Koto Sanzan is a general term for the three Tendai sect temples, Saimyoji, Kongorinji, and Hyakusaiji, which are located on the west side of the Suzuka Mountains on the east side of Lake Biwa.  They are known as a famous spot for autumn leaves along with Eigenji Temple, a Zen temple of the Rinzai sect located in the southeast of Hyakusaiji Temple.  During the Muromachi period, it prospered as the Five Temples of Koto along with Binmanji Temple and Daikakuji Temple, but it declined due to the Onin War and the burning of Oda Nobunaga.  After that, these three Temples, which had a large temple area during the Edo period, have been reconstructed and continue to this day.  It’s not Kimetsu-no-Yaiba (Demon Slayer), but it seems that Nobunaga’s devilishness, which has set the branch temples of the Tendai sect Enryakuji Temple on fire and the obsession of the common people with a strong faith is burning up at the same time.

湖東三山とは、琵琶湖の東側、鈴鹿山脈の西山腹に建つ西明寺、金剛輪寺、百済寺の三つの天台宗寺院の総称です。百済寺の南東に位置する臨済宗の禅寺、永源寺と共に紅葉の名所として知られています。室町時代には、敏満寺、大覚寺と合わせて湖東五山として栄えましたが、応仁の乱や織田信長の焼き討ちによって衰退しました。その後、江戸時代に寺域の広かったこの三山が復興を果たし、今に至っています。鬼滅の刃ではありませんが、神も仏も何するものぞと、天台宗延暦寺を始め、末寺に至るまで焼き尽くした信長の鬼気と、信仰心篤い庶民の執念がめらめらと燃え上がっている様です。