Daigakuin Temple

Overview

Daigakuin Temple is a Soto Zen Buddhist temple located in Kurashiki City, Tottori Prefecture. Its principal image is Shakamuni Buddha. It's a site of historical interest, attracting history buffs and those with ties to Tadayoshi Satomi, due to the presence of his grave and those of his eight loyal retainers (Hakkenshi) who passed away in this area in the early Edo period. Tadayoshi Satomi was the lord of Tateyama Domain in Awa Province. He was implicated in the downfall of Tadamichi Okubo and was transferred to Kurashiki Domain. This was essentially exile; he never entered Kurashiki Castle and instead resided in the village of Misaka in front of Daigakuin Temple. Later, he moved to Horimura (present-day Sekikan Town) and passed away in 1622. According to his will, he was buried at Daigakuin Temple, and his eight loyal retainers committed suicide by seppuku to follow their lord. Daigakuin Temple possesses a "Sancai Ryoka Kokka Bunban" (a tri-colored plate with carved flowers), a treasure donated by Tadayoshi himself, designated as a protected cultural property of Tottori Prefecture. Besides the graves of Tadayoshi and the Hakkenshi, there are also grave sites for Tokishige Masaki (Masaki Daizen), Tadayoshi's uncle, and Noto-no-kami Horie, a senior retainer. Daigakuin Temple also served as a prayer hall for the Arisugawa Princes, and memorial tablets for Imperial Princes Orihito and Shohito are enshrined there. When visiting Daigakuin Temple, take some time to reflect on its history and find peace and tranquility within its serene atmosphere.