The Hakusan Shrine:
The Hakusan Shrine is located in Shirakawa, a quiet village in the mountains, which is located southeast of the Uji Bridge, just over the hill. It is said that the shrine was built when smallpox spread in the latter half of the eight century, in the hope of a cure. Later it became a shrine of the guardian deity for the Konjiki-in Temple, which is believed to have been built by Shijo no Miya Kanshi (1036-1127), consort of the Emperor Goreizei (1025-1068) and daughter of Fujiwara no Yorimichi (992-1074). The enshrined deity is Iginami no Mikoto who is depicted by a wooden seated statue dating to the latter half of the Heian period (794-1192).The present Konjiki-in, said to have been built in 1102, once consisted of a large number of halls, covered with gold it is claimed, and monks quarters. The outer shrine is an old residence-style building with an architectural form typically found in the Kamakura era. All that is left today are the Hakusan Shrine, the main gate and Kyuujuu no Sekitou (nine-layered stone tower), which was used to hold memorial services for Empress Kanshi, remain. Many of the cultural treasures to be found in the repository of the nearby temple Jizoin of Shirakawa give a glimpse into the Konjiki-in’s splendor in its heyday.
Kyujuu no Sekito:
This nine-tiered stone tower was erected in the Kamakura era in memory of Shijo no Miya Kanshi (1036-1127), daughter of Fujiwarano Yorimichi. The stone tower is constructed using granite and is approximately 4 m in height. The height of the base is low and arranged with long carvings with horizontal designs, giving the layered tower a feminine appearance. Kanshi built Konjiki-in in the land of Shirakawa and spent the latter part of her life-at least 50 years – in Uji; the tower is redolent of her great achievement.
Jizo-in Temple:
Jizo-in is a temple that is said to have been built in the Koji era (1555 to 1558) and located in Shirakawa. It is also known to contain many treasures inherited from the abolished Shirakawa Konjiki-in Temple. Konjiki-in was built in 1102 by Shijonomiya Kanshi (1036-1127), but later suffered serious deterioration.
Some of the most valuable treasures housed here include: statuetes of Ashuka and Shakyamuni from the Hakuho Era (mid 7th to early 8the centuries); bronze and wooden statues of Buddha from the Heian period (794-1185), a Ryokai Mandala carved on a wooden panel during the Nara period, a temple bell with the carved name of the second year of the Kenbu era (1335) and the name of Konjiki-in, 563 rolls of the great Pajna-par-mita Sutra and the Suddarma Pundarika Sutra written in gold dust on navy blue paper.
Konjiki-in Somon Gate:
This gate is the only remains of the Konjiki-in temple that was constructed here and believed to have been built by Shijo no Miya Kanshi (1036-1127), consort of the Emperor Goreizei (1025-1068) and daughter of Fujiwara no Yorimichi (992-1074).
