Entsuin Temple
Established to commemorate the loss of Date Mitsumune, who was lost at the age of 19, Entsuin is dedicated to Kannon, the Buddhist goddess of mercy. The main hall was formerly Mitsumune’s summer residence in Edo (old Tokyo), but was relocated after his untimely death. The mausoleum has a gilded interior with the symbols of hearts, spades, diamonds, clubs, and crosses. The symbols are a representation of the west, as the Date clan had an invested interest in Western culture, technology, and religion. The Date clan had even sent envoys to the Pope in Rome.
Entsuin has two gardens: one is a Japanese moss and maple garden with a heart-shaped pond and the other a Western style rose garden, influenced by paintings within the mausoleum. Though fairly small, Entsuin offers a beautiful display of cultural exchange between Japan and the Western aesthetic.
