Miidera Temple

Miidera, formally known as Nagarasan Onjōji, is the head temple of the Tendai Jimon sect, located on the southwestern slopes of Mount Nagara in Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture, near the shores of Lake Biwa, Japan’s largest lake. Founded in the 7th century and associated with Emperor Tenji, the temple developed significantly in the 9th century under Enchin (Chishō Daishi), the fifth head of the Tendai school. During this period, it became one of the major temple complexes of Japan. Over its 1,200-year history, Miidera endured repeated destruction during periods of conflict, including the Genpei War and Nanboku-cho. Each time, the temple was rebuilt with the support of devoted followers, earning it the nickname the “Phoenix Temple”. Today, the temple’s grounds cover approximately 115 hectares (1.15 square kilometers), featuring numerous halls, pagodas, and gardens designated as National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties. The site is also known for its scenic beauty, particularly during cherry blossom season.

Cultural Properties and Architectural Heritage

Buddhist Statues and Artworks

Miidera preserves a significant collection of Buddhist statues and artworks, many designated as Important Cultural Properties. Key statues include the standing Eleven-Headed Kannon, the Thousand-Armed Kannon, Fudō Myōō, Kishimojin, Kichijōten, and Chishō Daishi. The temple also houses numerous Buddhist paintings and mandalas, illustrating its historical role as a centre of Tendai Buddhism.

Gardens

The temple complex features several historic gardens, reflecting Japanese landscape design from different periods: Kōjōin Garden (Muromachi period, designated Place of Scenic Beauty and Historic Site), Kangakuin Garden (Momoyama period), Hōmyōin Garden (Edo period), Fugendō Garden (Edo period)

Craft and Cultural Objects

Miidera’s collection of craft objects spans centuries, including the Benkei Bell (Nara period), the “Evening Bell of Mii” (Momoyama period), a Korean bell (Goryeo period), a peacock-design gong (Heian period), esoteric Buddhist ritual implements, ancient roof tiles, and a measuring ruler from the Muromachi period. These artifacts demonstrate the temple’s historical significance in religious, artistic, and cultural practices.

National Treasure Buildings

The temple preserves two National Treasure reception halls:

Kōjōin Kyakuden (built 1601 by Yamaoka Dōami) is an exemplary shoin-zukuri structure. Its interior features traditional elements such as alcoves, staggered shelves, and built-in desks, reflecting formal spatial arrangements of medieval Japan. The hall is adorned with Momoyama-period sliding-door paintings by Kano school artists, including Kano Sanraku, and overlooks a late Muromachi-period garden that integrates architecture and landscape.

Kangakuin Kyakuden (reconstructed 1600 under Mori Terumoto) was originally founded in 1239 as a centre of Tendai scholarship. It features early Momoyama-period shoin-style architecture, with elegant sliding-door paintings by Kano Mitsunobu, son of Kano Eitoku. In 1985, one of its rooms was reconstructed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, illustrating its cultural importance internationally.

Miidera Cultural Properties Museum

Opened in October 2014 to commemorate the 1,200th anniversary of Chishō Daishi’s birth, the museum displays 13 Important Cultural Properties totaling 53 items, including Buddhist statues, paintings, and ritual objects. Highlights include 39 sliding-door panels from Kangaku-in and Momoyama-period works by Kano Mitsunobu.

UNESCO-Registered Documents

Miidera also preserves a collection of documents related to Enchin that are registered in UNESCO’s Memory of the World program. These include records of his study in Tang China, travel permits, and early Japanese state documents, providing valuable insight into cultural exchange and the development of Tendai and Esoteric Buddhism in Japan.

Visitor Experiences

Miidera offers a range of cultural programs allowing visitors to engage with its spiritual and artistic heritage. Experiences include:

• Shugendō (mountain ascetic) practice
• Buddhist prayer-bead making
• Sencha tea ceremonies in National Treasure buildings
• Buddhist image and sutra copying
• Zazen meditation

These programs combine historical, artistic, and spiritual education, allowing visitors to experience the temple’s legacy directly.