Our Lives Our Photographs

Zuiganji Temple is a national treasure situated in Matsushima in Miyagi Prefecture. For over 400 years the temple exhibited traditional Zen architecture and colorful interior decoration. Date Masamune (1567–1636) ordered the construction of the present temple buildings, which was completed in 1609. The Hondo (main hall) is a designated national treasure and the style is said to express the aesthetic sense of Date Masamune. The Hondo is very large—38 meters wide and 24.2 meters deep with traditional Zen architectural style. In contrast, the interior is exquisitely decorated, featuring elaborate engravings, metal ornaments, and colorful paintings. Major repairs to the Hondo and seven other buildings at Zuiganji lasting some ten years were completed in 2018 for preservation and seismic strengthening purposes. The Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami of March 2011 caused widespread damage in Miyagi Prefecture, and Zuiganji was affected. However, the meditation hall of the temple escaped major harm and was used as a shelter for local residents and tourists.