Mausoleum of Matsudaira Yoritsune at Honkyoji Temple

Hongyoji Temple Matsudaira Yorikane Mausoleum: A Hidden Cultural Gem in Takamatsu

Tucked away in the quiet residential district of Nishiyamazaki-cho in Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture, stands one of the most historically significant yet little-known cultural properties in Shikoku: the Matsudaira Yorikane Mausoleum at Hongyoji Temple. Registered as a national tangible cultural property in December 2019, this modest yet architecturally distinctive mausoleum honors a remarkable figure in the history of the Takamatsu Domain—a man whose decisive actions during the turbulent final days of the Tokugawa shogunate saved an entire domain from destruction.

Who Was Matsudaira Yorikane?

Matsudaira Yorikane (1809–1868), commonly known by his later name Matsudaira Sakon, was the eldest son of Matsudaira Yorinori, the eighth lord of the Takamatsu Domain. Born at the Takamatsu domain residence in Koishikawa, Edo (present-day Tokyo), Yorikane seemed destined for leadership. However, when his younger half-brother Yoritane was chosen as the heir to the domain, Yorikane was sent to Takamatsu at just eight years of age. At the age of 31, he retired to the Kameoka-so villa in the Miyawaki area of the castle town.

Far from retreating into obscurity, Yorikane flourished as a man of extraordinary culture and conviction. He demonstrated remarkable talent across a wide range of disciplines, from calligraphy, painting, waka poetry, and haiku composition to the tea ceremony, flower arrangement, and even Noh theater. He was known to perform female roles (onnagata) on stage and opened his performances to people regardless of their social class, earning him the affectionate nickname "Sakon-san" among the townspeople.

A devout follower of Nichiren Buddhism's Honmon branch, Yorikane organized the "Takamatsu Happin-ko," a series of Buddhist lectures in the city. He also maintained secret connections with pro-imperial loyalists (kinno shishi) during the turbulent final years of the Edo period, sheltering and supporting notable figures such as the poet and activist Kuyanagi Enseki and the scholar Fujikawa Sankei.

Saving the Takamatsu Domain from War

Yorikane's most consequential act came during the Boshin War of 1868. When the Takamatsu Domain found itself branded as an enemy of the imperial court after its forces had fought alongside the Tokugawa shogunate at the Battle of Toba-Fushimi, the domain faced imminent military attack. While some within the domain advocated armed resistance, Yorikane, together with the Confucian scholar Fujisawa Nangaku, made a fateful decision. They persuaded the 11th lord, Matsudaira Yoritoshi, to submit to the imperial forces. Two senior retainers were ordered to commit seppuku as a gesture of atonement, the lord left the castle to enter confinement at Jogan-ji Temple, and the domain formally expressed its submission. This act of decisive diplomacy saved Takamatsu and its people from the devastation of war.

Yorikane died later that same year at the age of 60. He was posthumously given the Buddhist name Hongyo-in-den Jimon Kingaku Gengai Nikkyo Dai-koji and was buried at Hongyoji Temple, a Nichiren Buddhist temple of the Hokke-shu Honmon-ryu denomination to which he had been deeply devoted. In 1915, he was posthumously awarded the Senior Fourth Rank by the imperial government in recognition of his extraordinary contributions.

Architectural Features of the Mausoleum

The mausoleum at Hongyoji Temple is a single-story wooden structure with a tile roof, encompassing a building area of approximately 16 square meters. It was originally constructed in 1868 (Meiji 1) and underwent renovation in 1909 (Meiji 42). What makes this building architecturally notable is its composite shrine-style (fukugo shaden) design—a format exceedingly rare among warrior-class mausolea in Japan.

The structure consists of three connected sections. The innermost chamber, called the okudan (inner sanctum), houses a muhoto—an egg-shaped stone tombstone characteristic of Zen and Nichiren Buddhist funerary tradition. This okudan is covered by a hogyo-yane, a four-sided pyramidal roof made of traditional hon-kawara tiles, supported by a one-ken-square (approximately 1.8 meters per side) framework. Connecting to the okudan through a two-tatami ai-no-ma (intermediate room) is a four-tatami haiden (worship hall) with a yosemune-zukuri (hipped) roof.

A particularly refined architectural detail distinguishes the okudan from the rest of the structure: while the haiden and connecting room use square pillars, the okudan exclusively employs round pillars (maru-bashira) paired with ogi-daruki (fan-shaped rafters). This deliberate differentiation in pillar and rafter style signals the sacred nature of the inner sanctum and demonstrates sophisticated architectural planning.

Why It Was Designated a Cultural Property

The Matsudaira Yorikane Mausoleum was registered as a tangible cultural property (building) on December 5, 2019, following a recommendation by Japan's Council for Cultural Affairs. Several factors contributed to this recognition.

The composite shrine-style design, linking an inner sanctum containing a tombstone with a worship hall through a connecting room, is extremely rare among samurai-class mausolea nationwide. The structure preserves its original form remarkably well, including the distinctive muhoto tombstone that is characteristic of the broader Takamatsu Matsudaira family burial traditions. Its re-evaluation was closely linked to the 2019 designation of the "Takamatsu Domain Lord Matsudaira Family Burial Grounds" at Honenj-ji Temple as a national historic site, which brought renewed scholarly attention to the funerary architecture associated with the Matsudaira clan.

This was notably the first mausoleum-type structure to receive tangible cultural property registration in Kagawa Prefecture, underscoring its unique position in the region's architectural heritage.

Visiting Hongyoji Temple

Hongyoji Temple is a quiet Nichiren Buddhist temple of the Hokke-shu Honmon-ryu denomination. As an active religious site, visitors should observe appropriate temple etiquette. The temple grounds offer a peaceful atmosphere ideal for quiet contemplation, surrounded by the residential neighborhoods of Nishiyamazaki-cho in western Takamatsu.

The mausoleum is located within the temple precincts. Because this is a working temple rather than a tourist facility, it is advisable to inquire at the temple office before visiting the mausoleum to ensure it is accessible. Photography policies should also be confirmed with the temple staff.

Nearby Attractions

A visit to the Matsudaira Yorikane Mausoleum can be combined with several other cultural and historical sites in the Takamatsu area to create a rich itinerary exploring the heritage of the Takamatsu Matsudaira family and Shikoku's cultural landscape.

• Ritsurin Garden (Special Place of Scenic Beauty): One of Japan's finest landscape gardens, featuring over 1,000 meticulously maintained pine trees set against the backdrop of Mount Shiun. Located approximately 20 minutes by car from Hongyoji Temple.
• Honenj-ji Temple (Matsudaira Family Main Burial Grounds): The main family temple (bodaiji) of the Takamatsu Matsudaira clan in the Busshozan area, designated as a national historic site. This temple houses the tombs of the domain lords and offers a remarkable display of over 200 muhoto tombstones.
• Takamatsu Castle Ruins (Tamamo Park): One of Japan's rare seaside castles, closely associated with the Matsudaira family's governance of the Takamatsu Domain.
• Kagawa Prefectural Museum: Houses a significant collection of Matsudaira family treasures, including important cultural properties and national treasures, providing essential historical context for understanding the family's legacy.