Jōdo-ji Temple

Overview

Jōdo-ji is a temple of the Chinzei branch of the Jōdo (Pure Land) sect, located in Ōji-nishimachi, Ōita City, Ōita Prefecture. Its mountain name is Kenbutsu-zan and its cloister name Seigan-in, and its principal image is Amida Nyorai. Though it sits quietly within the city, it is well known as the burial place of Matsudaira Tadanao, a daimyō exiled to the Bungo Funai domain in the early Edo period, making it a rewarding stop for history lovers and pilgrims alike.

Highlights

• ●Main hall listed as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property
• ●Grave and mausoleum of Matsudaira Tadanao (Ippaku)
• ●A Pure Land temple enshrining Amida Nyorai
• ●The dignified names Kenbutsu-zan and Seigan-in

History

The temple owes much of its fame to Matsudaira Tadanao, known by his religious name Ippaku, who was stripped of his lordship of Fukui and relocated to Bungo. A mausoleum for Ippaku stands in the precincts, cherished as the resting place of a lord who lived a turbulent life. In October 2008 the main hall and the Ippaku mausoleum were listed as Registered Tangible Cultural Properties of Japan, giving public recognition to their historical worth.

Map

33.2428, 131.5886 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1Pass through the gate and pray before Amida Nyorai in the main hall
2. 2Take time to view the registered cultural-property structures
3. 3Visit the Ippaku mausoleum and reflect on Tadanao's life
4. 4Savor the quiet before exploring central Ōita

Did you know?

💡 The temple carries the dignified names Kenbutsu-zan and Seigan-in, and enshrines Amida Nyorai. That a dispossessed daimyō, Matsudaira Tadanao, spent his final years and lies buried here brings a lesser-told chapter of early-modern history vividly to life.

Nearby spots