[Miyagi] Sendai Zuihoden Part 2

#0YenTravel2025Autumn Be sure to visit Kansenden and Zen'oden! !! Kansenden is the mausoleum of the second feudal lord, Date Tadamune (1599-1658), and was built in 1664 by the fourth feudal lord, Date Tsunamura. Like Zuihoden, it was a magnificent structure consisting of the main hall, Karamon gate, worship hall, offering hall, and mausoleum gate. However, due to the anti-Buddhist movement in the early Meiji period, all but the main hall was demolished. In 1931, it was designated a National Treasure along with Zuihoden as an example of outstanding early Edo mausoleum architecture. However, the remaining main hall was destroyed in a fire during the war in 1945. The current mausoleum was rebuilt following Zuihoden and completed in 1985. On either side of Kansenden are memorial towers (hokyointo) for the direct and subordinate vassals who died with their families upon Tadamune's death. When Kansenden was burned down in war damage, the original memorial tower was destroyed, but was also rebuilt when Kansenden was rebuilt. Zen'oden is the mausoleum of the third feudal lord, Date Tsunamune (1640-1711), and was completed in 1716, the first year of the Kyoho era, during the reign of the fifth lord, Yoshimura. Comprising a main hall, Karamon gate, worship hall, and mausoleum, it is said to have been a mausoleum with a serene atmosphere and a refined charm, although its decoration was simpler than that of the aforementioned Zuihoden and Kansenden. Like Kansenden, all buildings except the main hall were demolished in the early Meiji era, and the main hall was also destroyed in war damage in 1945. It was rebuilt in 1985, along with Kansenden. Because there is little documentation of Zen'oden from before the fire, after extensive research, it was decided to use phoenixes and peonies, which Tsunamune was fond of painting, as decoration. Since Lord Tsunamune's death occurred after the ban on junshi (committing suicide by suicide) was enacted, no one actually committed suicide. Instead, a "gijun" (a ritual performed by a vassal) was performed, in which he became a monk and prayed for his soul. The grave of the gijun, Kumagai Sai Naokiyo, is located to the left of Zen'oden Hall. Zuihoden 23-2, Oyamashita, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture 980-0814 #Sendai