Hiraizumi (Chūson-ji)
Hiraizumi Chūson-ji · Hiraizumi Government Site · Chusonji Golden Hall
Heian–Kamakura 1087–1189 CE (Fujiwara Ōshu)·Northern Fujiwara (Ōshu) — Frontier Pure Land Buddhist·🇯🇵 Tōhoku, Iwate Prefecture, Hiraizumi town, Chūson-ji hill 3 km west of Kitakami River, 35 km south of Morioka, Japan
About
About Hiraizumi (Chūson-ji)
Hiraizumi — northern Fujiwara capital (1087–1189 CE) 35 km south Morioka, Iwate Hiraizumi, excavated 1950s–2010s. Hiraizumi was northern Ōshu Fujiwara rival to Kyoto, with Chūson-ji Golden Hall (Konjiki-dō, 1124 CE) — interior gold leaf over lacquer, mother-of-pearl, and Fujiwara mummies (Kiyohira, Motohira) preserved. Also Mōtsū-ji Pure Land garden (Jōdo) with pond and islet. UNESCO 2011 as Hiraizumi Temples and Pure Land gardens. Destroyed 1189 by Minamoto no Yoritomo. Represents Frontier Jōdo Buddhism and frontier palace city.
Why it mattersOnly northern Fujiwara capital — Golden Hall gold-leaf mummified rulers and Pure Land garden UNESCO 2011
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Mummification technique — lacquer or diet?
Theories
- 01Hiraizumi as Kyoto-in-miniature frontier emulation
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- 1087 Fujiwara no Kiyohira capital; Konjiki-dō 1124 CE
- Period
- Heian–Kamakura 1087–1189 CE (Fujiwara Ōshu)
- Culture
- Northern Fujiwara (Ōshu) — Frontier Pure Land Buddhist
- Builders
- Fujiwara no Kiyohira–Hidehira and Kyoto artisans
- Purpose
- Ōshu Fujiwara frontier capital and Pure Land Buddhist city rivaling Kyoto Heijō
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
1087
Kiyohira founds Hiraizumi as Ōshu capital
1124
Konjiki-dō Golden Hall with mummies completed
1189
Minamoto no Yoritomo destroys Hiraizumi
2011
UNESCO 1277 inscription
On the ground
Structures & features
39.0010° N · 141.1060° E · 50 m · 2 mapped features
Chūson-ji Konjiki-dō (Golden Hall) with Fujiwara Mummies
hall5.5×5.5 m gold-leaf hall with four Fujiwara mummies and mother-of-pearl
39.0020° N · 141.1052° EMōtsū-ji Pure Land Garden and Pond
gardenJōdo pond garden 100×50 m with islet and Pure Land layout south
38.9995° N · 141.1071° E