Buddhist and Confucian Graves of a Daimyo Family
The Graves of the Nakagawa Family, Lords of the Oka Domain (岡藩主中川家墓所) is the graves of the Nakagawa lords of the Oka domain at three places within the former domain in Taketa and Bungo-Ono cities, Oita Prefecture, designated a Historic Site in 1997.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs lists them under the criterion for tombs and monuments.
According to the Agency, Nakagawa Hidenari entered Oka Castle with a fief of 66,000 koku in 1594, and Taketa remained the Nakagawa castle town until the Meiji Restoration.
The Three Burial Places
According to the Agency, the graves are at three places: Hekiunji temple in the castle town, in the mountains of Taisen to the north, and on Kofujisan to the east. Hidenari began building Hekiunji in spring 1612 but died before it was finished, and his funeral was held there; the temple name is said to come from a plaque he brought back from Korea.
Hekiunji holds the graves of the first, second, fourth, fifth, sixth, ninth and eleventh lords. Within earthen walls beyond the Onari gate lies the Ryugin pond, with pagoda- and ring-shaped grave towers at the foot of the hill to the north. The towers once stood inside mausoleum buildings; the second lord's mausoleum survives, moved to the neighbouring Koryuji.
What to Look For
The Agency notes that the third lord, Hisakiyo, loved Mount Taisen and chose Toriikubo in its mountains for his grave, where he was buried with Confucian rites as he wished. The eighth lord, Hisasada, was likewise buried with Confucian rites on Kofujisan, overlooking Oka Castle.
The Agency values the combination of Buddhist graves with gardens, as at Hekiunji, and Confucian graves set in nature, as showing daimyo ideas about burial. The Hekiunji graveyard was restored by the Taketa board of education in fiscal 1992, based on a map of 1860.
Visiting the Graves of the Nakagawa Family, Lords of the Oka Domain
The Hekiunji graveyard is laid out for visitors. Hisakiyo's grave lies deep in the mountains, so check routes and equipment before going.
Enquiries go to the Taketa City board of education.
Q&A
- When were the graves designated?
- On 2 September 1997.
- Where are they?
- At Hekiunji, on Mount Taisen and on Kofujisan.
- Who is buried at Hekiunji?
- The first, second, fourth, fifth, sixth, ninth and eleventh lords.
- Which lords had Confucian burials?
- The third, on Mount Taisen, and the eighth, on Kofujisan.
- Why are they important?
- They show daimyo ideas of burial in both Buddhist and Confucian forms.
Basic Information
| Name | Graves of the Nakagawa Family, Lords of the Oka Domain (岡藩主中川家墓所) |
|---|---|
| Location | Taketa City and Bungo-Ono City, Oita Prefecture |
| Designation | Historic Site |
| Year Designated | Designated 1997/9/2 (Heisei 9) |
| Quantity | 3 burial places |
| Dimensions | Not recorded in the Agency for Cultural Affairs database |
| Owner | Not recorded in the Agency for Cultural Affairs database |
| Public Access | Hekiunji graveyard laid out for visitors |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs Database: Nakagawa Family Graves (Japanese)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/401/2901
- Cultural Heritage Online: Nakagawa Family Graves (Japanese)
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/162638
Last verified: 2026.09.29