ChusonjiHiraizumi, Iwate PrefectureIt is the head temple of the Tendai sect in Tōhoku region. The te
ChusonjiHiraizumi, Iwate PrefectureIt is the head temple of the Tendai sect in Tōhoku region. The temple claims it was founded in 850 by Ennin, the third chief abbot of the sect. At the beginning of the 12th century, large-scale temple construction was carried out by Fujiwara no Kiyohira, the founder of the Northern Fujiwara clan. The temple was built to placate souls of all who died in the Former Nine Years War and the Latter Three Years’ War. Kiyohira, who had been forced into bloody battles and lost his family in the war, resolved to bring peace to the region based on an ideal society following the teachings of Buddha. Per the Azuma Kagami (the official history of the Kamakura shogunate) the temple contained more than 40 halls and pagodas, and over 300 monks’ residences. During the Edo period, it was partially rebuilt by the Date clan of Sendai Domain and became a subsidiary temple of Kan'ei-ji in Edo. It was visited by Matsuo Bashō during his travels while writing the Oku no Hosomichi. -- source link