Danzan Shrine

The main shrine, thirteen-story pagoda, and gonden are decorated with beautiful colors and are called the “Nikko of Kansai.

The main hall is said to have been modeled after the construction of Nikko Toshogu, a rare example of the kasuga-zukuri style with sangensha and sumiki-iris (a three-sectioned shrine with a wooden roof).

The world’s only existing wooden 13-story pagoda, rebuilt in 1532, is 17 meters high and is an impressive sight.

Danzan Shrine was built on the mountain where Kamatari Fujiwara talked about a plot, and is also known as the birthplace of the Taika Reform. It is said that the name “Danzan” comes from the mountain where the Taika Reform took place.

The temple used to be called Myoraku-ji Temple, but due to the Shinto/Buddhist Separation Order, Myoraku-ji Temple was abolished and the name was changed to Danzan Shrine, which enshrines Kamatari Fujiwara.

However, the temple architecture is still used in the shrine today, and the atmosphere of Shintoism and Buddhism is still present.

The East Hall, where Queen Kagami, beloved of Emperor Tenchi, is enshrined, is also famous as a love shrine that attracts the faith of women as a god of matchmaking.

Visitors can make a wish to the passionate goddess of love at Koi Shrine by following the “Koi no Michi.”

It is also famous for its cherry blossoms and autumn leaves.

According to the temple legend, after the death of Nakatomi Kamatari (Fujiwara no Kamatari), the founder of the Fujiwara clan, his eldest son, the monk Sadae, moved his father’s tomb after his return from Tang China in 678, and built a thirteen-story pagoda on top of it.

In 680, the auditorium (present-day Shinmyo worship hall) was built and the temple was named Myoraku-ji Temple with the thirteen-story pagoda as the Shinto mausoleum.
Since then, there have been several incidents of buildings being destroyed by fire.

In the Edo period (1603-1867), the temple was granted a red seal domain of over 3,000 koku by the Edo shogunate under the order of Tokugawa Ieyasu.

In 1619, the main shrine was rebuilt, and in 1668, it was rebuilt again, with the previous main shrine moved and renamed the east shrine (now Koi Shrine).

In 1734, the main hall was rebuilt again, and the former main hall was used as a shrine. 1796, the main hall was rebuilt again, and the former main hall became the main hall of Baekje-ji Temple.

In 1850, the main hall was rebuilt again, and the former main hall was used as Todaiji’s Tonan-in Mochibutsudo.

The main hall (rebuilt in 1850), worship hall (rebuilt in 1520), east transept (rebuilt in 1520), west transept (rebuilt in 1520), romon (rebuilt in 1520), east treasury (rebuilt in 1619), west treasury (rebuilt in 1619), 13-story pagoda (rebuilt in 1532), gonden (rebuilt 1504-1521), shrine (rebuilt in 1668), and many other shrines are designated as National Important Cultural Properties of Japan.