Historical sites including the Mōtsūji and Chūsonji Temple Grounds (Special Historic Site), the golden Konjikidō (National Treasure), and a large number of other sites, relics, and cultural artifacts related to the Ōshū Fujiwara have been collectively nominated to the UNESCO World Heritage and placed on the Tentative List as “the Cultural Heritage of Hiraizumi.”
The Cultural Heritage of Hiraizumi is centered on Chūsonji, Mōtsūji, the Muryōkōin Site, the Yanagi no Gosho Site, and includes the surrounding area. This group of sites is home to the Buddhist monasteries, Pure Land gardens, and other representative sites, objects, and ruins from the miraculous Golden Culture of the Hiraizumi Fujiwara. For nearly one hundred years roughly overlapping the twelfth century, the Fujiwara family created an immensely prosperous metropolitan capital here at Hiraizumi, accepting many elements of Kyoto culture but always reinterpreting these in an idiomatic and truly unique fashion. Hiraizumi’s cultural heritage has been recognized as an exceptional example of regional culture during the transition from Japan’s classical to its medieval period. It is also the first cultural heritage nomination in the Tōhoku region of northern Honshu.
Still, a number of issues remain to be solved before Hiraizumi’s World Heritage inscription. Private lands overlapping Hiraizumi’s historic sites must be transferred to public ownership, and the surrounding historical landscapes must be protected. A protection and management system for cultural assets must be put in place, and research must continue. Additionally, the people of both Hiraizumi and Iwate at large must increase their awareness of and interest in Hiraizumi’s efforts.
» Historic Sites
- Mōtsūji Temple Grounds and Tutelary Shrines (Special Historic Site)
- Chūsonji Temple Grounds (Special Historic Site)
- Muryōkōin Temple Site (Special Historic Site)
- Mt. Kinkei (Historic Site)
- Takkoku no Iwaya (Historic Site)
- Yanagi no Gosho Site (Historic Site)
- Honedera Village Estate Site (Historic Site)
» Architecture
- Konjikidō Hall of Chūsonji Temple (National Treasure)
- Former Konjikidō Sheath Hall (Important Cultural Property)
- Chūsonji Sutra Repository (Important Cultural Property)
- Hakusan Shrine Outdoor Noh Stage (Important Cultural Property)
- Ganjōjuin Stupa (Important Cultural Property)
- Shakuson'in Five-Tiered Stupa (Important Cultural Property)