Kokeizan Eihoji Temple is a temple of the Nanzenji branch of Rinzai Zen Buddhism, located in Tajimi City, Gifu Prefecture. Its mountain name, Kokeizan, means “Tiger Gorge Mountain” and is said to have been inspired by the resemblance of the surrounding valley to the scenery of Mount Lu in China.
The temple garden is designated as a Place of Scenic Beauty by the Japanese government. Traditionally attributed to the renowned Zen master and garden designer Muso Kokushi (Muso Soseki), the garden incorporates several styles, including boating gardens, stroll gardens, and landscape designs featuring the legendary islands of the crane and turtle associated with Mount Penglai, a mythical paradise.
The garden makes ingenious use of the natural terrain. One of its most striking features is Bon’on-iwa Rock, a massive rock formation from which a waterfall descends. The sound of the falling water has been likened to the voice of the Buddha, creating a refreshing and tranquil atmosphere.
The temple grounds also preserve numerous historically significant buildings, including the Kannon Hall and Founder’s Hall, both designated National Treasures of Japan. In front of the main temple building stands a large ginkgo tree estimated to be around 700 years old and designated a natural monument by Tajimi City. A ceramic lantern decorated with Shino and Oribe glazes adds another distinctive artistic touch.
Kokeizan Eihoji Temple was founded in 1313, during the Kamakura period, and is one of the historic temples of the Nanzenji branch of Rinzai Zen Buddhism. Its founding is closely associated with Muso Kokushi (Muso Soseki), one of Japan’s most influential Zen Buddhist monks and garden designers.
According to tradition, Muso Kokushi was captivated by the secluded beauty of the area, then known as Nagaseyama, and established a hermitage there. The peaceful valley, surrounded by natural scenery and far removed from the bustle of settlements, provided an ideal setting for Zen practice.
The Kannon Hall, also known as Suigetsujo or Kannondo, is one of the temple’s most important buildings. It serves as a central place of worship and is a remarkable example of Japanese Buddhist architecture.
According to the chronicle of Muso Kokushi’s life, the hall was originally built in 1314, one year after the temple’s foundation. However, certain architectural features suggest that the present structure may have been rebuilt in the late 14th or early 15th century.
The building combines Zen-style architecture, also known as Kara-yo, with traditional Japanese architectural techniques that developed from the Heian period onward. This fusion creates a distinctive architectural style.
The square building measures three bays along each side and features a hip-and-gable roof covered with cypress bark. A secondary roof structure surrounds the main building, and the eaves sweep upward in an elegant curve.
At the center of the interior is a Buddhist altar. Above it stands a cave-shaped shrine constructed from driftwood, which houses a seated statue of Shō Kannon, the Sacred Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva.
The Kannon Hall was designated an Important Cultural Property in 1901, together with the Founder’s Hall. In 1952, it was designated a National Treasure.
Muso Kokushi was born in 1275 in Ise Province, in what is now Mie Prefecture, and died in 1351. As a distinguished Rinzai Zen master, he trained numerous disciples and played a major role in the development and spread of Rinzai Zen Buddhism in Japan.
In 1325, he was appointed abbot of Nanzenji Temple in Kyoto by imperial order from Emperor Go-Daigo. He later became the founding abbot of Tenryuji Temple, which was established under the patronage of Ashikaga Takauji. His influence extended to the highest levels of political and religious society.
Historical records indicate that Muso Kokushi stopped at Eihoji while traveling toward Kamakura. During an archaeological excavation at the former temple kitchen site in 2004, researchers discovered a ceramic bowl known as a Yamajawan, bearing an inscription reading “December, 1325.” This discovery provides an intriguing connection between the temple and the history of the period.
Muso Kokushi is celebrated not only as a Zen master but also as one of Japan’s most important historical garden designers. He created gardens for numerous Zen temples and helped establish a close relationship between landscape design and Zen philosophy, making a lasting contribution to the history of Japanese gardens.
Other gardens traditionally associated with Muso Kokushi include Saihōji Temple, also known as the Moss Temple, and Tenryuji Temple in Kyoto, as well as Zuisenji Temple in Kamakura and Erinji Temple in Yamanashi Prefecture.
The garden at Eihoji is said to have been created during the four years Muso Kokushi spent at the temple after its foundation. By making use of the natural terrain, the design integrates the surrounding landscape with the architecture of the Kannon Hall.
In front of the Kannon Hall lies Garyu Pond, also known as Shinji Pond because of its resemblance to the Chinese character for “heart.” The elegant Mujihashi Bridge crosses the pond, creating a harmonious composition of water, architecture, and greenery.
Behind the pond rises Bon’on-iwa Rock. Water for the waterfall that flows down the rock is conveyed through a channel from a source to the northwest. The sound and movement of the water contribute to the garden’s peaceful atmosphere, inviting visitors to appreciate the landscape in a contemplative way.
The Founder’s Hall, or Kaisando, was established in 1352 during the Nanboku-cho period. It serves as a memorial hall housing portraits of Muso Kokushi and Buttoku Zenji, the temple’s founding figures.
The building is a representative example of traditional Chinese-influenced Zen architecture. Its hip-and-gable roof is covered with cypress bark, and its refined design has earned it designation as a National Treasure.
The Founder’s Hall consists of three interconnected sections: the Shidoso, or shrine chamber; the Raidō, or worship hall; and an intermediate connecting space.
The shrine chamber is a small square structure surrounded by a secondary roof. The worship hall is a larger square building with a hip-and-gable roof, while the connecting section forms a corridor-like space enclosed by walls on both sides.
The worship hall displays characteristic features of Zen architecture, including elaborate bracket complexes arranged closely together and fan-shaped rafters. Its interior has a stone-paved floor and an exposed decorative roof structure, emphasizing the simplicity and strength associated with Zen Buddhist design.
Behind the shrine chamber is a stone Hokyointo pagoda, which serves as the tomb monument of Genno Honmoto, identified in the temple’s historical tradition as its founding figure.