The White Walls of Zui'nenji; Cleanse Your Mind and Soul【Beautiful Japan #8】

Climb the steps, clear your mind, and enter the temple of Hisako, Ieyasu's great aunt.

This is the approach to Zui'nenji (随念寺)†, which was a relatively important temple back in the day. The stairs leading up to it go for some way. I can't help but feel these walls on either side are to create a sense of separation from the real world, as if you are entering somewhere special. It is a similar effect to what Shinto shrines create, the only difference being Shinto shrines typically do it with nature instead.

Zui'nenji was built in 1563 by Ieyasu‡. It houses the remains of Ieyasu's great aunt, Hisako, who raised him for a time during his childhood. The temple is overlooking the old Tokaido road, the great highway during the Edo period that connected Edo (modern day Tokyo), home of the Shogun, and Kyoto, home of the Emperor.

Zui'nenji received special protection from the Tokugawa Shogunate and was used as a defensive base to guard Okazaki castle. The remnants of some of the defensive structures can still be seen here.

Overall, it's a beautiful temple. I pass by here occasionally on my way to work and always have to fight my urge to stop and admire it.

This is just another of the many many many temples in Okazaki. Outside of Kyoto, Okazaki has the most temples of any city in Japan. I'm not sure why that is—perhaps due to Ieyasu having been born here.

Let me know if you have any questions or comments, and stay tuned for more beautiful photos from Japan.

---

Footnotes:

†: Zoo-ee-nehn-jee
‡: Ee-eh-yah-sue. He conquered Japan in 1600 and founded the Tokugawa Shogunate which would rule the country until 1868.

---

Don't miss the other great photos in the Beautiful Japan photo series!

#1 - The Shogun's Keep
#2 - Gate to the Shogun's Shrine
#3 - The Golden Torii
#4 - Across the Universe
#5 - To Walk With You Under the Cherry Blossoms
#6 - I Once Knew This Place
#7 - Okazaki Tenmangu Shrine

---

Thank you for reading. :)

If you enjoyed this post, please like and resteem. Also be sure to follow me to see more from Japan everyday.

I post one photo everyday, as well as some misc posts such as haiku, videos, more Japanese history, and so on. Let me know if there is anything about Japan you would like to know more about or would like to see.

---

David LaSpina is an American photographer lost in Japan, trying to capture the beauty of this country one photo at a time.