Kuwanomi-dera Temple

Overview

Kuwanomi-dera Temple is a Tendai Buddhist temple located in Kuwanomi-dera, Azuchi-cho, Omihachiman City, Shiga Prefecture. Situated on the slopes of Kinugasayama mountain, its mountain name is Kinugasayama, its principal image is Yakushi Nyorai (Bhaisajyaguru), and its founder is Joei. It is also known as Kuwanomine Yakushi. According to temple legend, when a monk prayed for the recovery of Princess Abe, the fourth daughter of Emperor Tenchi (later Empress Genmei), Yakushi Nyorai descended from Lake Biwa, cured her illness, and then departed. Moved by this event, Emperor Tenchi commissioned Joei, the eldest son of Fujiwara no Kamatari, to found the temple in Hakuhō 6 (677 AD). The temple's name is derived from Joei cultivating mulberries brought from China, thereby initiating sericulture in Japan. In 1532 (Tenbun 1), the 12th Shogun of the Muromachi shogunate, Ashikaga Yoshiharu, established a temporary shogunal office at Kuwanomi-dera Temple and commissioned the creation of the "Kuwanomi-dera Engi Emaki" (Kuwanomi-dera Illustrated Scroll) by Sanjonishi Sanetaka and Tosa Mitsuhide, among others, which was then donated to the temple. Later, the 15th Shogun, Ashikaga Yoshiaki, also stayed there, highlighting its significant role in Japanese history. After a period of decline, Kuwanomi-dera Temple was protected by Oda Nobunaga, who established his base in Azuchi in 1576. However, in 1582, it is said that Nobunaga punished the maids of Azuchi Castle who visited the temple in violation of a curfew, resulting in the deaths of both the maids and the temple's high-ranking priests who had defended them. The temple complex includes the main hall, three tutelary shrines, the Daitoku-do (sutra hall), the Jizo-do (Jizo hall), and a bell tower. The main hall, in particular, is designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan and dates back to the early Muromachi period. It retains its original form, with five bays across and six bays deep, a single story, an irimoya-style roof, and a cypress bark covering. Kuwanomi-dera Temple is a serene space surrounded by history and nature, perfect for those seeking rest and rejuvenation. Nearby are other historical sites, including Kannonzōji Temple, the ruins of Kannonzōji Castle, Kyōrinbō, and the Shiga Prefectural Azuchi Castle Archaeological Museum, making for a great day of exploration.