Monuments・Artifacts

The stone is called bonji stone because it is carved with the Sanskrit character called bonji, a sacred character representing the ancient Indian language, which expresses God and Buddha in a single character. The character on the bonji stone is “Khan”, which represents Fudo Myoo. The stone is said to have been unearthed in 1694 when the stonewall of the yaguradai (the highest point of the castle ruins) in the southwest corner of the Hirosaki Castle’s main citadel was repaired, and it is said to have been used to protect the kimon (the unlucky direction) of the Hirosaki Castle from foreign enemies and disasters. The stone was relocated during the abolition moment in Meiji period from the “Kimon-chingo Saishoin-kamae” (the place where Saishoin Temple was built to protect Hirosaki Castle from foreign enemies and calamities) to where it remains today.

It is believed that the stone was brought to Saishoin Temple at the time of its excavation, as the priest of Saishoin Temple is said to have performed the ground breaking ceremony during the construction of Hirosaki Castle (Takaoka Castle at that time).

Since the Shingon sect of Buddhism always buries a protective artifact in the ground during the ground breaking ceremony, it is not surprising that the bonji stone was found in the ground. Since the Buddhist rituals are typically held in the main keep of the castle and the Fudo Myoo protects the southwestern direction, it is thought that the stone was moved and buried there later.

Memorial Monument of Sakichi Horie, master of architecture.
It is one of the largest monolithic monuments of this size in all of Japan!

This monument was erected in May 1908. Sakichi Horie excelled in design and construction techniques and was called the “God of Architecture.” The buildings in which Horie Sakichi was involved are modern structures, and they have been designated as National Important Cultural Properties of Japan in recognition of his outstanding skills.

Behind the main hall of Saishoin Temple is a cemetery, and at its southern end are Christian gravestones. One of them is the pure white marble tombstone of Mary Christine Alexander. There is a sad history to this tombstone.

In the Meiji era (1868-1912), Touo Gijuku, a private school that was descended from the domain school of the former Tsugaru Clan, focused on English education by inviting missionaries to its school. Mary was the wife of the Canadian missionary Robalt Barsebal Alexander. The family lived in Hirosaki for the benefit of education in Hirosaki.

On New Year’s Day in 1899, a fire broke out in the mission dormitory for English teachers invited from abroad. As a result of the fire, Mrs. Mary died on January 29, leaving a will that she should be buried in Hirosaki, her second hometown.

The bereaved family looked for a place to bury her in Hirosaki, but many temples refused to accept her request because there were no communal cemeteries at that time and she belonged to a different religion. However, it is said that the priest of Saishoin Temple at that time allowed the burial, saying, “No matter what religion you are, the end is the same for everyone.”

Since then, Protestants, Catholics, and other Christians have been buried at Saishoin Temple. The priest’s decision at this time was a simple kind gesture as a Japanese. Combined with the acceptance of the Japanese people, the result was heartwarming, and to this day the tombstone continues to stand and Mrs. Mary rests in peace.

Statues of various animals such as dogs, cranes, and cats are placed at the entrances of temples and shrines throughout Japan. Originating in India, lions, or representative of strong animals, were placed at the entrances to sanctuaries to give them a sense of protection.

At Saishoin Temple, the guardian of the entrance is the Nio statue at the temple gate. While the Nio statue protects with their powerfully built bodies and piercing eyes, a pair of “usagi (rabbits)” in front of the gate gently welcomes good people to the temple.

As Saishoin Temple enshrines Monju Bosatsu, the guardian deity of those born in the year of the rabbit, the temple is visited by many people born in the year of the rabbit. Visitors donate various items as a symbol of their faith. One of them is a statue of a rabbit. There are seven statues of rabbits in Saishoin Temple today. Visitors enjoy finding them and counting them during their visit to the temple.