The origin of Rinyouji came from Kukai（空海） who is known as Kobo Daishi （弘法大師）and established Shingon Buddhism（真言）.  While he was spreading the teachings of Shingon Buddhism throughout Japan, he settled here for a few years.  There was a shrine called ’Hachiman Shrine’(It is called Iwanonishi Shrine nowadays) （八幡神社現在の伊波乃西神社）located in a corner of the west side of Iwata Haba town Gifu city（岐阜市岩田羽場）. When Kobo Daishi was 23 years old, he built a temple to the south of the shrine and put a mandala（曼荼羅） at the back of Yakushinyorai（薬師如来）Statue which he made himself.

In 814, at the age of 41, he came here again and prayed in front of Yakushinyorai Statue for 7 days.  At the same time, he built Osshinji （乙津寺）in Nishikagashima（西鏡島） town Gifu city and prayed in front of Yakushinyorai Statue for 7 days.  He subsequently founded Ganjyouji （願成寺）in Akutamioobora（芥見大洞） town Gifu city, and carved Dainichinyorai.（大日如来）  When he left here he carved a life-size statue of himself for substitution because lots of believers felt sad about his farewell.

Since then, the temple was called ‘Kannondou’（観音堂）and moved to present location Habaukaiya （羽場鵜飼屋）town due to the leader of the time.  However no one lived in this temple for a long time, so it was ruined and valuable Buddihist statues were exposed to rain.  In March of 1665, a monk named Senkou（宜公和尚） came here and felt sad about what he saw.  Then he rebuilt it and returned it to its previous name ‘Hachimanzan Rinyouji’（八幡山林陽寺）.  In September of the same year, he invited his master ‘Ryounengenchozenji’（了然玄超禅師） and let him be the first chief priest of this temple.  At the same time, it changed to a SotoZen （曹洞宗）temple. 

In September of 1865, a monk named Tensyuusatudou（天洲薩道和尚） from Nyuukawasyousouji in Hida（飛騨丹生川　正宗寺） town took over this temple.  He spent his own expense to repair the facilities and also he made an effort to attract more people to the temple. 

In October of 1891, although the main hall was damaged by the Great Noubi Earthquake（濃尾大震災）, it was rebuilt thanks to a great amount of contributions from the town in 1920.  The path way to the temple, cemetries and a reception hall were maintained and improved from 1973 to 1979.  The next significant event happened in 1984, when a major repair on the roof was made as a celebration of the inauguration of the current chief priest.  In 1992, the priest’s quarters were rebuilt and 160 Japanese-style paintings which were painted by the 11th chief priest Genpou （玄峰和尚）were put on the ceiling of a large hall.  Three statues done by Enkuu （円空）which were discovered during the maintenance and improvement are enshrined inside the temple　as well as other Japanese paintings.

So-to sect is Zen Buddism.

インドのお釈迦様　　

Buddism was preached by Buddha in India

It was handed down to China

Dharma was well known for sitting on the rock 9 years.

.

Zazen Buddism was handed down by Dougen to japan about

 800years Ago.

Let’s try Zazen peacefully.

坐禅作法

Zazen manners.

（曹洞宗宗務庁の資料を参考に作成）

（Create a reference document sect Soto-shu .）