Shojuan is a historic Rinzai Zen temple in Iiyama City, Nagano Prefecture, with a history dating back to the 17th century. Located in northern Nagano, the temple is known as the place where Dokyo Etan (Shuju Ronin), a highly respected Zen master and teacher of Hakuin Ekaku, spent much of his life practicing Zen.
The temple’s mountain name is Konenzan. Its exceptional historical and cultural value was recognized when Shojuan was designated a Nagano Prefectural Historic Site in 1960.
Etan, who later became the founding master of Shojuan, is traditionally said to have been a son born outside of marriage to Sanada Nobuyuki, lord of Matsushiro Domain. He was born at Iiyama Castle in 1642.
In 1660, Etan accompanied Matsudaira Tadamasa, lord of Iiyama Domain, on his official journey to Edo. There, at Tohoku-an in Azabu, he became a disciple of the Zen master Shido Munan. His exceptional ability quickly became apparent, and he received Zen recognition from Munan in less than a year.
After returning to Iiyama, Etan was given a hermitage by Lord Matsudaira. He named it Shojuan, displaying a calligraphic plaque bearing the name “Shoju” that had been given to him by his teacher Munan.
In 1667, Etan returned to Munan to continue his training. He subsequently traveled between Edo and Iiyama several times before returning to Iiyama permanently after Munan’s death in 1676.
Etan spent much of the rest of his life at Shojuan, devoting himself to rigorous Zen practice and teaching. Even when offered temple lands by the domain lord or invited by Tokugawa Mitsukuni, the famous lord of Mito Domain, he is said to have declined, choosing instead to remain apart from worldly prestige and material rewards.
Etan died at the age of 80 in 1721. His austere way of life and refusal of worldly advancement became an important part of Shojuan’s spiritual identity.
Shojuan was founded in 1666 and was officially recognized as a sub-temple of Tohokuji Temple in 1682. After Etan’s death, the hermitage continued its history, although it did not have the financial foundation of an ordinary family temple supported by a large network of parishioners.
The temple was severely damaged by the 1847 Zenkoji Earthquake, one of the major earthquakes to affect northern Nagano. Most of the buildings collapsed, and only the main hall, which also served as a Buddhist worship hall, was rebuilt. The reconstruction was supported by Honda Sukekata, the lord of Iiyama Domain at the time, and surviving ridge-tag records provide valuable evidence of this rebuilding.
Shojuan was originally established primarily as a place for Zen practice rather than as a conventional temple serving a community of parishioners. Because it lacked a stable religious and financial base, its continued survival was often difficult.
In 1820, the fifth head of the hermitage was ordered to leave by the domain authorities. The site subsequently remained without a resident priest for many years, and the buildings gradually fell into disrepair.
Shojuan was officially closed as a hermitage in 1873. However, people connected with the Rinzai Zen tradition recognized its exceptional cultural importance and worked to preserve it. Among those involved were the prominent figures Yamaoka Tesshu and Takahashi Deishu, and plans for its revival were approved in 1884.
Securing sufficient funds and supporters proved extremely difficult. A preservation association was established in 1923, but its activities were interrupted by the Great Kanto Earthquake later that year. Continued efforts eventually led to repairs to the main hall and priests’ quarters in 1928.
After World War II, support from various Rinzai Zen schools helped advance the preservation of Shojuan. In 1977, the main hall underwent further restoration, and a tea room was newly constructed. A bell tower was also relocated to the grounds from Shiroyama in 1953.
The 2004 Niigata Chuetsu Earthquake caused serious damage to the main hall. This led to a major dismantling and restoration project, the first comprehensive repair of the building in approximately 160 years. Traditional materials were reused wherever possible, and the historic floor plan was carefully reconstructed.
The restoration was completed in 2007. The building was unfortunately affected again by the Niigata Chuetsu Offshore Earthquake shortly afterward, but conservation work has continued to protect Shojuan’s historical character.
The main hall of Shojuan preserves the appearance of a traditional Zen hermitage. It is a single-story building with a hipped roof covered in thatch, measuring six bays across and four and a half bays in depth, with a total floor area of approximately 37 tsubo.
The building faces east. Its six-bay width is divided into three sections containing spaces such as an earthen-floor area, kitchen, living area, and Buddhist altar room. Rather than the grand architecture often associated with major Buddhist temples, the layout reflects the simple and disciplined lifestyle of a Zen monk.
The restoration work carried out in the Heisei era carefully reconstructed the historic floor plan and the original position of the Buddhist altar, allowing visitors to imagine the atmosphere of the hermitage during its early history.
Shojuan is significant not simply because of its age, but because of the distinctive form of Zen practice it represents. Etan rejected the pursuit of status, temple estates, and worldly recognition, choosing instead a life dedicated to meditation and spiritual discipline.
This philosophy is reflected in the modest architecture of the hermitage. Shojuan offers a different experience from large Buddhist temples: its small scale, quiet surroundings, and simple design convey the atmosphere of a place created primarily for Zen training and contemplation.
For travelers interested in Japanese Buddhism, Zen culture, and traditional architecture, Shojuan provides an opportunity to encounter a particularly intimate side of Japan’s religious heritage. Its connection with Hakuin Ekaku, one of the most influential figures in the revival of Rinzai Zen, further adds to its historical importance.
Standing quietly in the northern Nagano countryside, Shojuan preserves the memory of a Zen master who chose a life of simplicity over worldly success. The tranquil grounds and historic buildings invite visitors to slow down, appreciate the surrounding atmosphere, and reflect on the enduring spirit of Zen.