Chusonji Temple

JAPAN, Iwate, Nishiiwai

Also called Hiraizumi Temple, it is the head temple of the Tendai school in the northeast and the most renowned temple in northeast Japan. According to temple records, the temple was founded by monk Ennin in 850 during the Heian period. It was revived by Fujiwara no Kiyohira in 1105, in memory of the soldiers who died in war and also to pray for peace and harmony. He brought in craftsmen from Kyoto to accomplish the task and work was completed in 1126. The temple continued to expand for the next three generations, adding to its splendor. A fire in 1337 during the Nanbokucho period left only the Golden Shrine, sutra repository, and some Dharma instruments in their original Fujiwara style. The temple was gradually revived thereafter.
The present structures include the main hall, sutra repository, Old Cover Hall, New Cover Hall, treasure hall, and Acala Hall. The New Cover Hall is the protective covering for the Golden Shrine, which was listed as a National Treasure in 1951. The square, three-by-three bay Golden Shrine was completed in 1124 during the Heian period. It has a single-eave pyramidal roof covered with cylindrical tiles, and measures 5.5 m on each side. Except for the roof, both the interior and exterior are covered with golden leaf, giving it the name the Shrine of Light. There are three Sumeru platforms, each of which has eleven statues: an Amitabha Buddha Triad flanked by six Ksitigarbha Bodhisattvas and two Heavenly Kings. The canopy above the Sumeru platform is supported by four round pillars and horizontal beams inlaid with colorful shells. The use of gold lacquer combined with the brilliant detailed work of the mother-of-pearl inlay brings out the glory of decorative art from the Heian period (794–1185).
The temple also houses National Treasures, such as the sutras written in gold characters on indigo blue paper, Dharma instruments, an octagonal mother-of-pearl platform, and a painting of the Golden Light Sutra Pagodas.