Yogen-in
- Published on : 01/03/2015
- by : Japan Experience
- Youtube
Yougenin (養源院) is a small temple that was built for Toyotomi Hideyoshi's last concubine, who bore him a son. It is not far from JR Kyoto Station.
Yogen-in 養源院
Hideyoshi was something of a ladies' man and Yougenin (養源院) is a small temple that was built for his last concubine, who bore him a son. It is not far from JR Kyoto Station. Yougenin burned down two years after its construction, but was rebuilt, largely with rooms from Fushimi Castle.
Entering the main hall, you will be guided to a room that opens toward the hall's entrance. This was Hideyoshi's study. Then you will be shown another room with fusuma painted with gilded images of pine trees. Here, Hideyoshi would hold audience with lesser lords of the land. The ceilings of the halls outside these rooms look very similar to the one from Koushouji. When you leave the audience hall, the guide will point out (with muted pride and the aid of a bamboo pole) where a face and two hands made their indelible marks, and the trail of blood that ran from the body.
The guide will also point out the fusuma at both ends of the passage outside the audience hall. These did not belong to Fushimi Castle, but are painted with figures of quite contented-looking, rather roly-poly animals in pastel shades. These were created to give a feeling of calm to the warrior's souls.
Yougenin Temple, Kyoto
Kyoto Accommodation
Text and Photos by Alan Wiren
Other Japan articles by Alan Wiren
