“Have you heard of the immortal recluse?” Legend says Hakuyu-shi dwelled in a rock cave north of Shirakawa. Here at Jogan-in Temple, we find a connection to this mythical figure.
Welcome to Jogan-in Temple. This temple is a treasure trove of history and art. It offers a glimpse into Kyoto’s spiritual past.
Jogan-in Temple is a temple of the Tendai sect. Its mountain name is Rozan. The temple may have been one of the sub-temples of Hieizan Enryakuji.
The temple burned down in 1571. This occurred during Oda Nobunaga’s burning of Mount Hiei. It was then rebuilt around 1608. A man named Shinyo Shonin led the reconstruction.
During the Edo period, Jogan-in became the family temple of the Daigo family. The Daigo family protected the temple.
Look closely at the main hall of Jogan-in. This hall has an interesting past. It was originally the Kannon-do hall of a Shinto shrine. This shrine was located in Kamogamo. It was moved here in 1689. See the latticework details? These were a common feature of buildings in that era.
Beside the main hall stands a stone monument. The nameplate says “Namuamidabutsu”. Hakuyu-shi brushed this. Hakuyu-shi lived from 1646 to 1709. He was an hermit from the early Edo period. He was skilled in calligraphy, astronomy, medicine and Taoism. Some say he was an immortal.
The monk, Hakuin, suffered from Zen sickness. He sought help from Hakuyu-shi. Hakuyu-shi taught him a meditation method. This healed Hakuin’s ailment. Hakuin recorded the event. He described Hakuyu-shi as an old man with hair reaching his knees. The old man sat before a table. On it were texts of Confucius, Lao Tzu and the Diamond Sutra.
People thought Hakuyu-shi was fictional. But a grave was found later. The grave confirmed his existence.
In 1874, Jogan-in’s Bisha-mon-do hall served as a school. It was the first location of the Kitashirakawa Elementary School.
Take a moment to find the “Ascending Dragon Pine” by the pond. It got its name from its shape. The tree looks like a dragon ascending to the heavens.
Before we leave Jogan-in, remember Hakuyu-shi. Remember the temple’s role in local history.