Hyakusai-ji

Hyakusai-ji is a Tendai Buddhist temple located in the city of Higashiōmi's Hyakusaiji neighborhood. Along with Kongōrin-ji and Saimyō-ji, it is considered one of the "Three Great Temples" east of Lake Biwa. Designated a National Historic Site in 2008, the temple claims to have been established by Prince Shotoku in 606 AD after his tutor from Goguryeo, Hyeja the monk, discovered a glowing cedar tree in the mountains. However, the first recorded historical mention of the temple dates from 1089 AD, making the validity of the temple's connection to Prince Shotoku uncertain. Throughout history, the temple has been at the center of conflicts, causing its destruction and rebuilding multiple times. Many of its structures, rebuilt in the mid-17th century, have survived to present day.