Cradle [クレードル] 出羽庄内地域文化情報誌

Designated a national treasure in 1929 and a national important cultural property in 1950.

This Buddhist temple belongs to the Hagurosan Kotakuji Shozenin Temple and is the first of the 33 sacred Kannon pilgrimage sites in Shonai.

In contrast to Daikondo Temple (“big gold temple”) on top of Mt. Haguro (formerly Jakko Temple, Mt. Haguro and currently Sanshin-Gosaidan, Mt. Haguro), this temple is Shokondo (“small gold temple”), but came to be called Koganedo Temple (“gold temple”) after the 33 statues of the goddess of mercy, Kannon that reflect a golden color.

Although tradition says it was built in 728 by the order of the Emperor Shomu, very likely it was constructed in 1193 by Minamoto no Yoritomo who appointed Sanehira Doi to build it to pray for suppression of the Fujiwara Clan in Hiraizumi.

Later, in 1593 the castle lord of Sakata, Kagetsugu Amakasu and Uesugi’s vassal, Naoe Kanetsugu conducted large-scale renovations over 3 years, resulting in the Koganedo Temple of today. Legend also says there is buried treasure within the temple grounds.

A 5ken (1ken=1.8m; counter used to number the gaps between pillars), 4-sided, 1-story construction with copper roofing.

Mt. Haguro did not escape efforts in the Meiji Period to eliminate Buddhist temples and statues as the result of an edict separating the Shinto and Buddhist religions. Koganedo Temple is one of 3 existing temples that survived during the destruction of the 10 large temples that formed Mt. Haguro at the height of its golden age. The proper name is Hagurosan Chojuji Kondo.

There are Buddhist images enshrined within Koganedo Temple from various eras, such as the Heian, Kamakura, Muromachi, Azuchi-Momoyama, and Edo periods, as well as 2 pairs of kongo rikishi statues (one at the main temple gate created by Kouon in 1633 and one within the hall made by Zenkei[  in 1695), a Zenbutsu object of worship that was once housed in the Five-storied Pagoda on Mt. Haguro, and 33 life-sized statues of Sho Kanzeon Bosatsu (goddess of mercy)—a rarity even in Tohoku. In addition, the Dewa Honjibutsu (original Buddhist divinity; Kannon, Amitabha, and Dainichi) of the three mountains that were in the sanctuary at Daikondo Temple (formerly Jakko Temple, Mt. Haguro and currently Sanshin-Gosaidan, Mt. Haguro) on the top of Mt. Haguro can be worshipped at Otake Dainichido Hall located within the same grounds.

Designated a national important cultural property in 1973.

This large temple bell hung in the bell tower atop Mt. Haguro is the largest in Tohoku, measuring 1.68m in circumference, 2.85m in height, and 21.5cm in thickness. Nationally, it is said to be the 3^rd largest after Todai Temple (Nara City) and Kongobu Temple (Koya, Wakayama Prefecture).

This bell was said to have been cast on Mt. Haguro. Approximately 2km to the northeast of the bell tower is a place called Kanegaoka (“bell hill”), and legend says that a caster from Oyama in Tsuruoka City, Sukeuemon Ito, was one of the craftsmen who cast the bell.

Designated a national important cultural property in 1950.

These are Haguro-kyo (Haguro mirrors) from the Heian Period until the Edo Period (unearthed at Mitarashi-ike , Mt. Haguro). The pond, Mitarashi-ike is in front of Sanshin-Gosaidan, the worship hall on the grounds of Dewa Sanzan Shrine at the peak of Mt. Haguro. It is elliptical in shape and runs east-west for 38m and north-south for 28m. It is also called Kagami-ike (Mirror Pond). There have been five or six hundred mirrors discovered in this pond, which is known throughout Japan as a place where mirrors were buried to pray for peace.

Designated a special national monument in 1955.

The front approach from Zuishin Gate is a long path of 2,446 stone steps over approx. 1.7km. Along the path are magnificent rows of Japanese cedar trees dating back 350–500 years. The over 400 cedar trees have been designated a special national treasure. It takes about 50 minutes to walk to the mountaintop.

At Ninosaka Tea House, visitors who make the trek receive a certificate attesting to the fact that they walked up the stone path (free).

Mini Column

The stone path has 2,446 steps. Along the way to the top, there are 33 shapes carved into the steps that include sake cups, gourds, lotus flowers, and yamabushi (mountain priests). It is said that if you find all of them, your wish will come true.

Designated a national scenic site in 1987.

Gyokusenji Temple Garden was first created in the Muromachi Period (1450s) and later improved in the Edo Period (1640s) by Tenyu Betto, said to be the forefather of Mt. Haguro’s revival. The pond-centered garden is said to be western in style, and the aged rock arrangements represent the stillness and harshness similar to that experienced by a priest of the Zen sect undergoing apprenticeship. The garden instills those who gaze upon it with a mysterious peace of mind. In 1987, it was designated a national scenic site for its importance in understanding transitions in the culture of gardens in the Tohoku region, and in recognition of its outstanding gardenscape that makes creative use of the placement of rocks on the islet, among standing stones, and in the middle of the pond.

Gyokusenji Temple is enveloped in flowers throughout the four seasons and has come to be called the temple of flowers. The temple grounds are blooming with cherry blossoms in spring, azaleas, Japanese primrose, and iris in early summer, and Japanese clover and Japanese anemone in fall.