Address: 328 Kariya | Banshu Ako Ekimae, Ako 678-0239, Hyogo Prefecture
Attraction Location
Kuranosuke Oishi Statue Videos
The strolling garden of Gansui-no-niwa in Raigo-in Temple!
One of the sub-temples of Sennyu-ji temple, Raigo-in temple, was reportedly founded by Fujiwara Nobufusa when the court noble became a devout believer in Rev. Gatsuo, the 4th generation abbot of the Sennyu-ji temple, and donated a sub-temple to the high priest. The wooden sitting image of Kojin (lit. Fierce God) and his five guards in the Kojin-do hall are all masterpieces of the Kamakura period (1192-1333) and are designated as Important Cultural Properties of Japan. ALso called Ena (placenta)-Kojin, this statue, with its full-color glass eyes and old Chinese-style aristocratic garments, is said to be the only wooden work of its kind in Japan. Not far from the Kojin-do hall is the noted fountain Tokko-sui, which is believed to have been carved by Kukai, (a.k.a Kobo Daishi), the great priest of the early 9th century, with his Tokko a dagger-shaped ritual implement his image always holds in his right hand. Oishi Yoshio (a.k.a. Kuranosuke), leader of the Chushingura, in his reclusion in preparation for the famous vendetta in 1702, began living in Yamashina in eastern Kyoto for some time. This temple was sympathetic enough to issue and official domiciliary register certificate for him. This is how and why a number of mementos of the 47 Ako loyalists are stored in this temple including the tea room Gansui-ken, and the small Shogun (lit. Winning Troops)-Jizo image, which their leader Oishi reportedly deeply cherished. The strolling garden named Gansui-no-niwa is especially beautiful in the autumn when the leaves of the trees around the lake change their colour.