A Lacquered Hall of the Sagara Lords
The Shozenin Kannon Hall (生善院観音堂) is a thatched three-bay Buddhist hall of 1625 in Iwano, Mizukami Village, Kuma District, Kumamoto Prefecture, and was designated an Important Cultural Property on September 11, 1990 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records a three-by-three-bay, single-storey hall with a thatched hipped roof and a one-bay porch roofed in wood shingles, with a shrine cabinet designated alongside it; designation number 02251.
A Hall of Lacquer and Colour
The Shozenin Kannon Hall was built by the Sagara family, lords of the Hitoyoshi domain (Agency for Cultural Affairs). It is a thatched hall three bays square, with a shrine cabinet inside.
Inside and out, everything from the cabinet to the altar platform is finished in lacquer, and the carvings are richly painted and gilded (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Why It Is an Important Cultural Property
The Agency notes that it is well preserved and represents the Buddhist halls of the early modern period in the region, and designates it as an Important Cultural Property.
What to Look For
Look for the lacquer finish inside and out and the painted and gilded carvings (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Visiting
It is owned by Shozenin Temple (Agency for Cultural Affairs). No official visiting information was found.
Q&A
- When was the Shozenin Kannon Hall built?
- In 1625 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- Who built it?
- The Sagara lords of the Hitoyoshi domain.
- How is it finished?
- In lacquer inside and out, with painted and gilded carvings.
- What else is designated with it?
- A shrine cabinet.
- When was the Shozenin Kannon Hall designated an Important Cultural Property?
- On September 11, 1990 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Shozenin Kannon Hall (生善院観音堂) |
|---|---|
| Location | Iwano, Mizukami Village, Kuma District, Kumamoto Prefecture |
| Designation | Important Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Designated 1990/09/11 (Heisei 2) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | 3 × 3 bays, single storey, thatched hipped roof, one-bay shingled porch |
| Owner | Shozenin Temple |
| Public Access | No official visiting information |
References
- Shozenin Kannon Hall (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/102/3585
Last verified: 2026.10.19