When Basho Matsuo (1644-1694), the famous haiku poet, visited Matsushima, it was told that he could not write a haiku as he usually did during his travel because he was so much impressed with the beauty of the landscape: All he could do before the scenery was, reportedly, that he just mumbled, "Matsuhima, oh, Matsushima, Matsushima."  Matsushima Town, County Miyagi, designated one of the three most beautiful sights in Japan in 1952, is located on the northern coast line of Miyagi Prefecture.  With over 260 islands in Mastushima Bay, it has been known throughout Japanese history for its natural splendor and beauty.  In 1986, the Ministry of Transportation proclaimed Matsushima as one of the New Sites of Discovery.
  It is about 30-40 minutes by train from Sendai (Central) Station; Matsushima Station on JR Tohoku Line and Matsushimakaigan Station on JR Senseki Line).  The current population is about 16,650 (2004): It covers 52,21 Square Kilometers.

IMAGE	IMAGE NO.	DATA
Oshima		Oshima the Buddhist Island (雄島; lit. Male Island), is located to the southeast of Matsushimakaigan Station on JR Senseki Line.  Access to this island is gained by passing the narrow road between rocks and crossing a red bridge.  It was founded by Tenrei-shoku (天嶺性空) the 105th chief priest of Zuigan-ji Temple in 1736.  On the island, you can find images of Buddhist deities sculptured directly onto rocks: They are reportedly memorial tablets.
	mts2006-001	(Sunday 14 May) Buddhist tablets in the rock on the way to Oshima from JR Matsushimakaigan Station
	mts2006-002	(Sunday 14 May) A scene on the way to Oshima from JR Matsushimakaigan Station
	mts2006-003	(Sunday 14 May) The narrow road to Oshima where Matsuo Basho and his disciple Sora went through in the late seventeenth century.
	mts2006-005	(Sunday 14 May) Monument of the famous haiku journal Oku no Hosomichi (The Narrow Road to the Deep North, 1694), Oshima.  In the journal, Matsuo mentioned this island and the retreat of Ungo-zenji (雲居禅師, 1582-1659;c.p. 1636-1659) the 99th chief priest of Zuigan-ji Temple and the rock on which he used to meditate.
	mts2006-006	(Sunday 14 May) The red bridge to Oshima
	mts2006-007	(Sunday 14 May) The red bridge to Oshima
	mts2006-008	(Sunday 14 May) The red bridge, viewed from Oshima
	mts2006-009	(Sunday 14 May) A western view of Oshima
	mts2006-010	(Sunday 14 May) A Buddhist stone statue (probably the King of the Asuras; a Titan), Oshima
	mts2006-011	(Sunday 14 May) A stone cave, Oshima
	mts2006-012	(Sunday 14 May) Stone caves, Oshima
	mts2006-013	(Sunday 14 May) A stone image of the Great Buddha, Oshima
	mts2006-014	(Sunday 14 May) The central Buddhist hall, Oshima
	mts2006-015	(Sunday 14 May) A northeastern view of Oshima
	mts2006-016	(Sunday 14 May) Matsushima Bay, viewed from Oshima
	mts2006-017	(Sunday 14 May) Godaidojima (standing a worship hall [Godai-do Hall] reconstructed by Masamune Date in 1609) and Fukuurajima (a natural botanical garden), viewed from Oshima
Zuigan-ji Temple		Zuigan-ji Temple (91 Chonai, Matsushima Town), formerly called Shoto-Seiryu-zan Zuigan Empukuzen-ji Temple (松島青龍山 瑞巌寺), is a Zen temple now.  It was originally founded by Jikaku-daishi Ennin in 828: It was originally named Empuku-ji Temple, which belonged to the Tendai-shu sect.   In the middle of the thirteenth century, the high priest Hosshin-zenji Shosai (法身禅師性西) met the regent Tokiyori Hojo (北条時頼, 1227-1263) and changed the Chinese characters of Empuku-ji: It was originally written "延福寺" (a Tendai-shu sect temple) but he changed it as "円福寺" (a Zen temple) in 1259.  The temple prospered during the Kamakura Period (1185-1333) and the Muromachi Period (1336-1573) but declined during the feudal wars between 1447 and 1600.   In the early seventeenth century (the beginning of the Edo Period), Empuku-ji Temple was revived by the lord Masamune Date.  In 1604, Masamune began reconstructing the temple gathering the best carpenters from Kyoto and Wakayama, and best materials from over the country.  Even after Masamune's death in 1636, at his will, reconstruction and development continued until the middle of the Edo Period.  More than 30 temples had been built including Entsu-in Temple, Yotoku-in Temple and Tenrin-in Temple.  Matsushima gradually became known as a temple town.      The famous haiku poet Basho Matsuo and his disciple Sora visited this temple on the eleventh day.  He noted:      Long, long ago, thirty-two generations before the present [in the Kamakura Period], Heishiro Makabe (真壁平四郎) or Hosshin-zenji Shosai (法身禅師性西) had entered Buddhist orders, gone to China to study, and then returned to found this temple.  Later, under the influence of the monk Ungo (雲居), its seven halls had been rebuilt.  Now the temple was a great center of worship, with dazzling golden walls-- a true paradise on earth.  Yet still I wondered where the holy man Kembutsu (見仏聖)'s temple might have been. [(c)www.tclt.org.uk]
	mts2006-018	(Sunday 14 May) Signpost of Zuigan-ji Temple
	mts2006-019	(Sunday 14 May) "So-mon" (front gate of a Zen temple), Zuigan-ji Temple.  The tablet reads "Sokaizenrin" (桑海禅林) which means "a temple (wood) standing near the coast of Japan, which was called 'Fuso' (扶桑) [by the ancient Chinese people].  It was written by the 105th chief priest Tenrei-shoku (天嶺性空).
	mts2006-021	(Sunday 14 May) Zizo (Skt. Ksitigarbha-bodhisattva or a guardian deity of children) statue just behind of "So-mon" (front gate), Zuigan-ji Temple
	mts2006-022	(Sunday 14 May) Main approach to "Chu-mon" (middle gate), Zuigan-ji Temple
	mts2006-023	(Sunday 14 May) Cave halls of Zuigan-ji Temple
	mts2006-024	(Sunday 14 May) Stone replica of the Mii-dera Temple Kannon (Skt. Avalokitesvara or Ch. Kuan Yin), Zuigan-ji Temple
	mts2006-025	(Sunday 14 May) Stone images of Buddhas, Zuigan-ji Temple
	mts2006-026	(Sunday 14 May) Cave halls viewed through the grove, Zuigan-ji Temple
	mts2006-029	(Sunday 14 May) Main approach to "Chu-mon" (middle gate) or the reception, Zuigan-ji Temple
	mts2006-031	(Sunday 14 May) Statue of a Buddhist saint near "Chu-mon" (middle gate) or the reception, Zuigan-ji Temple
	mts2006-032	(Sunday 14 May) An old lantern near "Chu-mon" (middle gate) or the reception, Zuigan-ji Temple
	mts2006-033	(Sunday 14 May) "Hosshin-kutsu" (法身窟) in the opposite side of reception.  This is the place where Hosshin-zenji met Tokiyori Hojo (北条時頼) in 1248.
	mts2006-034	(Sunday 14 May) The left stone tablet "Chinkai-kannon" (鎮海観音) carved base on the original picture painted by the local painter Kyokko Koike (小池曲江, 1758-1847).  "Hosshin-kutsu" (法身窟), Zuigan-ji Temple.
	mts2006-035	(Sunday 14 May) A Buddhist scripture near the "Hosshin-kutsu" (法身窟), Zuigan-ji Temple
	mts2006-036	(Sunday 14 May) "Chu-mon" (middle gate), Zuigan-ji Temple
	mts2006-037	(Sunday 14 May) "Hon-do" or "Hojo" (Main Hall), Zuigan-ji Temple.  This building faces south-east and has south and east entrances.  The south-east corridor connects the Kuri (temple kitchen) to the main building.  The building is 39 m x 25.2 m and has 10 traditional rooms and a traditional Japanese temple roof.  The construction took 5 years (1604-1609).
	mts2006-038	(Sunday 14 May) "Hon-do" or "Hojo" (Main Hall), Zuigan-ji Temple.  This building faces south-east and has south and east entrances.  The south-east corridor connects the Kuri (temple kitchen) to the main building.  The building is 39 m x 25.2 m and has 10 traditional rooms and a traditional Japanese temple roof.  The construction took 5 years (1604-1609).
	mts2006-040	(Sunday 14 May) "Garyubai" (臥龍梅 or the Twin Red and White Ume Trees of the Lying Dragon) in front of "Hon-do," Zuigan-ji Temple.  They were reportedly brought by Masamune Date from Korea in 1593: He carried them using his helmet as a flowerpot.  In 1609 when the temple was under reconstruction, Masamune himself transplanted them here.  Later it was named "Garyubai" because their shape looks like a lying dragon.
	mts2006-041	(Sunday 14 May) "Kuri" (Zen kitchen), Zuigan-ji Temple.  It is accepted by the beautiful contrast in its white outer walls and dark wood lattice work.  Inside there is spacious wooden flooring raised above the earthen entrance hall.  The building includes a cafeteria and a guest room.
	mts2006-043	(Sunday 14 May) "Kuri" (Zen kitchen), Zuigan-ji Temple.  It is accepted by the beautiful contrast in its white outer walls and dark wood lattice work.  Inside there is spacious wooden flooring raised above the earthen entrance hall.  The building includes a cafeteria and a guest room.
	mts2006-044	(Sunday 14 May) "Kuri" (Zen kitchen), Zuigan-ji Temple.  It is accepted by the beautiful contrast in its white outer walls and dark wood lattice work.  Inside there is spacious wooden flooring raised above the earthen entrance hall.  The building includes a cafeteria and a guest room.

        

Copyright (c) 2006 Eishiro Ito.  All rights reserved.