Jōrakuji Temple

Overview

Jōrakuji Temple is a single-affiliated Tendai sect temple located in Konan City, Shiga Prefecture. Its mountain name is Assei-zan, and its principal image is the Thousand-Armed Kannon. Referred to as "Nishi-dera" (West Temple) in contrast to Choju-ji Temple (East Temple) in Konan City, it is one of the three temples known as Konan Sansan. Jōrakuji Temple possesses a National Treasure Main Hall and three-storied pagoda. During the autumn foliage season, the entire mountain is ablaze with vibrant reds and yellows, creating a breathtaking spectacle. As the first temple on the Kinki Saigoku Sanjusankasho Kannon Pilgrimage route, it attracts numerous worshippers. The founding period and circumstances of Jōrakuji Temple are unclear due to a lack of historical records. Temple tradition states that it was founded in the Wadō period (708-715) by Ryo-ben at the imperial request of Empress Genmei. Like Choju-ji Temple, it is also said to have been built to protect the northern gate of Shigaraki-no-miya Palace. In the Enryaku period (782-806), it was converted to the Tendai sect, and from the Heian to Kamakura periods, along with Choju-ji Temple, it enjoyed the deep reverence of successive emperors, forming a Tendai Buddhist complex known as Assei-zan Gosenbo. In 1360, a fire destroyed the temple buildings, but they were rebuilt by Kankei and others in the same year. From June to September 1571, during the Ikko-ikki peasant uprising against Oda Nobunaga, who was centered in Kinomori, Yasugun (present-day Moriyama City), Sakuma Nobumori, a subordinate of Nobunaga, set up his headquarters at this temple. The Niomon gate of Jōrakuji, built in 1452, was later moved by Toyotomi Hideyoshi to Fushimi Castle, and then in 1601 by Tokugawa Ieyasu to Onjoji Temple (Mii-dera) where it now stands as the main gate (Important Cultural Property). Following the separation of Buddhism and Shinto in the Meiji period, Sansho Shrine, the temple's guardian shrine, became independent. In 2022, the temple separated from the Tendai sect and became an independent temple. Jōrakuji Temple is a wonderful place where history, culture, and nature harmoniously blend. We encourage you to visit.