Shorenji Temple (Matsushiro)

Shorenji Temple

Shorenji Temple (證蓮寺), in the temple quarter in the southeast of the old castle town of Matsushiro, Nagano City, keeps four structures registered as Registered Tangible Cultural Properties on November 17, 2015: the main hall of 1887, a gate of the mid-Edo period, a bell tower of around 1912 and the Prince Shotoku Hall of 1912 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

The main hall follows the standard plan of the True Pure Land school, and the Agency describes its short-ridged hipped roof as typical of temple halls in Matsushiro.

The Four Structures

The main hall is 14 metres long, with a one-bay porch at the front (Agency for Cultural Affairs). The gate, a four-legged gate at the centre of the west side, was moved here around 1886; its size and structure resemble the front gates of the mausoleums of the lords of Matsushiro.

The bell tower, open on all sides, stands on a tall hexagonal stone base in the southwest corner and can be seen from the street (Agency for Cultural Affairs). The Prince Shotoku Hall faces north on the south side of the grounds and is decorated inside and out with plaster reliefs of dragons and auspicious beasts; it was rebuilt after a great fire with donations from the townspeople. Each structure is described on its own page.

Visiting

No official information from the temple could be found, so access arrangements and travel times are not given here. The bell tower can be seen from the street (Agency for Cultural Affairs).