Jissoin Temple

Overview

Jissoin Temple was founded in 1229 during the Kamakura period by Jokei Sojo. Initially located in what is now Kita-ku, Kyoto, it was later relocated to Ima-degawa Ogawa (present-day Jissoin-cho), Kamigyo-ku. To escape the Onin War, it was moved again in 1474 to its current location, the former site of the Seikinkoin sub-temple adjacent to Onjoji Temple. However, many of its buildings were destroyed by fires towards the end of the Muromachi period. In the early Edo period, Yoshitaka, son of Ashikaga Yoshiaki (the last Muromachi shogun) and Furushi Inko, became the head priest, deepening the temple's ties with the Imperial family. With the aid of Tokugawa Iemitsu, the Edo shogun, Yoshitaka rebuilt Jissoin. Subsequent head priests maintained connections with the Imperial family. The main hall is a relocated structure from the former palace of the Empress Consort of Emperor Higashiyama, Jo-shu-monin. The four-legged gate and the carriage entrance were also relocated from the same palace. In the late Edo period, Iwakura Tomomi resided here for a time, and records of secret discussions from that period remain. During the Meiji period, it merged with Shokoji Temple, a Nichiren Buddhist temple founded in Kita-Iwakura by Furushi Inko. In 1952, it gained independence from the Tendai-mon-shu sect. Jissoin's gardens feature a pond garden and a karesansui (dry landscape) rock garden. The pond is home to Japanese tree frogs. The gardens are especially beautiful in spring and autumn, but the reflection of the trees on the black floorboards, known as 'Tokomidori' and 'Tokomo-mimi,' is particularly famous. Many of the buildings are aging and supported by numerous props to prevent collapse; fundraising for repairs is currently an important undertaking.