Odani Castle - Jissain
Jissain's main gate was originally built at Odanijō -- it is said. The gate was the uramon or karametemon (rear gate) of Odanijō, and now serves as the sanmon (main gate) of Jissain. Azai Nagamasa's sister, Shōankenkyūni (as a nun; originally Aku), supposedly ran Jissain as a nunnery. The temple's
Odani Castle - Odani Castle - Jissain
Jissain's main gate was originally built at Odanijō -- it is said. The gate was the uramon or karametemon (rear gate) of Odanijō, and now serves as the sanmon (main gate) of Jissain.
Azai Nagamasa's sister, Shōankenkyūni (as a nun; originally Aku), supposedly ran Jissain as a nunnery. The temple's principal deity, Kannon, was also enshrined in Odani Castle's Kyōgoku-maru. When the castle fell, local legend stipulates that Oichi's three daughters, Chacha, Ohatsu and Oeyo, were hidden in this temple. When Oda's men came searching for them, Shōankenkyūni hid them in her robes. Regardless, Oichi and her daughters were eventually returned to Oda Nobunaga.
Given the early demise of Odanijō, the thorough nature of its destruction, and the long centuries of abandon thereafter, it is difficult to accept in such innocent fashion without question the claims made by the temple about its history or its gate. That is to say, the status of this gate structure is not verified.
That said, after the fall of Odanijō, things become a little less hazy. Hashiba Hideyoshi granted the temple a stipend of 50 koku, and Lady Ogō (Oeyo), who would marry Tokugawa Hidetada, rebuilt the temple's main hall. The architecture may date to this time.
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