Meigetsu-in
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Fukugenzan Meigetsu-in | |
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 Meigetsu-in, Kita-kamakura
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| Information | |
| Denomination: | Rinzai, Kenchō-ji school |
| Founded: | 1383 |
| Founder(s): | Uesugi Norikata |
| Address: | 189 Yamanouchi, Kamakura, Kanagawa 247-0062 |
| Country: |  Japan |
| Phone: | 0467-24-3437 |
| Website | |
| Website: | None |
The Fugenzan Meigetsu-in 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 the goddess Shō Kannon (聖観音).
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[edit] History
The Meigetsu-in was originally a subtemple of a bigger temple called Zenkō-ji (禅興寺) which was closed by the government during the Meiji period. This was a temple of considerable prestige, being one of the Rinzai Zen temples classified as Ten Prestigious Kantō Temples (Kantō Jissetsu) (関東十刹), which were second only to Kamakura's so-called Five Mountains (Kamakura Gozan) (鎌倉五山). Zenkō-ji however didn't survive the anti-Buddhist clampdown (Haibutsu kishaku) that followed the Meiji Restoration.
The Meigetsu-in was built by Uesugi Norikata, and the name itself derives from Norikata's own posthumous name.
[edit] Points of interest
- The Main Hall (see photo above) with its beautiful round window
- The temple's garden contains one of the celebrated Ten Wells of Kamakura, the so-called Kame no I (瓶の井).
- The Karen Sansui, a garden of raked sand, rocks and plants representing legendary Buddhist Mount Shumi.
- The Yagura cave dug on the side of a hill. The small tower at its center is thought to be Norikata's tomb.
- Hōjō Tokiyori's grave
- The hydrangeas in the garden. The flowers, however famous, are apparently a recent addition. They were reportedly chosen because of the ease with which they grow.
[edit] Getting there
- Get off at JR Yokosuka Line's Kita-Kamakura Station. Walk about ten minutes towards Kamakura on the right side of the street following the signs. The Meigetsu-in is on a side street to your right.
Meigetsu-in's Coordinates: .
Click on the coordinates to display more info.
[edit] References
- Meigetsu-in, A guide to Kamakura accessed on March 29, 2008
- Kita Kamakura, Kamakura Citizen Network accessed on March 29, 2008
- 明月院, Japanese Wikipedia accessed on March 29, 2008
