Originally established in 1583 as a small prayer hall by samurai lord Maeda Toshiie, the Myōryū-ji temple was built in 1643, by his son Toshitsune. Hoping to prevent the Tokugawa shogunate from laying him off, Toshitsune married Tokugawa’s daughter and purposefully played the fool while he founded a temple complex where his samurai warriors could live and keep possible enemies under close surveillance. Designed as a secret fortress, the temple contains a variety of tricks and gimmicks, such as hidden stairs and rooms, pit traps, underground tunnels, and a watchtower….
