Eigen-ji

Eigen-ji was founded in 1361 by the famous poet and roshi Jakushitsu Genkō under the sponsorship of the shugo of Ōmi Province, Sasaki Ujinori.

At its peak, the temple had over 2000 priests and 56 chapels on the mountainside. During the Onin War, many priests from the Kyoto Gozan temple sought sanctuary at Eigen-ji; however, the temple burned down in 1492 and again in 1563 and fell into decline afterwards.

According to a tradition in Inabe city in Mie Prefecture, a priest from Eigen-ji escaped over the Suzuka Mountains into Ise Province bearing the temple's treasures when the temple was destroyed by Takigawa Kazumasa on orders of Oda Nobunaga in 1570; however, there are no records of such an event at Eigen-ji itself.{{Cite book |last=Nishio |first=Hisaichi |title=鈴鹿の山と谷 3 (Mountains and Valleys in Suzuka 3) |publisher=Nakanishiya Publishing |year=1988 |isbn=9784888480826 |location=Japan |pages=65 |language=Japanese}}

During the Edo period, the temple was revived by an abbot named Isshi Bunshu from Myōshin-ji in Kyoto, under the sponsorship of Emperor Go-Mizunoo, his consort Tofukumon-in and Hikone Domain.

Today Eigen-ji is the head temple of the Eigen-ji branch of Rinzai Zen and governs more than 120 temples and one monastery.{{Cite web |title=Rinzai-Obaku zen {{!}} Head Temples - Eigenji Temple |url=https://zen.rinnou.net/head_temples/09eigen.html |access-date=2025-07-08 |website=zen.rinnou.net}}

The temple is a noted spot for hanami cherry blossom viewing in spring, with a variant of the sakura known as the "Eigenji-zakura" growing around the temple area.{{Cite web |title=関西自然に親しむ風景100選－検索する |url=http://www.global-kansai.or.jp/kansai100sen/index2.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304130128/http://www.global-kansai.or.jp/kansai100sen/index2.htm |archive-date=2016-03-04 |access-date=2025-07-08 |website=www.global-kansai.or.jp}} It is also known for the autumn colours of its maple trees in the autumn.

Because of the natural beauty surrounding the temple, it is one of the 100 Views of nature in Kansai.

The principle image of Eigen-ji temple is the Yotsugi Kannon. Legend has it that the first abbot of the temple, Jakushitsu, found a small Kannon statue on a rock near the temple. He invited the renowned Buddhist sculptor Gotokan to come to the temple and create a larger statue - inside which the small Kannon statue was embedded.{{Cite web |title=Eigen-ji Temple, Head Temple of the Eigen-ji Branch of the Rinzai Zen Buddhism |url=https://eigenji-t.jp/en/ |access-date=2025-07-08 |website=eigenji-t.jp}}

The principle image of Eigen-ji temple is a hibutus, or “hidden Buddha”. The image is hidden from public view behind a set of closed doors. However, once every 25 years or so, the doors are temporarily opened so that worshippers can gain a glimpse of the statue. The last time that this occurred was in 2016.

Eigen-ji (Rinzai temple) - front area landscaping.jpg

Eigen-ji (Rinzai temple) - front area.jpg

Eigen-ji (Rinzai temple) landscape.jpg

Eigen-ji (Rinzai temple) landscape1.jpg

Eigen-ji (Rinzai temple) landscape2.jpg

Eigenji temple, 永源寺 - panoramio.jpg|Sanmon

• The 100 Views of Nature in Kansai

• {{cite book| last =Dumoulin| first =Heinrich| author-link =Heinrich Dumoulin| title =Zen Buddhism: A History| publisher =World Wisdom, Inc.| date =2005| isbn = 0-941532-90-9}}

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{{Official website|http://eigenji-t.jp}}

• {{cite web| title =Head Temples - Eigen-ji| publisher =Official Site of the Joint Council for Japanese Rinzai and Obaku Zen| url =http://zen.rinnou.net/head_temples/09eigen.html| access-date = 2008-01-20}}
• [https://en.biwako-visitors.jp/spot/detail/2532 Shiga-Biwako Tourist Information]

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Category:Buddhist temples in Shiga Prefecture

Category:Eigen-ji temples

Category:Higashiōmi