Saishou Temple

This temple was founded in 1465. The temple in existence was rebuilt in 1739. This temple has some statues on the roof. They are look like a tiger, an elephant and a dragon. There is also warehouse to keep scrolls beside the temple. This warehouse has a beautiful decoration of phoenix on top of the wall. We can see also decoration of flowers on the other side of wall.

This decoration is called Kotee (鏝絵) in Japanese! This decoration was made by Eikichi Matsuura who is called the god of plasterers. Kotee is sculpture that is made of plaster on the wall of houses or warehouses by plasterer.
Plasterers who lived in Iwami had high skills and they gained a reputation as excellent craft workers. There are many good works which were made at from Meiji to Showa era in Iwami area. Saishoji Temple TEL:0854-89-0054. (Japanese only)

 

Tomoharu. I