Taga Taisha (Part 2): Taga-cho, Inukami-gun, Shiga Prefecture - Architectural Walk

I visited the paid area of Taga Taisha, which includes the Oku-shoin (Inner Study) and the garden.
This area was wonderful, as it clearly displays the characteristics of the 'Shoin-zukuri' style from the Edo period.

Oku-shoin (Inner Study)

Built in 1774 (An'ei 3) -> A shoin-style building from the mid-Edo period.

• Structure: Single-story, hipped roof with tiled roofing.

• Originally the study of Fudoin, a betto-ji (temple serving a shrine) of Taga Taisha. Fudoin was one of the betto-jinguji temples founded in 1494 (Meio 3) by order of Sasaki Takayori, the protector of Omi Province.

• It consists of the Crane Room, the Kasen Room, a tea room, and a side room.

• The fusuma (sliding door) paintings by Kano school artists feature gold-leaf backgrounds and depict subjects like Chinese lions with peonies and birds and flowers, preserving the Edo-period shoin style even amidst the opulent gold decor.

• Designated as a Tangible Cultural Property of Shiga Prefecture in 1968.

Fusuma paintings

• Fusuma paintings from the Edo period by artists of the Kano school.

• Although the building was destroyed in the great fire of 1774 (An'ei 3), the fusuma were carried out and have survived.

• Subject: Auspicious motifs such as plum blossoms and cranes.

• Designated as a Cultural Property of Taga Town in 1998.

Crane Room

This room is named for the many cranes depicted on the wall of the tokonoma (alcove), shown dancing at the foot of Mount Fuji. Additionally, the walls feature white birds and white plum blossoms, while the fusuma depict cranes and flocks of cranes in flight.

It is said that during the Edo period, this room was used to entertain imperial envoys, court nobles, and the Ii family, the lords of the Hikone Domain, when they visited the shrine.
It is also known as the 'Imperial Envoy's Room'.

Garden

A pond-style viewing garden built to be looked down upon from the Oku-shoin (inner study), dating back to the Azuchi-Momoyama period. It covers an area of approximately 200 tsubo, with a guardian stone placed in the center, crane and turtle rock islands on the left and right, and a large natural stone used as a bridge. According to shrine records, it was constructed in 1588 using 10,000 koku of rice donated by Toyotomi Hideyoshi to pray for the recovery of his mother, Mandokoro. It well expresses the bold characteristics of the Momoyama period as a whole and was designated a National Place of Scenic Beauty in 1935. (From the ticket information text)

In addition, there are paintings on the entrance doors,

In the bird's-eye view from the Taisho era, there are some differences from how it looks today, so I imagine it has undergone renovations and maintenance many times.

I think the garden is especially beautiful during the autumn foliage season.
Looking at the information text for the Oku-shoin, it mentions that it was once burned down in a large fire and only the sliding doors were carried out, so the actual year of construction is somewhat unclear.

The admission fee was 300 yen. It seems to be closed during the winter, so it is definitely worth seeing from spring to autumn!