Meigetsu-in
{{Infobox religious building
| name = Meigetsu-in
明月院
| native_name =
| image = Meigetsu-in Kamakura Main-Hall.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Main Hall
| map_type =
| map_size =
| map_alt =
| map_caption =
| location = 189 Yamanouchi, Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture
| coordinates = {{coord|35|20|5.97|N|139|33|5.24|E|source:kolossus-jawiki|display=title,inline}}
| religious_affiliation = Kenchō-ji Rinzai
| deity = Shō Kannon (Avalokiteśvara)
| country = Japan
| functional_status =
| website = None
| founded_by = Uesugi Norikata
| year_completed = {{start date and age|1394}}
}}
{{nihongo|Fugenzan Meigetsu-in|福源山明月院}} is a Rinzai Zen temple of the Kenchō-ji school in Kita-Kamakura, Kanagawa, Japan. It is also known as The Temple of Hydrangeas (ajisai-dera). The main object of worship is goddess Shō Kannon (聖観音).
History
Meigetsu-in was built by Uesugi Norikata of the powerful Uesugi clan, and the name itself derives from Norikata's own posthumous name (Meigetsu). According to 350-year-old records it was originally just the guest rooms of a much bigger temple called {{nihongo|Zenkō-ji|禅興寺}} which was closed by the government during the Meiji period.Mutsu:1995:165) Zenkō-ji was a temple of considerable prestige, being one of the Rinzai Zen temples classified as ({{nihongo|Kantō Jissetsu|関東十刹}}, which were second in importance only to Kamakura's so-called Five Mountains ({{nihongo|Kamakura Gozan|鎌倉五山}}. Zenkō-ji however didn't survive the anti-Buddhist clampdown (Haibutsu kishaku) that followed the Meiji Restoration. Meigetsu-in is the owner of a 13th century statue of Uesugi Shigefusa, founder of the Uesugi clan. He is dressed in the picturesque clothes of the dignitaries of the Kamakura period. The statue is a National Treasure.
Points of interest
- The temple's garden contains one of the celebrated {{nihongo|Ten Wells of Kamakura|鎌倉十の井}}, the Kame no I (瓶の井)
- The karesansui, a garden of raked sand, rocks and plants representing legendary Buddhist Mount Shumi.
- The yagura cave dug on the side of a hill is the largest in Kamakura. The small tower at its center is thought to be Norikata's tomb
- Hōjō Tokiyori's grave
- The hydrangeas in the garden. The flowers are apparently just a recent addition. They were reportedly chosen because of the ease with which they grow.
Directions
- Get off at JR Yokosuka Line's Kita-Kamakura Station. Walk about ten minutes towards Kamakura on the left side of the train tracks following the signs. Meigetsu-in is on a side street to your left.
Gallery
Image:Meigetsuin Yagura2.jpg|The Yagura. Visible are the figures of the so-called 16 Arhats
Image:UESUGI SHIGEFUSA.JPG|Uesugi Shigefusa's statue, a National Treasure
Image:Meigetsu-in Kamakura Round Window.jpg|Satori no Mado (Window of Enlightenment)
File:Meigetsuin - Kanagawa 2025 6 21.webm|Several scenes inside the temple during hydrangea season, 2025
File:Meigetsuin blue - 2025 June 21.jpg|Hydrangeas in the temple
File:Meigetsuin Temple @ Kamakura (12697523883).jpg|Snowy season
File:冬支度が整ったお地蔵様と、終盤の紅葉. 明月院で撮影 Pcs34560 IMG7811.jpg|Autumn foliage
Notes
{{Reflist}}
References
{{Commons category|Meigetsuin}}
- {{cite book
| last = Mutsu
| first = Iso
| author-link = Iso Mutsu
| title = Kamakura. Fact and Legend
| publisher = Tuttle Publishing
| date = June 1995
| location = Tokyo
| isbn = 0-8048-1968-8
}}
- [http://www.kcn-net.org/e_kama_history/kitakamakura/kitakamakura_2.htm Kita Kamakura], Kamakura Citizen Network accessed on March 29, 2008
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20161029114959/http://kamakuratrip.net/emeigetuin.html Kamakura Trip website] "Meigetsu-in Temple" page (in English)
{{Buddhism topics}}
{{Buddhist temples in Japan}}
{{Authority control}}