Dainiji Temple, located in Nagato City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, is a Soto Zen Buddhist temple. Its mountain name is Zuunbanzeizan, and its formal name is Zuunbanzeizan Dainiji Gokoku Zenji. Legend says it was founded in 1410 by Washū Hirotada, the lord of Fukagawa Castle in Nagato Province, who invited the Zen monk Ishiya Shinryō from Sōjiji Temple in Noto Province to establish Kōfukuji Temple, the predecessor of Dainiji, within the castle. Because Kōfukuji was too close to the village, it was relocated to its present location by Chiō Eigishū, a senior disciple of Ishiya Zenji, who also changed the temple's name to Dainiji. Thereafter, Dainiji maintained a high status as a direct subordinate temple of Sōjiji.
Even after the Washū clan was destroyed by Ōuchi Kiyoharu, Dainiji Temple remained under the protection of the Ōuchi clan as their Koka-in (family temple). Uesugi Norimasa, the former Kantō Kanrei (military governor of the Kantō region), spent his final years at the temple after a life of political strife, passing away there in 1466.
In 1551, Ōuchi Yoshitaka fled to the temple from Yamaguchi after being betrayed by his vassal, Tō Sōhō, but was surrounded by Tō's army. After receiving his posthumous Buddhist name from Iseikei Ju, Yoshitaka committed seppuku (ritual suicide), and the temple was burned down (the Dainiji Incident). It was later rebuilt under the protection of the Mōri clan.
During the Meiji Restoration, the 45th abbot, Kiuunteisei, sheltered Sanjō Sanetomi, one of the Seven Loyal Retainers who had fled Kyoto. However, he opposed the Haibutsu Kishaku (the suppression of Buddhism) movement. In 1869, he protested the punishment of those involved in the desertion of the Kihōtai (irregular troops) and fled Yamaguchi, eventually settling at Toyokawa Inari in Aichi Prefecture. Without the protection of the clan, the temple fell into disrepair, and the old temple gate was demolished. However, due to its historical significance, efforts to preserve it increased, leading to the designation of the temple grounds and main hall as tangible cultural properties of Yamaguchi Prefecture and Nagato City in the 1960s and 70s.
In April 2010, the Kakeiden historical museum opened as part of the 600th-anniversary celebrations. The project to rebuild the temple gate is estimated to cost 600 million yen, and donations are currently being sought.
Dainiji Temple offers a tranquil space, surrounded by history and nature, providing a calming atmosphere for visitors. As a place connected to many historical figures, including members of the Ōuchi clan and Uesugi Norimasa, it's a must-see for history buffs. The grounds also hold numerous valuable cultural properties, including sites designated as historical landmarks by Yamaguchi Prefecture and Nagato City. During the autumn foliage season, the temple grounds are beautifully colored, adding to the charm of the location.
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