Honedera Village Manor Ruins

The Origins of Honedera Village, an Estate of Chūson-ji

The Honedera Village Manor Ruins preserve the remains of a medieval shōen - a rural estate established in the 12th century and managed by Chūson-ji Temple in nearby Hiraizumi. The estate originated when Jizaibō Renkō, a monk who contributed to the completion of the Issaikyō (Complete Buddhist Scriptures), was appointed the first head monk of the temple’s scripture repository (kyōzō). Renkō donated his private land, Honedera Village, to support the maintenance of the repository, and the estate was formally recognised by Fujiwara no Kiyohira - a samurai and founder of the Northern Fujiwara dynasty, which ruled northern Japan from around 1100 to 1189 - who sought to realise a Buddhist Pure Land in the region. From the late Heian through the Kamakura period (late 11th century to the mid-14th century), the shōen spanned approximately 48.8 hectares, serving both religious and agricultural purposes. 

Even after the fall of the Fujiwara clan, the land remained under temple control, despite ongoing disputes with local rulers such as the Kasai clan, and was eventually passed down into the Muromachi period. During the Edo period, the area came under the direct control of the Sendai Domain and remained so until the Meiji Restoration (1868). It is believed that the name "Honedera" (骨寺) gradually changed to "Honji" (本寺) during this time. Today, the area is referred to as the Honji District.

Mention of Honedera Village in Historic Documents

Honedera Village is mentioned in the “Azuma Kagami”, a historical chronicle from the Kamakura period, which clearly outlines the village's boundaries. Additional insight into the medieval settlement comes from ancient documents and an illustrated map titled “Ezu of Honedera Village in Mutsu Province”, all preserved at Chūson-ji Temple. These records - especially the 12th-13th century shōen ezu (estate maps) - depict homes, shrines, rice paddies, waterways, and wooded windbreaks (igune), many of which remain identifiable in the present landscape. Remarkably, the area retains much of its original layout. Winding irrigation channels, irregularly shaped fields, clusters of thatched homes, and village ponds reflect the enduring structure of a medieval Japanese shōen estate.

Origin of the Name "Honedera Village"

Old illustrated estate maps refer to a temple once called "Honedera" standing in the area, but by the late Kamakura period - when the maps were drawn - the temple had already fallen into ruin. Though no physical traces remain today, the village is believed to have inherited its name from this lost temple. The name "Honedera" (literally “Bone Temple”) is unusual. In Japan, there was once a custom of enshrining the bones of the deceased at sacred sites (bunkotsu), and the temple may have served this role. An old tale also offers another explanation: it tells of a girl who learned to chant sutras from a skull hidden in her ceiling and later buried it on a nearby mountain. Local tradition says the skull belonged to a famous monk, and the story is sometimes linked to the village’s name.

Historic Site Designation

In March 2005, nine locations—identified through estate maps and archaeological excavations - were designated as the Honedera Village Manor Ruins, a National Historic Site of Japan. These sites are:

• Jiezuka – a burial mound and former worship hall
• Fudō no Iwaya – a cave believed to have been a training site for young monks
• Wakamiko Shrine
• Yōgaidate Site – remains of a fortress
• Tōnishi Site – archaeological excavation site
• Denmitake-dō Site – believed to have been a sacred mountain
• Umenokida Site – remains of a large building
• Komagatane Shrine and Hakusan Shrine
• Sannō no Iwaya – a cave dedicated to the deity Hie Sannō 

With the exception of Wakamiko Shrine, all of these sites are located along hillsides or at the foot of hills and are closely linked to Chūson-ji Temple both economically and spiritually.

Important Cultural Landscape

In July 2006, the area centred around the rice paddies and residences depicted in the estate maps (including the designated historic site) was selected as an Important Cultural Landscape by the Japanese government (with additional areas included in January 2015). The most significant feature of the Honji District’s cultural landscape is its curving farm roads, irrigation channels, and embankments, which reflect the local topography. These elements are highly valued for preserving the characteristics of the Tayashiki-type (or dispersed) settlement pattern from the medieval period.

Even today, daily life and agriculture continue in the Honedera area, making it one of Japan’s most well-preserved examples of a living medieval landscape. It offers visitors a rare opportunity to glimpse traditional rural life and see how Buddhism - through temples like Chūson-ji - shaped and sustained agricultural communities. A nearby facility, the Honedera Village Manor Exchange Center, provides historical context through videos and displays. An additional rest area (Komagata Family Residence) is open for visitors. Guided tours in Japanese are also available by reservation (at least two days in advance) through the Iwai no Sato Guide Association.

Visitor Guidelines

As the site remains a working agricultural landscape and residential area, visitors are kindly asked to respect the following:

• Vehicle Access: Do not enter roads other than national, prefectural, or municipal ones.
• Parking: Use only designated parking areas marked on the walking map.
• On Foot: Please do not enter rice fields, private residences, or house yards without permission.
• Restrooms: Facilities are available at the Exchange Center and the rest area (Komagata Family Residence).
• Trash: Take all your garbage with you.