| [[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/> |
− | 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. | + | The grounds of the temple extended over a large area, much of which is today Ueno Park, centering on the Konponchû-dô, commissioned by Shogun [[Tokugawa Tsunayoshi]] in [[1698]]/9. 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. | | 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. |