A Kamakura Golden Hall beside Hine Shrine
The Jigenin Temple Golden Hall (慈眼院金堂) is a golden hall that survives with the pagoda of the late Kamakura period in Hineno, Izumisano City, Osaka Prefecture, and was designated an Important Cultural Property on April 15, 1903 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records a single-storey hall three bays square with a hipped roof of full tiles and a one-bay porch, designated together with two ridge tags; designation number 00247.
The 1903 date in the Agency record is that of its designation under the former law.
One of Two Buildings Spared by Fire
According to the Izumisano City magazine, Jigenin is said to have been founded in 674 at the wish of Emperor Tenmu and stood with many halls as the shrine temple of the neighbouring Hine Shrine, until it was burned in 1585 when Hashiba (Toyotomi) Hideyoshi attacked Kii. It was later rebuilt by Toyotomi Hideyori, but only the pagoda and the golden hall survive from the earlier temple.
The golden hall is three bays square under a hipped roof of full tiles with a one-bay porch (Agency for Cultural Affairs). Izumisano City notes that the pagoda once stood beside it and was moved to its present site during its Meiji-period repair.
Why It Is an Important Cultural Property
The Agency record has no commentary; the structure and date set out what was designated.
What to Look For
Look for the neat three-bay hall with its hipped roof and one-bay porch (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Visiting
It is owned by Jigenin Temple (Agency for Cultural Affairs). No official information on visiting hours or fees was found. The pagoda and the golden hall are introduced together on the Jigenin Temple page.
Q&A
- When was it built?
- In the late Kamakura period (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- What form does it take?
- Three bays square, hipped, with a one-bay porch.
- What is designated with it?
- Two ridge tags.
- How did it survive?
- It and the pagoda escaped the fire of 1585 (Izumisano City).
- When was the Jigenin Temple Golden Hall designated an Important Cultural Property?
- On April 15, 1903 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Jigenin Temple Golden Hall (慈眼院金堂) |
|---|---|
| Location | Hineno, Izumisano City, Osaka Prefecture |
| Designation | Important Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Designated 1903/04/15 (Meiji 36) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Three bays square, single storey, hipped, one-bay porch, full tiles |
| Owner | Jigenin Temple |
| Public Access | No official information on visiting |
References
- Jigenin Temple Golden Hall (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/102/2172
- Hinenosho heritage series: Jigenin (Izumisano City public relations magazine, November 2020, Japanese)
- https://www.city.izumisano.lg.jp/material/files/group/19/20201116.pdf
Last verified: 2026.10.24
