Hiraizumi (Iwate), the paradise on earth in Japan

2019年 05月23日


Hiraizumi, located in the north of Honshu, in the prefecture of Iwate today, is a Japanese village with historic background. It has been one of the rich cities in Japan in the 7th century, and it was the north headquarters of the Fujiwara clan, one of the most influential clans in that period. The aristocracy having strong ties between the royal family, played an important role reigned during 10th and 11th centuries.The power of Hiraizumi had been used to compared with Kyoto, the imperial capital of Japon.
The peaceful landscape of the country surrounding Hiraizumi, the rice fields and snowy mountains in the background

The founder is Kiyohira Fujiwara, a victorious samurai of the 3years war against the proper brotherfood, who was back to his home region which has been called Oshu (Iwate), decided to create Hiraizumi, the peaceful land consecrated to the Buddhism. When you vist this region, you should watch the historical incredible treasures which surrounds the lands, like Chuson-ji temple, in the top of the hill Kanzan, founded originally in 9th century by Ennin, (patriarch of a Buddhist sect Tendai) and it has been enlarged enormously by Kiyohira.
 
The magic of the autumn and coloured leaves surrounding the ancient temple Chuson-ji

We can still see the original building, the Konjikido, dedicated to the god of infinite light, Amida Nyorai. Its structure coated by gold plating is divine and it is recommended to contemplate it in the night, because it is so beautifully lighted. Many statues are made in 12th century, and also the ornaments and old writings are carefully preserved.

Treasure of Japanese national heritage, the oldest statues of Chuson-ji temple are remarquably well preserved.
Ennin founded also the temple Motsu-ji and a fantastic garden representing the " Buddhist pure land" and the beauty of Japan. Like the temple Chuson-ji, the temple became so huge after the arrival of Kiyohara who built 40 temples and 500 monasteries. The term of "Pure land" in Japan is a doctrine came from the Buddhist sect Tendai but it is originally by the Empire Han, the Chinese empire of the 1st century. It designates the happy earth and the infinit light. The paradise of Buddhism in Far-East.
 
A small part of the huge garden close to the temple Motsu-ji

It is said that the huge garden of Hiraizumi are almost untouched since its creation, also the temple Motsu-ji and the Kanjizaio-in Ato, it is written in the oldest book of Japanese gardening, the Sakutei-ki.

The paths of the cedar forest linked to the historical site in the country of Iwate

The similar structure of Kiyomizu-dera of Kyoto, the temple Takkoku-seiko-ji has many things for us to learn about the land of Iwate. In the past, the indigenous population called Akuro ko of Emishi, living in the north land of Japan. Many conflicts occured in the clans lived in the region. It is said that the temple was consecrated to the Buddhist god Bishamon ten built it for winning the conflicts. Located in the middle of the nature, this temple contains an engraved Buddha in the rock of 33m hight. In the cavern, we can see that the traces of the people of Akuro-ko,

Moine bouddhiste montant les marches du temple Takkoku-seiko ji
Hiraizumi is classified in the list of world heritage of UNESCO in 2011 in the category of temples, gardens and archeological sites representing the Buddhist pure land.


Book now for your trip to Hiraizumi and you should join to the one of the oldest summer festival of the north part of Japan!