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[[Prince Morizumi]] (Shuchô hosshinnô<!--守澄法親王-->), a son of [[Emperor Go-Mizunoo]], served as the first head priest (''[[zasu]]''<!--座主-->) of the temple, a position which continued to be occupied by members of the Imperial family down through the generations. These ''[[monzeki]]'' (priests of [[kuge|aristocratic]] or Imperial lineage) associated with Kan'ei-ji came to be called Rinnôji-no-miya.<ref name=maehira69/>
[[Prince Morizumi]] (Shuchô hosshinnô<!--守澄法親王-->), a son of [[Emperor Go-Mizunoo]], served as the first head priest (''[[zasu]]''<!--座主-->) of the temple, a position which continued to be occupied by members of the Imperial family down through the generations. These ''[[monzeki]]'' (priests of [[kuge|aristocratic]] or Imperial lineage) associated with Kan'ei-ji came to be called Rinnôji-no-miya.<ref name=maehira69/>
During the [[battle of Ueno]] in [[1868]], as the shogunate fell, a group of pro-shogunate loyalists known as the [[Shogitai|Shôgitai]] holed up in the temple, which was accordingly attacked. Many of those killed that day are formally buried at the temple.
The grounds of the temple extended over a large area, much of which is today Ueno Park, centering on the Konponchû-dô. This hall, which enshrined a statue of [[Yakushi]] as its principal image of worship, was flanked by stands of bamboo transplanted from [[Enryaku-ji]]. The spot, now occupied by the park's famous fountain, was known as Take-no-utena ("Bamboo Pedestal"), as a result.
During the [[battle of Ueno]] in [[1868]], as the shogunate fell, a group of pro-shogunate loyalists known as the [[Shogitai|Shôgitai]] holed up in the temple, which was accordingly attacked, and many of its buildings destroyed. Many of those killed that day are formally buried at the temple.
The temple suffered extensive damage and was all but destroyed completely in the Allied bombings of Tokyo in 1945. Several buildings on the grounds survive, or were rebuilt, but the temple grounds, which once covered the full area of what is today Ueno Park, have been shrunk considerably. The tombs of three shoguns ([[Tokugawa Ieharu]], [[Tokugawa Ienari|Ienari]], and [[Tokugawa Iesada|Iesada]]) survive, but those of [[Tokugawa Ietsuna]] and [[Tokugawa Tsunayoshi]] were destroyed.
The temple suffered extensive damage and was all but destroyed completely in the Allied bombings of Tokyo in 1945. Several buildings on the grounds survive, or were rebuilt, but the temple grounds, which once covered the full area of what is today Ueno Park, have been shrunk considerably. The tombs of three shoguns ([[Tokugawa Ieharu]], [[Tokugawa Ienari|Ienari]], and [[Tokugawa Iesada|Iesada]]) survive, but those of [[Tokugawa Ietsuna]] and [[Tokugawa Tsunayoshi]] were destroyed.