Akaiya Well House ｜ Cultural Properties ｜ Miidera Temple Cultural Property Museum ｜ The Head Temple of the Tendaijimon Buddhist Sect Miidera Temple

Aka is water offered to Buddha. The spring water that flows out from the stones inside this well is thought to have spiritual power, and the well is said to have been used for the first bath given to each of the Emperors Tenji, Tenmu, and Jito. It is from this story that Miidera Temple—“Three Wells Temple”—takes its name.
The Akaiya Well House was built in 1600 to cover and protect the sacred spring water. The intricate design of the building is characteristic of the elegance of the Momoyama period (1573–1600). In particular, the kaerumata wooden strut on the front bears a remarkable carving of a dragon by Hidari Jingoro. Legend says that this dragon wreaked havoc every night on Lake Biwa, so Jingoro took it upon himself to hammer spikes into the beast’s eyes in order to calm it.

“The spring water that flows out from the stones inside this well is thought to have spiritual power”

“(Emperor) Tenji”

Emperor Tenji (626–671) reigned in the mid-seventh century. He conspired with Nakatomi no Kamatari to destroy the Soga clan and resolutely carried out the Taika Reforms as the crown prince. After his mother, Empress Saimei died in 661, he ruled without official accession. In 667 he moved to Otsunomiya in Omi Province (present-day Shiga Prefecture) and acceded to the throne in the following year. He improved internal administration by creating Kogo-nenjaku (family register) and enacting the Omi Codes. (Reigned 668–671)

“(Emperor) Tenmu”

Emperor Tenmu (?–686) was the emperor who reigned in the late seventh century. His other names were Amanonunaharaoki no Mahito and Oama. He was the third prince of Emperor Jomei and became a priest and moved to Yoshino in 671. After the death of Emperor Tenji, he won the Jinshin War in 672, and acceded to the throne at Asuka Kiyomihara Palace. He enacted a new social order (Yakusa no kabane) and the legal codes, revised the court rank and started editing the history of the nation. (Rained 673–686)

“(Empress) Jito”

Empress Jito (645–702) was the empress at the end of the seventh century. The second princess of Emperor Tenji and the empress of Emperor Tenmu. Her names were Takamanoharahiro no hime and Uno no sarara. After the death of Emperor Tenmu, she ruled without official accession. After the death of Prince Kusakabe, she acceded to the throne. Her imperial palace is Fujiwaranomiya Palace in Yamato Province. She abdicated the throne to Emperor Monmu and became Daijo Tenno (the title for an Emperor of Japan who abdicates the Chrysanthemum Throne in favour of a successor). (Reigned 690–697)

“kaerumata”

It is a part, both sides of which widen towards the bottom with curves, like a frog opening its legs (kaeru means a frog, and mata means crotch) and is located between two connecting beams. Otherwise, its name reportedly derives from karimata, the shape of the arrowhead, the edge of which splits into two.

“Hidari Jingoro”

A carpenter specializing in temples and shrines in the early Edo period. A master of carvings and architecture. Known for many anecdotes. The wood carving “sleeping cat” at Toshogu Shrine in Nikko is said to be his work, but this is not confirmed. The year of his birth and death is unknown. Nemuri-neko (sleeping cat) at Toshogu Shrine in Nikko.

Cultural Property of Japan

Akaiya Well House