Daizenji Temple

Daizenji is an ancient temple of the Shingon sect, founded in 718 AD by the Bodhisattva Gyouki, and stands as a historic temple representing the Koshu region. Its origins are said to lie in Gyoki's carving and enshrining of the Yakushi Triad—the Buddha of healing and medicine holding grapes in his hand, flanked by the Sunlight and Moonlight Bodhisattvas—which he perceived in a sacred dream atop rocks of Hikawa Gorge. During the Nara period (710 – 794 AD), the temple received an imperial plaque from Emperor Shomu, designating it as a Guardian Temple for the Nation, and flourished with fifty-two halls and three thousand temple quarters. It received deep devotion from rulers of the time, including Taira no Kiyomori, Minamoto no Yoritomo, and Takeda Nobuharu. The current Yakushi Hall was restored to its original form during a major dismantling and repair in 1954, and in the following year, the temple was designated as Japan’s National Treasure along with its portable shrine. It is a precious ancient temple that preserves many cultural assets from the ancient Saigusa clan through to the Edo period.