2025 Spring Sokenin

 Later this month, Daitokuji's Sokenin will host their yearly spring exhibition. I have personally visited Sokenin numerous times and it is worth it. When at Sokenin, I always visited the graves of Nobunaga, Nohime, and Onabe no Kata. The main hall also houses a wooden statue of Nobunaga. Constructed by Kousei in 1583, this statue is probably one of the best in my opinion. For example, this passage from Daitokuji: The Visual Cultures of a Zen Monastery by Gregory P.A. Levine is all you need to know (p. 58) "In 1855, a pilgrim commented, 'Its eyes gleam with the power of one who seizcontrol of all under heaven and give one the feeling of being spontaneously pierced through.'" The wooden statue was returned to Sokenin in 1961.

As for the exhibition, here is the dates: March 29th-May 6th. Price of admission: 800 yen.

Tenka no tame!

Shinnyoin

 

Last year I was able to visit Shinnyoin, a small temple in Kyoto. This Nichiren sect temple has a relationship with Nobunaga and shogun Ashikaga Yoshiaki. Founded in the Sengoku Era, but burned down shortly afterward, it seems that Nobunaga ordered the construction of the temple for Yoshiaki. Its present location is from the Showa Era. As for the garden, in 1961, it was reconstructed by Shigemori Mirei. This dry rock garden (karesansui) resembles fish scaled-like stones expressing water flow. The garden is based on the Miyakorinsen Meisho Zue, a guide to Kyoto gardens published in the late Edo Era. Unfortunately, Shinnyoin is only open a few times a year, also the garden is extremely small and no photography allowed. That being said, Shinnyoin is a hidden gem. A beautiful garden that has a historical relationship with Nobunaga and Yoshiaki.

Nobunaga no tame!

Takenaka Hanbei Residence

 

If you look carefully around and near Gifu Castle Park, there is a hidden gem people do not know about. Modern day Myoshoji is across the street from Jozaiji. Oda Hidenobu donated the temple area. Here is the kicker, during the time of Oda Nobunaga the area was known to house Takenaka Hanbei. This was during Nobunaga's rule in Gifu. A nice find indeed.

Tenka no tame!

Tea at Myokakuji

 

Last year I was able to have tea at Myokakuji in Kyoto. It was a historical experience since history was made here in 1575 when Nobunaga held a tea ceremony here with tea master Sen no Rikyu. At the same time I was able to see documents related to Nobunaga with my own eyes. 

The Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga (p. 243)

"On the 28th of the Tenth Month, Nobunaga invited seventeen connoisseurs from Kyoto and Sakai and gave them tea at the Myokakuji.

Item: below was placed a copper waste jar with a tapered bottom; the tea kettle Otogoze. Tea from the tea jar Matsushima.

Item: the master of the tea ceremony was Soeki; it was an occasion that all would remember gratefully for the rest of their lives."

As for myself, I felt the presence of Nobunaga and Sen no Rikyu when I drank the tea at Myokakuji. It was a rare experience."

Nobunaga no tame!

Ryusenji

 

This is a short post on Nobunaga's younger brother Nobuyuki turning Ryusenji into a fort.

The Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga (p. 93)

"The younger brother of Lord Kazusa no Suke Nobunaga, Lord Kanjuro, built up the Ryusenji, turning that temple into a fort."

Tenka no tame!

Jakkoin

 A friend of mine introduced Jakkoin to me last year. Jakkoin is located on the outskirts of Inuyama in Aichi Prefecture. It was know that Nobunaga often visited Jakkoin to view the Nobi Plain. In 1565, Nobunaga along with Shibata Katsuie visited Jakkoin to view the surrounding area.

Nobunaga no tame!

Oda Nobuhide by Sumio Yokoyama

 

Earlier today I bought a book on Oda Nobuhide by Sumio Yokoyama. It was published in the fall of 2024 and had the chance to pick it up, but ended not buying it. That changed and happy to have a copy in my library. There is six chapters covering several topics as well early Nobunaga. I plan to write another post on this book once it is read.

Tenka no tame!