Zenpoin Garden ｜ Cultural Properties ｜ Miidera Temple Cultural Property Museum ｜ The Head Temple of the Tendaijimon Buddhist Sect Miidera Temple

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Zenpoin was a formal priests’ quarters and one of the six splendid “Houses of Great Scholars” associated with Miidera Temple.
Its once-spacious garden appeared in the chorographical work Omi Yochishiryaku [Chorography of Omi Province] and the gardening book Tsukiyama Niwa-zukuriden [Landscape Garden Construction], famous books written in the Edo period. It was designated as a scenic historical site in 1934.
Tragically, a landslide following heavy rains buried the garden in 1941, wiping away its splendor. However, a survey map made by gardening expert Shigemori Mirei survives, and recent excavations have confirmed that the shape of the pond, stonework, and other important features have been well-preserved. A plan to reclaim and recreate the garden was established in 2017 and recovery and maintenance efforts will begin very soon.

“six splendid “Houses of Great Scholars” (rokusekishitsu)”

It is the name of six high-grade priest’s temple quarters in Miidera Temple in the Edo period (1603–1868). They include Hosen-in, Kangaku-in, and Konjo-in Temples which belong to the southern section, Nikko-in and Zenpo-in Temples in the middle section and Kiken-in Temple in the northern section.

“Omi Yochishiryaku”

It is a representative chorography through which the nature and history of Omi Province (present-day Shiga Prefecture) were compiled in the Edo period (1603–1868). This large set of 101 volumes in 100 books were edited by Samukawa Tatsukiyo (1697–1739), the feudal lord of the Zeze domain, in 1733. This is essential basic material when it comes to studying the local history of Shiga Prefecture.

“Tsukiyama Niwa-zukuriden”

These books for garden-landscaping were written by Kitamura Enkinsai in 1735 and published in Kyoto. They consist of three volumes. They gained popularity and contributed greatly to the diffusion of garden-landscaping as people’s hobby. It also influenced garden-landscaping in the Meiji era (1868–1912) onward.

“Shigemori Mirei”

Shigemori Mirei (1896–1975) was a Japanese landscape architect and historian of Japanese gardens during the Showa era.

−: Early Edo Period