What Is the Shakuson-in Temple Five-Ringed Pagoda?
The Shakuson-in Temple Five-Ringed Pagoda (釈尊院五輪塔, Shakuson-in Gorintō) is a late Heian-period stone memorial tower in the cemetery of Shakuson-in, a subtemple within the grounds of Chūson-ji in Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture; it bears an inscription dated 1169 and was designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan on 17 September 1954.
A gorintō is built from five stacked stones: a cube at the bottom, then a sphere, a pyramid-like roof, a half-moon and a jewel-shaped finial. Each stands for one of the five elements of Buddhist cosmology, earth, water, fire, wind and void. The form spread through Japan with Esoteric Buddhism in the late Heian period and later became the most common grave marker in the country. Very few examples carry a date as early as this one.
Shakuson-in is one of the subtemples that together make up Chūson-ji, the head temple of the Tendai school in northeastern Japan. The Agency for Cultural Affairs lists Shakuson-in as owner and the religious corporation Chūson-ji as the body responsible for its care. The Shakuson-in Temple Five-Ringed Pagoda stands in a small graveyard beyond the Konjikidō (Golden Hall), a short distance off the main pilgrim path.
Why the Shakuson-in Pagoda Matters
The national database describes the Shakuson-in Temple Five-Ringed Pagoda simply as a stone gorintō with an inscription on its base dated the twenty-third day of the fourth month of Nin'an 4. One character of the zodiac year is no longer legible, but Nin'an 4, which corresponds to 1169, was a year of the earth ox. Being able to read a carved date down to the day is what sets this tower apart.
Hiraizumi Town pairs it with the stone treasure tower at Ganjōju-in, another subtemple of Chūson-ji, as two rare survivors from the height of the Ōshū Fujiwara clan, and it identifies the Shakuson-in pagoda as the oldest five-ringed pagoda in Japan bearing an era date. The year 1169 falls roughly sixty years after Fujiwara no Kiyohira began building Chūson-ji in 1105, when his grandson Hidehira, the third lord of the clan, ruled Hiraizumi.
Stone gorintō multiplied rapidly from the Kamakura period onward, so most surviving examples date from after the 13th century. A dated Heian-period specimen here in Hiraizumi suggests that the form reached this distant northern capital early in its history.
What to Look for at the Shakuson-in Temple Five-Ringed Pagoda
According to Iwate Prefecture's description, the tower consists of a base and the rings, with a total height of 149.0cm from the bottom of the base stone to the top of the finial. The wind ring is missing, so the jewel-shaped void ring now rests directly on the fire ring. At roughly shoulder height, Shakuson-in's tower is smaller than most visitors expect.
Start with the side of the base, where the prefecture places the inscription. Placing the date on the pedestal rather than on the rings themselves is part of what makes this tower worth studying. The surface is weathered, and finding the two characters for Nin'an takes patience and a low angle of light.
The prefecture also notes Sanskrit seed syllables (bonji) carved on all four faces of the earth, water, fire and void rings. On a five-ringed pagoda each ring normally carries the syllable for its own element, so as you circle the stone the same character repeats on each face and changes from ring to ring. After more than 850 years outdoors, the letters show up best when the light falls across them.
Visiting the Shakuson-in Temple Five-Ringed Pagoda
The Shakuson-in cemetery lies in an area closed to general visitors, away from the ordinary pilgrim route. Chūson-ji's website gives no public guidance on it, but visitors who wish to see the Shakuson-in Temple Five-Ringed Pagoda reportedly need to contact Chūson-ji in advance and obtain permission. Wear sturdy shoes, and ask about photography when you arrange your visit.
The Shakuson-in Temple Five-Ringed Pagoda stands in the Shakuson-in cemetery beyond the Hondō and the Konjikidō, at the far end of the Tsukimizaka approach. Plan any request to see it within Chūson-ji's visiting hours. Hours and directions to the temple are gathered on the Chusonji Temple page.
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Q&A
- When was the Shakuson-in Temple Five-Ringed Pagoda made, and when was it designated?
- An inscription on its base dates it to the twenty-third day of the fourth month of Nin'an 4, or 1169, in the late Heian period. It was designated an Important Cultural Property on 17 September 1954.
- Is the Shakuson-in pagoda really the oldest five-ringed pagoda in Japan?
- Hiraizumi Town describes it as the oldest five-ringed pagoda that carries an era date. Undated towers are harder to place, so the precise claim is "oldest dated," not oldest overall.
- Can I visit the Shakuson-in Temple Five-Ringed Pagoda freely?
- No. The Shakuson-in cemetery is in a restricted area of Chūson-ji. Visitors reportedly need to contact the temple in advance for permission; ask about photography at the same time.
- Where in Chūson-ji is the Shakuson-in pagoda?
- It stands in the Shakuson-in cemetery beyond the Konjikidō, off the main path at the top of the Tsukimizaka slope.
- How tall is the Shakuson-in Temple Five-Ringed Pagoda, and is it complete?
- Iwate Prefecture gives a total height of 149.0cm. The wind ring has been lost; the base and the earth, water, fire and void rings survive.
Basic Information
| Name | Shakuson-in Temple Five-Ringed Pagoda (釈尊院五輪塔) |
|---|---|
| Location | Hiraizumi, Hiraizumi Town, Nishiiwai District, Iwate Prefecture (Shakuson-in cemetery, Chūson-ji grounds) |
| Designation | Important Cultural Property |
| Year Designated | 1954 |
| Quantity | 1 tower |
| Dimensions | Total height 149.0cm (per Iwate Prefecture; wind ring missing) |
| Owner | Shakuson-in Temple (managed by the religious corporation Chūson-ji) |
| Public Access | In a restricted area; viewing reportedly requires advance contact with and permission from Chūson-ji |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties (Agency for Cultural Affairs): Shakuson-in Gorintō
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/102/113
- Cultural Heritage Online: Shakuson-in Gorintō
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/187953
- Hiraizumi Town World Heritage Promotion Office: Cultural Properties of Hiraizumi, Buildings
- https://www.town.hiraizumi.iwate.jp/heritage/property/kenzou.html
- Chūson-ji Temple: Visiting Information
- https://www.chusonji.or.jp/worship/index.html
- Chūson-ji Temple: History
- https://www.chusonji.or.jp/know/history.html
Last verified: 2026.10.05
