Jakushoji Temple

　This temple，founded in 1677，belongedto the sect of Chion-in Kyoto. Its purpose was to
 mourn for Senhime，a granddaughter of Tokugawa Ieyasu， the founder of Tokugawa regime.
 Several holly hockplants on the roof of the main building have been kept in allusion to the
 Tokugawa crest.

　Herein are stored several cultualassets.

"Priest Gessen"

 

　A Buddhist priest，born in Nagoya andso talented a painter as to be called the Painter
 priest. After studying underMaruyama Okyo and others，he originated a new painting style
 of his own.

　Both to renovate the temple and to contribute to social welfare hesimply devoted himself
 to painting day and night even on sliding doors or onfolding fans when asked for. As for
 himself he was content with poor food andclothing and was sometimes called ”Beggar
 Gessen” with contempt not onlybecause of his poor apperance but because his favorite
 subjects were poor and shabbylooking. Dispite this taunting he amassed considerable
 wealth，not even a pennyof which he spent on himself. With all his might and main he rebuilt
 the templeand also helped the poor and sufferers due to the bad harvests in the Tenmei
 period. Furthermore，he greatly contributed to road construction and offeringaids to the
blind and so on.

　The large amount of money that hedonated to the Magistrate's office in his later years is
 known as ”Gessen Money”which assisted the unfortunate for more than half a century
 down to the MeijiRestoration.