About the Great Turtle Statue
Standing quietly within the grounds of Gesshoji Temple is a large stone statue of a giant turtle. Believed to grant wishes for longevity, many people have entrusted their prayers to it. In recent years, it has also attracted attention as a place associated with Lafcadio Hearn and his wife, Setsu, who were featured in a popular morning drama. This giant turtle statue, cherished for generations , continues to watch over many people as a symbol of Gesshoji Temple
What is the Great Turtle Statue?
Lord Harusato (Fumai), the seventh lord of the Matsue Domain and a member of the Matsudaira family, erected the "Juzōhi (memorial tower for those who died before death)" at the request of his father, Lord Muneaki, to praise his virtues and pray for his long life
The stone was quarried in 1781 in the mountains of Kutami-cho, Izumo City, about 20 kilometers from Matsue, and is said to have been transported across Lake Shinji by boat and raft.
The monument was completed the following year, but it is uncertain whether it was erected before the day of Lord Muneyoshi's death.
The base stone that supports this monument is the large turtle statue that still stands prominently on the temple grounds today.
In ancient Chinese thought, it was called a "turtle-shaped stele" (kifuhi), and it is believed to have originally been a representation of a dragon, not a turtle.
However, due to its appearance, it was also called a "transforming turtle" by people, and it even appeared in the writings of Lafcadio Hearn, a renowned author of the Meiji era.
With its narrative and literary background, the giant turtle statue is a symbol of prayers for longevity and an indispensable part of Matsue's culture.
Furthermore, in 2025, it attracted renewed attention thanks to NHK's morning television drama series featuring Setsu, the wife of Lafcadio Hearn, as the heroine.
Carrying the weight of a long history, and continuing to connect people's prayers and culture, the giant turtle statue truly symbolizes Gesshoji Temple.
As a symbol of longevity
The Jūzōhi (Longevity Monument) was erected by Matsudaira Harusato (Fumai), the seventh head of the Matsudaira family, to commemorate the virtues of his father, Muneaki, and to pray for his own longevity. The large turtle statue placed as its base has since become a beloved symbol of longevity. Eventually, people began to visit the site to pray for their own health and longevity, and that of their families, and even today, many worshippers visit the temple grounds and offer their prayers.
When visiting the temple, it is customary to clasp your hands together, bow, and
gently stroke the head of the large turtle statue
to pray for longevity.
The large turtle statue is not only a symbol of prayers for long life, but also
a watchful presence that looks after the future of those who visit.
Tradition and the story of Lafcadio Hearn
The large turtle statue standing at Gesshoji Temple , a historical site of the Matsudaira family, the lords of the Matsue domain , is a symbol of prayers for longevity, but it also has an aspect as a mysterious ghost story. Lafcadio Hearn, a literary giant of the Meiji era , introduced this being known as the "ghost turtle" in his book "Glimpses of Unfamiliar Japan," and brought the strange legend of Gesshoji Temple to widespread attention.
According to the legend of the "monster turtle" that appears in Lafcadio Hearn's writings, this giant turtle statue was said to be a terrifying presence that would come to life every night and bring disaster to people. The villagers were too afraid to touch it, and finally the head priest of the temple preached Buddhist teachings to the turtle and urged it to repent.
The turtle replied that there was nothing it could do on its own, and in the end, it is said to have placed a large stone monument on its back and sealed itself so that it could never move again. That is the image of the giant turtle statue carrying the Jūzō monument that still remains on the temple grounds today, a being where legend and reality intertwine.
By introducing this strange tale, Hearn portrayed the giant turtle statue not merely as a stone object, but as "a symbol of protection that safeguards people by remaining motionless." Thus, through being fictionalized in literature, the giant turtle statue became one of Matsue's representative legends and is still told today.
This narrative, conveyed through literary language, is one of the reasons why the stone statue remains in people's hearts not merely as a memorial, but as a legend worth passing down.
And in 2025, with Lafcadio Hearn's wife, Setsu, being chosen as the protagonist of an NHK morning drama, the Great Turtle Statue has received renewed attention.