Zuihōden


Zuihōden in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan is the mausoleum complex of Date Masamune and his heirs, daimyō of the Sendai Domain.

History

When Date Masamune, known as 'the one-eyed dragon' and founder of the Sendai Domain, died in 1636, he left instructions for a mausoleum. Zuihōden was erected in the following year. A number of the Date daimyō and other members of the Date clan are buried in the grounds. Most of the monuments were destroyed by bombing and subsequent fires in 1945 and subsequently rebuilt in their original Momoyama style.

Monuments

Zuihōden

The Zuihōden was built for Date Masamune, founding daimyō of the Sendai Domain. Designated a National Treasures of Japan in 1931, it was destroyed in 1945, rebuilt in 1979, and repaired in 2001 in order to more closely resemble the original mausoleum.

Kansenden

The Kansenden was built for Date Tadamune, second daimyō of the Sendai Domain. Designated a National Treasure in 1931, it was destroyed in 1945 and rebuilt in 1985.

Zennōden

The Zennōden was built for Date Tsunamune, third daimyō of the Sendai Domain. Destroyed in 1945, it was rebuilt in 1985 and repaired in 2007.

Myōnkaibyō

The Myōnkaibyō is the site of stelai erected for Date Chikamune, ninth daimyō, and Date Nariyoshi, eleventh daimyō of the Sendai Domain.

Okosamagobyō

A number of children of the Date lords are buried in the Okosamagobyō.

Museum

Items found in excavations of the Kansenden and Zennōden prior to their reconstruction after the bombing of 1945 are housed in the Zuihōden Museum.