Chomeiji Temple Goma Hall: Dated 1606 by Its Rooftop Inscription
The Chomeiji Temple Goma Hall (長命寺護摩堂, Chōmei-ji Goma-dō) is a Momoyama-period Buddhist hall at Chomeiji Temple in Chomeiji-cho, Omihachiman City, Shiga Prefecture, and was designated an Important Cultural Property in 1967.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs explains that an inscription on the base of the rooftop finial (Roban) shows it was built in 1606. It is three bays square, with a pyramidal (Hōgyō-zukuri) roof of cypress bark (Hiwadabuki).
A goma hall is where the fire ritual called goma is performed, with offerings burned before a deity such as Fudo Myoo. According to the Shiga Prefecture encyclopedia, two posts stand toward the back of the Chomeiji Goma Hall, and between them a cabinet houses an image of Fudo Myoo.
A Small Hall That Links the Precinct
The Agency notes that the Chomeiji Temple Goma Hall stands between the Muromachi-period main hall and the pagoda of 1597, forming part of a single layout. The modest hall fills the gap between the large main hall and the tall pagoda.
The encyclopedia places the inscription on the inverted bowl of the finial and concludes that the hall followed the pagoda. Together with the bell tower of 1608, it belongs to the last phase of Chomeiji's rebuilding at the end of the Momoyama period, and it was designated on the same day as the bell tower in 1967.
The same source describes the Chomeiji Goma Hall as a plain building about 4.9 metres on each side, facing south like the other halls. Its value lies in a small, restrained hall surviving with a firmly established date.
What to Look For
Look up at the peak of the roof. The four slopes of cypress bark meet at a single point, where the finial base carrying the date sits; the key to the hall's age is at its very top.
Scale is the other thing to notice. Seen beside the pagoda just to the east, the low, spreading roof of the Chomeiji Temple Goma Hall makes the tower look even taller.
Visiting the Chomeiji Temple Goma Hall
The hall is viewed from outside; no official notice of interior openings could be found. The precinct is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with no admission fee.
The Chomeiji Temple Goma Hall sits immediately east of the main hall, on the way to the pagoda. No official rules on photography were found, so follow any notices on site. Directions to the temple are on the Chomeiji Temple page.
Q&A
- When was the Chomeiji Temple Goma Hall built?
- In 1606, during the Momoyama period, as shown by an inscription on the finial base at the top of the roof.
- When was the Chomeiji Temple Goma Hall designated an Important Cultural Property?
- On 15 June 1967, the same day as the temple's bell tower.
- What is enshrined in the Chomeiji Temple Goma Hall?
- According to the Shiga Prefecture encyclopedia, an image of Fudo Myoo is kept in a cabinet inside.
- Can visitors go inside the Chomeiji Goma Hall?
- No official notice of interior openings could be found. The exterior can be seen free of charge from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Where is the Chomeiji Temple Goma Hall in the precinct?
- Between the main hall and the pagoda: directly east of the main hall, with the pagoda further east.
Basic Information
| Name | Chomeiji Temple Goma Hall (長命寺護摩堂) |
|---|---|
| Location | Chomeiji-cho, Omihachiman City, Shiga Prefecture |
| Designation | Important Cultural Property (building) |
| Year Designated | 15 June 1967 (Showa 42) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | 3 bays by 3 bays, single storey, pyramidal roof, cypress bark; about 4.9 m on each side (Shiga Prefecture encyclopedia) |
| Owner | Chomeiji Temple |
| Public Access | Exterior open 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., free; no interior opening announced |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs Database: Chomeiji Goma Hall (Japanese)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/102/1407
- National Diet Library Collaborative Reference Database, quoting the Shiga Prefecture encyclopedia (Japanese)
- https://crd.ndl.go.jp/reference/detail?page=ref_view&id=1000102778
- Agency for Cultural Affairs Database: Chomeiji Bell Tower (Japanese)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/102/1406
- Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage Association: Temple No. 31 Chomeiji (Japanese)
- https://saikoku33.gr.jp/place/31
Last verified: 2026.10.04
