Taisanji Temple

An Ancient Iyo Temple Said to Have Been Built in a Night

The Taisanji Temple (太山寺, Taisanji) is a Shingon temple in Taisanji-machi, Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture, whose late Kamakura main hall was designated a National Treasure in 1956; its Nio gate of the same period is an Important Cultural Property.

The Agency for Cultural Affairs relates the legend that the wealthy Mano no Choja built the temple in a single night, and that Gyoki (668 to 749) later carved its principal image by order of Emperor Shomu. Its founding is unknown, but the principal image and other statues are Heian works.

According to the Agency, it moved to its present site in 1062 and is said to have burned in 1108; a layer of burnt soil in the platform of the present hall confirms an earlier fire.

The Main Hall and the Nio Gate

The Agency notes that during repairs in 1955, ink inscriptions dated the twelfth month of 1305 and the fourth month of 1306 were found on the backs of frog-leg struts in the shrine cabinet and at the front of the division between the inner and outer sanctuaries, fixing the date of the main hall. It is an esoteric hall seven bays by nine, somewhat deep in plan.

The Agency records the Nio gate as a late Kamakura eight-legged gate three bays wide, hip-and-gable with a traditional tile roof.

A Kamakura Esoteric Hall

The Agency describes the main hall as a large esoteric hall in Kamakura Japanese style with an unusual plan, its inner sanctuary surrounded by a double outer sanctuary and side and rear sanctuaries, and with a fine unified Japanese-style design including the shrine cabinet.

Repaired many times between 1421 and 1805, it was restored to its original form, except for the roof, in the Showa repairs.

Visiting Taisanji

No official visitor information could be found.

Please check with Taisanji before visiting.