Usu Zenkō-ji, Buddhist temple in Date, Japan
Usu Zenkō-ji is a Buddhist temple in Date featuring a main hall that houses an Amida Buddha statue and displays traditional Japanese Buddhist architecture with curved roofs and wooden structures. The grounds include a museum building where visitors can view precious objects representing different historical periods.
Founded in 826 by Ennin, also known as Jikaku Daishi, the temple gained status as one of three government temples in Ezo in 1804 during the Edo period. This designation reflected its importance for Buddhist practice and regional development.
The temple holds 62 items designated as important cultural properties, reflecting different periods of Buddhist practice and religious life in the region. These objects tell stories about how people here connected their daily lives with spiritual traditions over centuries.
The temple's museum building is open to visitors with reduced rates available for students and groups. Bus parking is available on the grounds but requires an additional fee.
An Oribe stone lantern on the grounds was built by Christians fleeing persecution between 1624 and 1643, with distinctive religious symbol carvings incorporated into the stone. This object reveals the diverse religious history present at this location.
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