Eikeiji Temple is a historic Buddhist temple located in Eikeiji-cho, Yamatokoriyama City, Nara Prefecture. Belonging to the Obaku school of Zen Buddhism, the temple bears the mountain name Ryugezan and enshrines Shaka Sanzon, a triad centered on Shakyamuni Buddha. Its peaceful surroundings offer visitors a quiet place to reflect while discovering the history and culture of the Yanagisawa family, once rulers of the Koriyama Domain.
The temple is closely associated with Yanagisawa Yoshiyasu, an influential figure in the Edo period who served as a trusted aide to the fifth Tokugawa shogun, Tokugawa Tsunayoshi. Eikeiji’s history stretches from Kofu in present-day Yamanashi Prefecture to its current location in Nara, reflecting the political changes and family legacy of the early 18th century.
Eikeiji was originally established in Iwakubo-cho, Kofu City, in present-day Yamanashi Prefecture. This area lies along the northern edge of the Kofu Basin and is rich in historical sites, including the former residence of the Takeda clan, the burial site associated with Takeda Shingen, and Enko-in Temple, one of the temples traditionally known as the Five Great Zen Temples of Kofu.
The temple is said to have been founded by Yanagisawa Yoshiyasu, a close confidant of Tokugawa Tsunayoshi. Yoshiyasu invited Eppo Dosho, a distinguished monk of the Obaku school, to participate in its establishment. The temple’s origins are also recorded in historical sources such as the Kai Kokushi, a geographical and historical account of Kai Province.
In 1704, Yanagisawa Yoshiyasu was appointed lord of the Kofu Domain, and plans for Eikeiji’s establishment moved forward. Although Yoshiyasu did not personally travel to Kofu, cultural activities flourished under his patronage. As a devoted follower of Obaku Zen Buddhism, he supported the temple as a place for memorial services and prayers for his family.
Historical records, including Ryugezan Gokonzorai Shoshiki Kakidome and Rakushido Nenroku, document Yoshiyasu’s generous support. He donated land yielding 370 koku of rice revenue in Iwakubo Village and Shimo-Sekisuiji Village to support the temple. The shogunate also granted permission for the family temple to receive treatment comparable to that of an established historic temple site.
The original Eikeiji complex in Kofu followed a layout similar to that of Manpukuji, the head temple of the Obaku school in Uji, Kyoto Prefecture. The main gate stood to the south, with the Buddha Hall at the center and the abbot’s quarters to the north. A bell tower and dining hall occupied the eastern side, while a Zen meditation hall and a memorial hall stood to the west.
The principal statue of Shakyamuni Buddha and its attendant figures were made in Kyoto, and Yoshiyasu donated many of the temple’s furnishings. These details reflect the resources devoted to creating a temple that embodied the religious traditions and artistic tastes of the Obaku school.
In 1724, the shogunate brought Kai Province under direct control, and the Yanagisawa family was transferred to the Koriyama Domain in Yamato Province, in what is now Nara Prefecture. Eikeiji was subsequently relocated to its present location in Yamatokoriyama.
The temple was unable to retain its original land holdings in Kofu, and the Kofu establishment was eventually discontinued. The remains of Yoshiyasu and his wife were later reinterred at Erinji Temple in present-day Koshu City, Yamanashi Prefecture. The relocation marked a significant turning point in the temple’s history, linking its original foundation in Kofu with the Yanagisawa family’s new home in Nara.
Eikeiji preserves seated wooden statues of Yanagisawa Yoshiyasu and his principal wife, Soshin Sadako. Both statues are finely crafted, painted, and fitted with crystal eyes, a traditional technique known as gyokugan that gives sculpted figures a lifelike appearance.
The statues were created by the Edo-period sculptor Oshita Jokei, also known as Jokei, together with his sons, Jiroemon and Mok uemon. They are enshrined in Kogen-den, a dedicated Buddhist room within the temple.
Yoshiyasu is depicted in formal court attire, wearing a black robe and ceremonial headdress while holding a shaku, a flat ritual baton. A sword is also included as part of his formal appearance. His wife wears layered robes and a red hakama skirt, holds a folding fan in her right hand, and is accompanied by a mirror.
The statue of Yoshiyasu is associated with a sword bearing the inscription Yamashiro-no-Kami Kunishige. The iron blade measures 42.5 centimeters in overall length and has a curvature of 17.5 centimeters, according to the recorded dimensions.
Its decorative mounting is particularly notable. Finished in a pear-skin lacquer style known as nashiji, it features the Yanagisawa family’s flower-diamond crest rendered in gold lacquer. The mounting follows the itomaki-tachi style, traditionally associated with wrapped-hilt ceremonial swords, and is believed to date from the 18th century.
Erinji Temple in Yamanashi Prefecture also preserves a statue of Yoshiyasu. The similarities in style and size between the statues suggest that they may have been produced as a pair by the same sculptor in connection with the Yanagisawa family’s relocation.
Today, Eikeiji stands in a quiet residential neighborhood of Yamatokoriyama. Despite its urban surroundings, the temple retains an atmosphere distinct from many other Japanese Buddhist temples, reflecting the Obaku school’s Chinese-influenced traditions in architecture, religious practice, and aesthetics.
The temple’s collection of objects associated with Yanagisawa Yoshiyasu makes it an important repository of local history, complementing the historical documents preserved at Yanagisawa Bunko Library. Together, these institutions help illuminate the family’s legacy and its influence on the development of Yamatokoriyama.
For visitors exploring the former castle town, Eikeiji offers a quieter side of the area’s heritage. Its historical associations and preserved cultural treasures provide an opportunity to reflect on the relationship between religious patronage, samurai culture, and the movement of powerful families during the Edo period.
Eikeiji Temple preserves the legacy of Yanagisawa Yoshiyasu and his devotion to Buddhism and cultural patronage. Founded in Kofu and relocated to Nara in 1724, the temple connects two regions through the history of the Yanagisawa family.
Its seated statues of Yoshiyasu and his wife, the intricately decorated sword, and the temple’s Obaku Zen heritage offer valuable insights into the religious and artistic culture of the Edo period. For history enthusiasts visiting Yamatokoriyama, Eikeiji is a meaningful place to explore the lasting influence of a prominent feudal family and the historical connections between Kofu and Nara.