恋塚浄禅寺

Whispers of forbidden love echo through the ages here at Koizuka Jizoson Temple. Koizuka Jizoson holds a unique place in Kyoto’s tapestry of temples. It’s a place where love, betrayal, and spiritual redemption intertwine. The story begins in the late Heian period. A warrior named Endo Moritoe fell deeply in love with Kesa Gozen. There was a problem. Kesa Gozen was married to Minamoto Wataru. Moritoe, consumed by his passion, pressured Kesa Gozen’s mother to arrange a meeting. Kesa Gozen, torn between duty and desire, agreed to a secret rendezvous. She devised a plan to protect her husband. She told Moritoe to kill the man sleeping in her husband’s bed. That night, Moritoe carried out the deed. He only later discovered that he had killed Kesa Gozen herself. She had taken her husband’s place, sacrificing herself to uphold her marriage vows. Overwhelmed with remorse, Moritoe became a monk. He built Koizuka Jizoson to honor Kesa Gozen’s memory. The temple’s name, “Koizuka,” meaning “love mound,” serves as a poignant reminder of this tragic tale. Inside the temple grounds stands a five-ringed stone pagoda. This pagoda is said to contain Kesa Gozen’s head. The pagoda has become a symbol of enduring love. Koizuka Jizoson was destroyed during the Battle of Toba-Fushimi in 1868. It was later rebuilt during the Meiji period. The current main hall was reconstructed in 2006. It houses statues of Kesa Gozen, Moritoe, and Wataru. Koizuka Jizoson isn’t just a temple. It’s a testament to the enduring power of love, sacrifice, and redemption.