Mino Kokubunji is a historic Buddhist temple in Ogaki City, Gifu Prefecture. It is the successor to the provincial monastery established in Mino Province during the Nara period under an imperial decree issued by Emperor Shōmu in 741. The emperor ordered the construction of provincial temples throughout Japan to promote peace and protect the nation through Buddhism.
The temple belongs to the Koyasan Shingon school of Buddhism and holds the status of a semi-special head temple. It is also the final pilgrimage destination of the Nishi-Mino Thirty-Three Sacred Sites pilgrimage. Its mountain name is Kinginzan, meaning Gold and Silver Mountain, and its principal image is Yakushi Nyorai, the Buddha of Medicine and Healing.
The temple’s founder is traditionally identified as the Buddhist priest Gyōki, who is said to have carved an image of Yakushi Nyorai himself, enshrined it as the principal deity, and established a temple complex consisting of seven major buildings.
The principal image is a monumental seated wooden statue measuring 304.8 centimeters in height. It is affectionately known as the Uma-darai Yakushi, or “Horse-Washing Yakushi.” According to tradition, the hollow in the statue’s back was once used to wash a horse’s legs after the statue had been unearthed from the ground.
This enormous statue, carved from a single block of wood, is regarded as one of Japan’s largest wooden images of Yakushi Nyorai and is designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan.
Kūkai, also known as Kōbō Daishi, the founder of Shingon Buddhism, is said to have served as the temple’s third chief priest. After the temple was destroyed by fire, it was revived in 1615 during the Edo period.
The exact date of the temple’s original construction is unknown, but it is believed to have been established in response to Emperor Shōmu’s imperial decree of 741. Archaeological excavations indicate that the principal buildings were completed by the 750s.
Excavations have also revealed the remains of an earlier Buddhist temple dating from the Hakuhō period, before the establishment of Mino Kokubunji. The provincial monastery appears to have been built on the site of this predecessor temple.
According to the temple’s own traditions, Gyōki carved the Yakushi Nyorai statue in 737, four years before the imperial decree, and established the temple with seven major buildings. However, the existing statue is generally dated to around the Heian period, several centuries later.
In 766, during the Tenpyō-jingo era, official orders concerning repairs to government buildings in Ise and Mino provinces included the two provincial Buddhist monasteries, the monks’ monastery and the nuns’ monastery.
In 770, Kunizukuri no Omi, a local official serving as deputy district administrator in Katagata District of Mino Province, donated 20,000 bundles of privately owned rice to the monastery and was rewarded with a promotion.
In 775, unusually severe winds and rain caused damage to temples and pagodas throughout the region, including Mino Kokubunji.
In 887, the temple was completely destroyed by fire. Its religious functions were transferred to a designated Buddhist convent in Mutsuda District. Although written records do not clearly document the subsequent reconstruction, archaeological evidence indicates that the monastery had been rebuilt by the early to mid-10th century.
The Engishiki, a compilation of Japanese administrative regulations completed in 927, records an allocation of 40,000 bundles of rice for the maintenance of the provincial monastery in Mino.
An official directive issued in 1004 ordered an inspection of the damaged halls, pagodas, and auxiliary buildings of Mino Kokubunji, confirming that a reconstructed monastery was in existence. Another inspection was conducted in 1029.
The monumental Yakushi Nyorai statue preserved at the present Kinginzan Kokubunji is believed to date from around the 11th century, suggesting that the temple remained an important religious center at that time. By the late 12th century, however, it is thought to have declined and ceased functioning as the official provincial monastery.
Historical documents show that the temple’s land came under the ownership of Emperor Go-Uda’s estate in 1228. A document from 1314 records the return of the property from Imperial Prince Sonchō, also known as Prince Takaharu, the future Emperor Go-Daigo, to the retired imperial prince Yotsutsuji.
A document dated 1322 lists the temple’s property as part of the holdings of Renzo-in, a subtemple of Daigoji Temple in Yamashiro Province, present-day Kyoto Prefecture.
In 1365, an order was issued requiring Toki Yoriyasu, the military governor of Mino Province, to contribute toward the costs of rebuilding Kasuga Shrine.
In 1615, a Buddhist priest named Shinkyō unearthed the Yakushi Nyorai statue and used it as the principal image when restoring the temple. This event marked the revival of Mino Kokubunji at its present location.
1916: The foundation platform of the main hall was discovered during land readjustment work.
1921: The ruins of Mino Kokubunji were designated a National Historic Site of Japan.
1968–1979: Archaeological investigations were conducted to establish the extent of the temple grounds and support preservation work.
1971: The designated historic-site area was expanded.
1974–1980: Environmental improvements and preservation work were carried out across the historic site.
1982: The Ogaki City Museum of History and Folklore opened on land adjoining the northern side of the site.
1996: Excavations were conducted in the area immediately south of the main temple complex.
2007: Mino Kokubunji Ruins Historical Park opened in its entirety.
2019: The National Historic Site designation was expanded once again.
The remains of the original monks’ monastery lie south of the present-day temple. The ancient temple precinct measured approximately 230 meters from east to west and 250 meters from north to south and was enclosed by an earthen wall.
The main buildings were arranged along a straight north-south axis, in the following order from south to north: the South Gate, Middle Gate, Main Hall, Lecture Hall, and Monks’ Quarters.
Covered corridors extended from both sides of the Middle Gate and connected to the Main Hall, enclosing the central area. A pagoda stood toward the eastern side of this enclosed space. This arrangement is known as the Daikan-daiji-style temple layout.
The Main Hall was the building in which the principal Buddhist image was enshrined. Its foundation platform was constructed using bricks and measured approximately 36.5 meters from east to west and 22.85 meters from north to south. Stairways were positioned at the center of both the northern and southern sides.
A narrow paved strip ran around the foundation, with drainage channels outside it to carry away rainwater.
The building itself measured approximately 29.4 meters from east to west and 16.2 meters from north to south, with seven bays along its length and four bays across its width. It also featured projecting eaves on all four sides. Today, the foundation platform has been reconstructed to illustrate the original structure.
The pagoda was used to enshrine Buddhist scriptures, including the Konkomyō Saishōō Kyō, or Sutra of the Golden Light. It stood inside the corridor-enclosed area, between the Middle Gate and Main Hall, slightly to the east.
Its brick foundation measured approximately 19 meters from east to west and 19.2 meters from north to south. The structure is believed to have been a seven-story pagoda reaching an estimated height of 58 meters.
Today, the foundation is indicated by a raised earth mound, and the original foundation stones are displayed in the open.
The purpose of this building remains unknown. It stood inside the corridor enclosure between the Middle Gate and Main Hall, toward the western side.
Its foundation is estimated to have measured 25.4 meters from east to west and 16.4 meters from north to south. Roof tiles dating from the Heian period have been recovered from the site. The building’s location is now marked by a raised mound.
The Lecture Hall was used for Buddhist sermons and the study of scriptures. It stood north of the Main Hall, and its stone foundation measured approximately 27 meters from east to west and 18 meters from north to south.
The remains are marked on the ground to help visitors understand the layout of the original building.
The monks’ quarters provided accommodation for approximately 20 monks. Archaeological remains have been found on the western side of the corridor complex.
The building was supported by wooden posts set directly into the ground and had a north-south orientation. It is believed to have extended for at least ten bays in length and three bays in width. Its location is now indicated by a raised mound.
The Scripture Repository was used to store Buddhist texts. It is believed to have stood outside the corridor enclosure, between the Main Hall and Lecture Hall, on the eastern side. Its estimated location is marked by a raised mound.
The Bell Tower housed the temple bell, which was rung for religious ceremonies and other purposes. It stood outside the corridor enclosure, between the Main Hall and Lecture Hall, on the western side. Its foundation has been reconstructed.
The Middle Gate stood south of the Main Hall and formed an important entrance to the central temple complex. Covered corridors extended from both sides of the gate toward the Main Hall. Its location is now marked by a raised mound.
The covered corridors connected the Middle Gate and Main Hall, enclosing the central area of the monastery. They measured approximately six meters in width. Their original positions are marked by raised earthworks.
The South Gate served as the main entrance to the monastery and stood south of the Middle Gate. Its foundation is now indicated by a raised mound.
The monastery grounds were enclosed by an earthen wall estimated to have measured 6.2 meters in width and three meters in height. Its former position is indicated by raised earthworks and plantings.
The site of the former provincial convent for Buddhist nuns is believed to lie in Hirao, Tarui Town, Fuwa District. A stone monument marks the location today.
The site lies between the former Mino Provincial Government offices and the ruins of Mino Kokubunji. Roof tiles recovered from the area feature patterns similar to those found at the monastery, supporting the connection between the two religious complexes.
The temple’s principal image is a monumental wooden statue of Yakushi Nyorai, the Buddha of Medicine and Healing. It was created during the Heian period and carved from a single block of zelkova wood.
The statue measures 304.8 centimeters in height, with a knee span of 112.5 centimeters and a knee height of 22.7 centimeters. It was officially designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan in 1914.
The ruins of Mino Kokubunji were designated a National Historic Site in 1921, initially covering the area around the Main Hall and pagoda. The protected area was expanded in 1971 and 1974, with a further expansion in 2019.
Today, the historical park preserves the remains of the ancient monastery and allows visitors to explore its layout, imagine the scale of its buildings, and learn about the role of provincial Buddhist temples in Japan’s early history.
Combining a remarkable Buddhist statue, centuries of religious history, and extensive archaeological remains, Mino Kokubunji offers a fascinating glimpse into the spiritual and cultural heritage of ancient Mino Province.