura family memorial hall and the Hoshōin mortuary shrine by reservation

Did you know?

💡 In 1999, a tree burial ground was established as a sub-temple of Shōun-ji; it later became independent as its own temple, known as Chishōin.

Nearby spots