Junko-ji Temple

Junko-ji belongs to the Jodo-Shinshu Hongwanji-ha of Buddhism. According to the temple records, the temple was founded in 1489 by the priest Rennyo, renowned restorer of Shinshu Buddhism in Hirakata, Osaka. In 1558, the youngest son of Rennyo, Jitsuju, took up his residence in the temple whose virtue and brilliance had turned the temple’s fortune into prosperity. The temple became the place of worship by Emperor Gonara (16C.). In 1625, the temple was moved from Osaka to a site near Nijo Castle in Kyoto where it became known as Nijojunko-ji, which was found on the Famous Medieval Site Map of Capital Kyoto. Unfortunately the temple lost its original shape during the Great Fire of 1788.
The famous lullaby “Yashome” passed down by the temple is one of the representative medieval performances of Kyoto. Being shifted to the present site in 1974, the temple conducts the memorial service of Rennyo with the artistic music and dance of “Yashome” on the mid day of Spring Higan (the equinox).

Kyoto City