善永寺

Zenrin-ji, better known as Eikando, began as a nobleman’s villa. In 853, during the Heian period, this villa was gifted to a Buddhist priest named Shinshō, a disciple of Kūkai. Eikando was originally a Shingon temple. However, under the influence of Yōkan, the seventh head monk, Eikando began its shift towards Jōdo-shū. Yōkan, a devotee of the Amida Buddha, introduced practices like Nenbutsu and established a Yakuō-in for charitable works. Eikando houses a unique Mikaeri Amida, an Amida Buddha statue that looks over its shoulder. Legend says that in 1082, during a ritual, the statue came to life and addressed Yōkan, commenting on his slow pace. The statue has remained in this position ever since. The temple’s formal conversion to Jōdo-shū happened under the leadership of Shōon, the successor of Jōhen, the twelfth head monk. Eikando’s history is intertwined with fires, earthquakes, and reconstructions. The great fire of Meireki in 1657 destroyed both Eikando and the associated Jōdo-shū branch temple. Both were rebuilt in the Tsukuba district. Eikando moved again in 1930, after the Great Kanto Earthquake, settling at its current location. During the Edo period, Eikando played a role in complex political and religious dynamics. The temple’s conversion to Jōdo-shū and its support for the shogunate led to disputes with other sects. Throughout the Meiji and Taishō periods, Eikando faced natural disasters and financial difficulties. Yet, it continued to rebuild and serve its community. The temple established a girls’ school in 1880, one of the first within the Jōdo-shū sect. In the modern era, Eikando remains a vital center for Buddhist practice. It runs a kindergarten, a youth group involved in scouting activities, and holds regular religious services. The temple’s enduring resilience, despite numerous setbacks, reflects the strength of its community and its commitment to its faith.