Raw data
Zuiganji is one of the temples said to have been built by Ennin.
Located on the coastline of Miyagi Prefecture, it flourished in the Edo Period (1600–1868) as part of a network of Zen temples centered on Bodaiji, the clan temple of the Date family. The main object of worship is the Shôkannon bodhisattva (Aryavalokitesvara).
- Uryû (2003: 215–6)
On the order of Emperor Junna, Ennin and 3000 followers built the monastery in 828, and called it Empukuji, hoping to match Enryakuji (Hieizan) in size and prestige. It received the support of the Fujiwara family at Hiraizumi.
With the fall of the Fujiwara, it received patronage from Hôjô Masako, wife of the Shogun Minamoto Yoritomo. In the Kamakura period (1185–1333), it became a Zen temple, and enjoyed prosperity until the Warring States period.
Zuiganji was restored by Date Masamune, lord of Sendai. The reconstruction lasted from 1604 to 1609. Zuiganji acquired over 90 branch temples. Today, what remains of the Edo-period architecture is the main hall, granary, and roofed walls with three gates, designated as Important Cultural Treasures.
- “Zuiganji no enkaku/ Zuiganji history” http://www.zuiganji.or.jp/html/enkaku.html
Zuiganji has a number of caves built in the Kamakura period used to house funerary ashes.
- “Zuigan-ji” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zuigan-ji
Input by: Lizbeth H. Piel, Aug 28, 2010
Final data (and their sources)
Last updated: 30 Aug 2010
Lat/Long coordinates' accuracy:
The monastery in question is assumed to be situated actually no farther than 200 m from the point defined by the coordinates below.
General location of the Zuiganji monastery, JP.
Lat 38.372178 Long 141.059597
Mapping & images: Falling Rain Genomics (http://www.fallingrain.com), 2010.
Google Map link:
Final data - explanatory notes
1. Monastery's name
- Zuiganji 瑞巌寺. Alternative English spelling: Zuigan-ji
2. Monastery's modern country & province
- Japan: Miyagi Prefecture
3. Monastery's alternative/historical names
- Seiryrûzan - Uryû (2003: 215)
- Matsushima-zuigan-enpuku-zendera -http://www.zuiganji.or.jp/html/enkaku.html
- Enpukuji 延福寺, later Enpukuji 円福寺-http://www.zuiganji.or.jp/html/enkaku.html
4. Monastery's lat/long coordinates
- Approx., Lat 38.372178 Long 141.059597 - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zuigan-ji
5. Other known nearby Buddhist monasteries
- [missing data]
6. Modern name of the known nearest city, town, or village
- Miyagi-gun, Matsushima-machi, Matsushima-Azachônai
- Matsushima - http://www.fallingrain.com/world/JA/24/Matsushima.html
7. The settlement's alternative/historical names
- Miyagi Prefecture, along with Fukushima, Iwate and Aomori prefectures, was once known as Mutsu Province, or Ôshû. - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutsu_Province
- Matsusima - http://www.fallingrain.com/world/JA/24/Matsushima.html
8. The settlement's coordinates
- Approx., 38.3667 Long 141.0717 - http://www.fallingrain.com/world/JA/24/Matsushima.html
9. Monastery's major Buddhist tradition
- Mahayana
10. Monastery's Buddhist sub-tradition
- Tendai; Rinzai Zen
11. Date-early
- 828 - Uryû (2003: 216)
12. Date-intermediate
- Kamakura period (1185–1333) - Uryû (2003: 216)
13. Date-late
- 1604 to 1609 - http://www.zuiganji.or.jp/html/enkaku.html
- 1603 - http://www.frommers.com/destinations/matsushima/A31269.html
14. Details of contacts with other monasteries
- [missing data]
15. Type of evidence regarding the monastery
- Documents, artifacts
16. Additional notes
- Ennin apparently founded it with 3,000 monks - http://www.zuiganji.or.jp/html/enkaku.html
17. Corrections & addenda to this page were kindly provided by
- [missing data]
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