Gyokiji Temple

On 11th June, hubby and I visited Gyokiji Temple located in Kaizu city of Gifu prefecture. It is a Jodo sect Buddhist temple and its honorific mountain prefix is Goryuzan. It is also known by the names Tsukimiji and Kakurejo (hidden castle). The temple is located in the middle of Yoro Mountains. It is the family temple of Matsudaira, the lord of Mino Takasu Domain. The temple has a castle like structure with high stone walls, and at a first glance it looks like a small castle. According to some theories, the temple functioned as a castle of the Takasu Domain in an emergency.

A legend has it that a Buddhist priest of Nara period named Gyoki was touring the region in 744. He witnessed damages caused by flood in the area and requested Emperor Shomu to build the temple for the people. It is theorized that Gyoki was born in 668 and passed at the age of 81 at Sugawara Temple in 749, and was buried in Chikurinji Temple in Ikoma City. But according to the Gyokiji Temple documents, he was born in 677 and passed in 757, following which he was buried at this temple premises. Gyokiji Temple was burned down by Yuki Tomosada in 1336 during the turmoil of the northern and southern dynasties (Nanboku-cho period 1336-1392). It was rebuilt during Shohei era (1346-1370). In 1702, Yoshiyuki Matsudaira, the lord of the Mino Takasu Domain, made Gyokiji a family temple of Matsudaira and started a large-scale renovation work. The renovation was completed in 1709. Until Meiji Restoration, the general public was prohibited from worshipping at this temple. Currently the temple premises have a main hall, a warehouse, lecture halls, a mausoleum of Matsudaira family, and a strolling garden.

We visited Gyokiji Temple on a cloudy day. On reaching the car parking lot of the temple on Yoro Mountains, we noted that the parking lot served as an observation area. We got a wonderful overview of Nobi Plain stretching in front of us along with Ibigawa River flowing through it. The magnificent scenery was breathtaking. We enjoyed superb view of the plain and the river.

I am standing at the car parking lot

Nobi Plain and Ibigawa River to our left (north) as viewed from the parking lot

View right in front (east) of us

The plain and the river to our right (south)

We walked towards the temple premises and noted that the temple had high stone walls just like a castle. As I have written earlier, the temple also functioned as a hidden castle of the Takasu Domain during an emergency. In fact, another name of the temple is Kakurejo which means hidden castle.

A high stone wall of the temple

We reached the entrance of the temple and saw a gorgeous wooden gate named Sanmon. The gate was erected in 1820. We loved the intricate carvings on the gate. The gate with fresh green leaves of maple trees in the foreground was absolutely stunning.

Sanmon Gate and I

Another view of Sanmon Gate

Hubby and the gate as viewed from inside the temple premises

Just after entering Sanmon Gate, we saw a wooden building named Shinei-do to our left. On the far left, we saw a stone mausoleum of Matsudaira family of the Takasu Domain.

Shinei-do building

Mausoleum of Matsudaira family

Next, we saw Hondo Main Hall. The current Main Hall was rebuilt in 1832. There were many statues of Jizo Bosatsu lined on either side of the paved pathway leading to the hall. A principal statue of Amida Nyorai is enshrined inside the hall.

A paved pathway leading to Hondo Main Hall

Many statues of Jizo Bosatsu along the paved pathway

Hondo Main Hall

I am standing in front of the Main Hall

A statue of Amida Nyorai is enshrined inside the hall.

There is a strolling (circuit style) garden within the temple premises. The garden was built in 1705 and we can see it for a fee. We walked leisurely in the garden and enjoyed the seasonal flowers. Moss, which is the one of the signature plant of the garden, was so beautiful.

Garden

I am standing next to blooming flowers

Moss

We loved visiting Gyokiji Temple and enjoyed the stunning view of overlooking Nobi Plain from the temple premises.