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Kenchō-ji

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Kenchō-ji (建長寺) is ranked first among the five great Zen temples in the city of Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan which were part of the Five Mountain System, and is and the oldest Rinzai Zen training monastery in Japan.

The temple was constructed on the orders of Emperor Gofukakusa and completed in 1253. It was founded by Rankei Doryu, a Chinese Zen master who moved to Japan in 1246.

Kencho-ji was originally a series of seven main buildings and 49 subtemples, although most of these were lost in fires in the 14th and 15th centuries. The temple currently consists of ten subtemples. The most notable buildings include:

  • Somon (General Gate), which was moved from the Hanju Zanmai-in temple in Kyoto.
  • Sanmon (Main Gate), built in 1754.
  • Bonsho (Temple Bell), cast in 1255.
  • Butsuden (Buddha Hall) and Karamon (Chinese Gate), which were moved from the Zojo-ji Temple in Tokyo in 1647.
  • Hatto (Dharma Hall), built in 1814, where public ceremonies are held.
  • Hojo (Main Hall), also moved from the Hanju Zanmai-in temple in Kyoto, used for religious ceremonies.
  • Monastery, where monks are trained in meditation, closed to the public.

A recent ceiling painting by Koizumi Junsaku (2003) is notable.

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Last updated on Wednesday February 27, 2008 at 22:32:25 PST (GMT -0800)
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