Former Precinct of Jionji Temple

A Mountain Temple Complex of the Yamagata Basin

The Former Precinct of Jionji Temple (慈恩寺旧境内) is the former precinct of Jionji Temple in Sagae City, Yamagata Prefecture, designated a Historic Site in 2014.

According to the Agency for Cultural Affairs, it lies at the middle of the western edge of the Yamagata basin, with the Sagae River flowing east to the south, on the foremost hills below Mount Hayama.

The Agency records Sagae City as the managing body.

The Precinct

According to the Agency, medieval fortified residences surround the halls and the sub-temple plots in front of them, and about 4 kilometres to the north lies a mountain ascetic training ground called Sango.

In the Edo period it formed a single mountain temple complex of three chief sub-temples, Hozoin and Kezoin on the Shingon side and Saijoin on the Tendai side, and forty-eight lodgings. The halls and sub-temple plots restored in the Edo period, with the surrounding fortifications and the training ground, preserve the look of the precinct well.

What to Look For

The Agency notes that an inscription inside the principal image, a seated Miroku, shows that by 1298 the temple was held to have been founded at the wish of Emperor Toba. In the late Heian period it enjoyed the patronage of the Fujiwara regents through the Sagae estate, later of the Oe and Mogami families, and after 1622 of the shogunate.

Besides the main hall of 1618, it preserves many Buddhist images and documents, and bugaku performed by the Hayashi family has been offered at its sutra festival since medieval times. The Agency considers it extremely important for understanding Buddhist practice in Japan.

Visiting the Former Precinct of Jionji Temple

Check visiting arrangements with Jionji Temple.

Enquiries go to the Sagae City board of education.