Daizozan, Komyoji Temple is a Soto Zen temple, which has over 600 years of history.
Around 1800, Komyoji Temple became the biggest temple in Esashi area (Iwayado, Esashi, Oshu) and became the main place to pray for peace in Heisei Period.

name	Situated on the hill of Daizozan Name of Temple Komyoji
Sect	Soto Sect
Location	8-17 Minami Machi, Esashi, Oshu, Iwate, JAPAN 023-1117
Foundation	Founded in 1396
The Principal Image	Seated Statue of Shaka Nyorai

After Komyoji became corporate organization

1952	Komyoji Temple became a religious corporation.
1954	New temple bell was offered.
1956	Roof of the temple kitchen was repaired and in 1974, approach was improved.
1982	The main building roof, temple kitchen, storehouse and accessory buildings were repaired. This repair was the biggest work at Komyoji Temple.
2007	The new temple kitchen, bell tower and Kaizando-hall were built next to the main hall.

About Soto Sect

Buddhism is a path of practice to change suffering such as human desires, egotistic way of thinking into happiness, using the way of Buddha’s teaching.
Zen sect was spread by a monk called Dharma and his pupils. They taught people to live through zen meditation, a method for understanding and working on our own mind.
Among those pupils, there were Dozan Zenji and Sozan Zenji, and “Soto” was named after those two. Dogen Zenji studied Buddhism in China during Kamakura Period.
After he returned from China, he founded Daihonzan Eiheiji and wrote “Shobogenzo,” and later he was called Koso Jyoyo Daishi.
Keizan Zenji, later known as Soto’s great patriarch Taiso Josai Daishi, spread the teaching all over Japan and founded Sojiji.
Soto Zen School recognizes two eminent Ancestors as our founders, and the main image of worship is Shakyamuni Buddha.

Tradition (Dento)

The Soto Zen School transmits the true (Buddhist) Dharma from Shakyamuni Buddha through the Ancestors. The Soto Zen School endeavors to transmit the true Buddha Dharma that has been handed down generation after generation through our line of Ancestors from the founder of the doctrine, Shakyamuni Buddha, to the present day.

The Establishment of the School in Japan (Nihon Kaishu)

The essence of the Soto Zen School was transmitted from China, eight hundred years ago, during the Kamakura period by Koso Dogen Zenji. The forth Japanese ancestor of the school was Taiso Keizan Zenji, who expanded the teachings. These two are called Ryoso Daishi.

Two Heade Temples /Monasteries (Daihonzan)

Eiheiji of Fukui Prefecture, venerable founder Koso Dogen Zenji, and Sojiji of Kanagawa Prefecture, venerable founder Taisho Keizan Zenji

The Main Image of Worship (Honzon)

The main image of worship of the Soto Zen School is Shakyamuni Buddha. Most Soto Zen temples and home altars enshrine an image of Shakyamuni Buddha.

The Main Chant for Expressing Devotion to Shakyamuni Buddha (Honzon Shomyo)
Namu-Shakyamuni-Butsu (Homage to Shakyamuni Buddha)

Buddhist Doctrine (Kyogi)

We are all children of the Buddha and come into this world endowed with the Buddha-Mind (busshin).
However, failing to realize this, we live selfish, willful lives, causing much suffering.
If we make repentance to the Buddha and take refuge in him, our minds will come to rest, our lives will experience harmony and light, and we will rejoice in being of service to society. We will also experience the deep faith that will allow us to stand up under any hardship. To discover happiness and a life worth living is the teaching of the Soto Zen School.

Buddhist Sutras (Okyo)

We recite various Buddhist sutras, including the Meaning of Practice and Verification (Shushogi), the Heart of Great Perfect Wisdom Sutra (Hannya Shingyo), The “Avalokiteshvara Boshisattava Universal Gateway” Chapter of the Lotus Sutra (Kannongyo) and the “Life Span of the Tathagata Chapter” of the Lotus Sutra (Juryohon).

Access

Shinkansen (bullet train)

Tokyo ⇄ Mizusawa Esashi Station ( 2 hrs 56 mins)

( 15-minute drive from Mizusawa Esashi Station )

Airplane

Fukuoka ⇄ Hanamaki Airport ( 2 hrs ) Osaka 　⇄ Hanamaki Airport ( 1 hr 20 mins ) Nagoya ⇄ Hanamaki Airport ( 1 hr 15 mins ) Sapporo ⇄ Hanamaki Airport ( 55 mins )

( 50-minute drive from Hanamaki Airport / 110-minute drive from Sendai Airport )

Expressway

From Kanegasaki I.C. ( 20-minute drive ) From Mizusawa I.C. ( 15-minute drive )