Myozenji Temple: Yew Tree 明善寺：イチイ

Official explanation

The Japanese yew tree (ichii; Taxus cuspidata) that stands on terraced ground on the left side of Myozenji Temple’s Shoromon Gate was planted to mark the completion of the temple’s main hall in 1827. The tree is approximately 11 meters tall and has a distinctive branching trunk that splits into several thick parts near the base, making the tree appear as if it consisted of a cluster of separate trunks when viewed from certain angles. Japanese yew trees grow very slowly, but the wood is relatively soft and easy to sculpt, and has traditionally been used as material for ornamental carving in the area covered by present-day Gifu Prefecture.

出典: 地域観光資源の多言語解説文データベース（観光庁） — www.mlit.go.jp/tagengo-db. この英語解説文は観光庁の地域観光資源の多言語解説整備支援事業で作成しました。
Source: Japan Tourism Agency, Multilingual Explanation Database. This English text was produced by the Japan Tourism Agency's multilingual explanation project and is shown unedited. Opening hours and services may have changed since it was written.