I would like to discuss the origins of Shunkō-in while we are in the main hall.

One of the famous Daimyo generals of the Warring States Period, Yoshiharu Horio, lost his son, Kinsuke, at a young age during the Siege of Odawara, and Shunkō-in was originally meant to be in honor of his son. However, the Horio line was dismantled, and the Ishikawa family ended up inheriting the temple. The modern form of Shunkō-in was built in the 1800’s. The innermost part of the main hall enshrines statues of Yoshiharu, his mother-in-law, and his son Kinsuke.

Alright, let’s turn our attention to the garden. This temple garden is actually supposed to represent Ise Jingu. Shunkō-in’s sister temple, Keikō-in, was once located within Ise Jingu’s grounds, and because of this, it is the only temple in all of Japan that is a representation of Ise Jingu. The left represents the shrine of Geku, the outer part of Ise Jingu, and on the right the rock cave represents Naiku, the inner part. Toyouke-ōkami and Amaterasu, respectively, are enshrined within these two parts of the shrine, and by extension, in the garden as well. They are both illuminated within the grounds, so take some time to enjoy them.