Overview
Eigen-ji is the head temple of the Eigenji branch of the Rinzai school of Zen, located in the Eigenji-Takano neighborhood of Higashiōmi, Shiga Prefecture. Its mountain name is Zuisekizan and its principal image is Kannon, the bodhisattva of compassion. Said to have been founded in 1361 during the Nanboku-chō period, its halls stand beside the Echi River in the foothills of the Suzuka Mountains. It is especially renowned for autumn foliage, when the trees on the grounds blaze with color and draw many visitors.
Highlights
- ●Prestige as head temple of the Eigenji branch of Rinzai Zen
- ●Autumn foliage that ranks among Japan's finest
- ●The principal image of Kannon, known as Yotsugi Kannon
- ●A serene setting by the Echi River in the Suzuka foothills
History
Eigen-ji is said to have been founded in 1361, with the shugo daimyō Rokkaku Ujiyori, of the Ōmi Genji line, as its patron founder and the eminent monk Jakushitsu Genkō as its founding abbot. As the head temple of the autonomous Eigenji branch within the Rinzai school, it has kept the flame of its teaching alive over many centuries. Each year on October 1 a memorial service honoring the founder is held, carrying the temple's history into the present. It is also counted among the temples and shrines of the Shinbutsu Reijō pilgrimage route.
Access
The temple lies in Eigenji-Takano, Higashiōmi, Shiga, amid the hills near latitude 35.08 and longitude 136.31. Set at the foot of the Suzuka range along the upper reaches of the Echi River, it is reached mainly by car or bus from the town center. As the autumn foliage season is especially crowded, using public transport and setting out early are recommended. Please confirm visiting hours and transport details through Eigen-ji's official information.
Best season
The greatest highlight is the autumn foliage, when the grounds turn vivid around November each year; the October 1 founder's memorial also falls in this season. Early summer wrapped in fresh green and winter, when the stillness of the mountain temple stands out, each have their own charm, offering the calm, Zen atmosphere of the temple through all four seasons.
Map
35.0806, 136.3196 · Wikidata
Suggested itinerary
- 1Travel from central Higashiōmi to the temple gate at Eigenji-Takano
- 2Pass through the approach and mountain gate and pay respects at the main hall
- 3Stroll slowly through grounds painted with autumn color
- 4Combine with the ravine scenery along the Echi River and nearby villages
Did you know?
💡 The principal image, the bodhisattva Kannon, has long been revered under the name Yotsugi Kannon (the Kannon of succession). The temple name Eigen-ji also gave rise to the surrounding place name of Eigenji-Takano and the former town name, a sign of how the temple has been cherished as a face of the community. Its founding abbot, Jakushitsu Genkō, was a monk of great renown in the Zen circles of his day.
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