| Chūson-jí | |
|---|---|
中尊寺 | |
 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Buddhist |
| Deity | Shaka Nyōrai |
| Rite | Tendai |
| Status | functional |
| Location | |
| Location | 202 Hiraizumi-Koromonoseki, Hiraizumi-chō, Nishiiwai-gun, Iwate-ken |
| Country | Japan |
  Shown within Iwate Prefecture Show map of Iwate Prefecture Chūson-ji (Japan) Show map of Japan | |
| Geographic coordinates | 39°00′05″N141°05′59″E / 39.001446°N 141.099833°E /39.001446; 141.099833 |
| Architecture | |
| Founder | Ennin |
| Completed | c.850 |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | ii, iv |
| Designated | 2011 |
| Reference no. | 1277 |
| Website | |
| Official website | |
Chūson-ji (中尊寺) is aBuddhist temple in the town ofHiraizumi in southernIwate Prefecture,Japan. It is the head temple of theTendai sect inTōhoku region of northernHonshu. The temple claims it was founded in 850 byEnnin, the third chief abbot of the sect.George Sansom states Chūson-jí was founded byFujiwara no Kiyohira in 1095.[1] Chūson-jí was designated as aSpecial Historic Site in 1979[2] and in June 2011 was listed as aUNESCOWorld Heritage Site as a part of the "Historic Monuments and Sites of Hiraizumi".
At the beginning of the 12th century, large-scale temple construction was carried out byFujiwara no Kiyohira, the founder of theNorthern Fujiwara clan. The temple was built to placate souls of all who died in theFormer Nine Years War and theLatter Three Years' War. Kiyohira, who had been forced into bloody battles and lost his family in the war, resolved to bring peace to the region based on an ideal society following the teachings of Buddha. Per theAzuma Kagami (the official history of theKamakura shogunate) the temple contained more than 40 halls and pagodas, and over 300 monks' residences. Kiyohira's sonFujiwara no Motohira continued this plan, and commissioned his own great temple,Mōtsū-ji, nearby. Mōtsū-ji was completed by his son,Fujiwara no Hidehira, who also commissionedMuryōkō-in.
Hiraizumi flourished for nearly one hundred years, until its destruction by the forces ofMinamoto no Yoritomo in 1189. Chūson-ji survived the conflict, but fell into decline. In 1337 fire destroyed much of the temple; however, more than 3,000 National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties survived.
During theEdo period, it was partially rebuilt by theDate clan ofSendai Domain and became a subsidiary temple ofKan'ei-ji inEdo. It was visited byMatsuo Bashō during his travels while writing theOku no Hosomichi.
The Konjiki-dō (金色堂) is a small building completed in 1124, which still conveys an image of what Chūson-ji looked like in its prime. The building is covered withgold leaf on both the interior and exterior. Inside, the decorations usemother-of-pearl inlays, woodwork, metalwork, lacquerwork and paintings, bringing together many aspects of lateHeian period arts and crafts[3] It is one of two buildings that survive from the original Chūson-ji temple complex, the other being asutra repository. The building also serves as a mausoleum containing the mummified remains of the leaders of the Northern Fujiwara clan.
The building measures five-and-a-half meters on each side and is eight meters tall. The interior of the building contains three altars, one for each of the first three Fujiwara lords. Each altar had a seatedAmida Nyōrai surrounded by standingKannon Bosatsu andSeishi Bosatsu, sixJizō Bosatsu and two Niten statues. One Niten figure is now missing. The building was rebuilt from 1962 to 1968.
The mummies were last examined in 1950. It is assumed that the mummy of Fujiwara no Kiyohira was placed under the central altar. Fujiwara no Motohira's remains were identified as he is known to have died of acerebral hemorrhage. His mummy was found under the northwest altar. Fujiwara no Hidehira's remains were found under the southwest altar next to a casket containing the head of his sonFujiwara no Yasuhira who was beheaded in 1189.
The Konjiki-dō formerly sat outdoors in the open air. In 1288 it was covered with a wooden structure to protect it from the elements. Today it sits behind thickacrylic glass within a concrete building (constructed in 1965) and is visible only from the front and sides.Shōgyo Ōba, amaki-elacquer artist, helped to restore the interior lacquer work in 1964.[4]
The building was the first structure designated aNational Treasure of Japan.
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