Mōtsū-ji is an ancient Tendai sect temple located in Hiraizumi Town, Iwate Prefecture, Japan. It was founded in the 9th century by the great Buddhist monk Ennin (Jikaku Daishi), and is deeply rooted in religious and cultural history. Revered for its spiritual significance, Mōtsū-ji is also cherished as a cultural treasure due to the exceptional preservation of its gardens and archaeological remains.
According to legend, when Ennin visited this area, he saw a thick white mist and the tracks of a white deer on the ground. Soon, a white deer appeared before him and vanished into the fog. Then, an elderly white-haired man emerged and told Ennin that the place was sacred and ideal for building a temple to spread the Buddha's teachings. Believing the old man to be a manifestation of Yakushi Nyorai (the Medicine Buddha), Ennin decided to establish a temple here and named it Mōtsū-ji.
Today, the main hall of Mōtsū-ji enshrines a standing statue of Yakushi Nyorai, flanked by Nikko Bosatsu (Bodhisattva of Sunlight) and Gakko Bosatsu (Bodhisattva of Moonlight). The principal statue, standing at 4.85 meters tall, was crafted in the late Heian period and was originally housed in the temple’s Golden Hall, serving as a central icon of worship. The architectural style of the temple follows classical Heian-period design, exuding a dignified and ancient atmosphere.
Within the temple grounds, the “Site of the Associated Guardian Shrine” was designated a Special Historic Site by the Japanese government in 1952, highlighting its archaeological and historical value. In 1959, the Mōtsū-ji Garden was designated a Special Place of Scenic Beauty. This garden is considered one of the finest surviving examples of Pure Land-style garden design from the Heian period, using ponds, stone arrangements, and natural landscapes to represent the ideal Buddhist paradise—praised as a pinnacle of Japanese garden aesthetics.
In 2011, Mōtsū-ji was inscribed as part of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site titled “Hiraizumi – Temples, Gardens and Archaeological Sites Representing the Buddhist Pure Land.” Together with Chūson-ji and the ruins of Muryōkō-in, it testifies to the region’s flourishing Buddhist culture.
Additionally, Mōtsū-ji is part of the “Four Temple Pilgrimage” (Shiji Kairō) route, along with Chūson-ji, Zuigan-ji in Matsushima, and Risshaku-ji in Yamagata.
