Meigetsu-in

Fukugenzan Meigetsu-in

Meigetsu-in, Kita-kamakura
Information
Denomination Rinzai, Kenchō-ji school
Founded 1383
People
Founder(s) Uesugi Norikata
Location
Address 189 Yamanouchi, Kamakura, Kanagawa 247-0062
Country Japan
Website None

Fugenzan Meigetsu-in (福源山明月院) is a Rinzai Zen temple of the Kenchō-ji school in Kita-Kamakura, Kanagawa, Japan. Famous for its hydrangeas, it's also known as The Temple of Hydrangeas (ajisai-dera). The main object of worship is goddess Shō Kannon (聖観音).

History

The Yagura. Visible are the figures of the so-called 16 Arhats

Meigetsu-in was built by Uesugi Norikata of the powerful Uesugi clan, and the name itself derives from Norikata's own posthumous name (Meigetsu).[1] According to 350-year-old records it was originally just the guest rooms of a much bigger temple called Zenkō-ji (禅興寺) which was closed by the government during the Meiji period.[1] Zenkō-ji was a temple of considerable prestige, being one of the Rinzai Zen temples classified as (Kantō Jissetsu (関東十刹), which were second in importance only to Kamakura's so-called Five Mountains (Kamakura Gozan (鎌倉五山).[1] Zenkō-ji however didn't survive the anti-Buddhist clampdown (Haibutsu kishaku) that followed the Meiji Restoration.[1] Meigetsu-in is the owner of a famous 13th century statue of Uesugi Shigefusa, founder of the Uesugi clan.[1] He is dressed in the picturesque clothes of the dignitaries of the Kamakura period.[1] The statue is a National Treasure.[1]

Points of interest

Uesugi Shigefusa's statue, a National Treasure

Getting there

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Mutsu:1995:165)

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Meigetsuin.

Coordinates: 35°20′5.48″N 139°33′4.99″E / 35.3348556°N 139.5513861°E / 35.3348556; 139.5513861

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