Chishakuin Temple

The Kondo is the main hall of Chishakuin temple, sitting at its physical and spiritual center. The original was commissioned in 1704 and completed quickly thanks to a generous donation from Lady Keishoin, mother of the fifth Tokugawa shogun, reflecting the temple's close relationship with the ruling house. Fire destroyed it in 1882, and it remained unrestored for nearly a century before being rebuilt in 1975 to mark the 1200th birthday of Kukai, the founder of Shingon Buddhism. The principal statue inside is Dainichi, flanked by the mandalas of the two worlds, both central to Shingon teaching.