| Closed Day | Open daily |
| Opening Times | 8：30 ～ 16：30 The principle image is open to the public. |
to see the explanation
to see an explanation
There is "Thousand-Armed Kannon Bodhisattva " who protects those born in the year of the Rat.
Honzon
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Jizo Bodhisattva
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| School |
Rinzai sect, Kenchoji school, head temple |
| Founder (a person who provided financial support for the construction of a temple or a well-known person who lent support) | Hojo Tokiyori (5th regent of the Kamakura Shogunate) |
| Kaisan (the monk who first founded the temple, the first chief priest) | Rankei doryu （Zen monk of the Southern Song Dynasty in China） |
| Sangou (the name that is added before the name of the temple) | Kofukusan |
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①Kamakura 33 Kannon Bodhisattva,No. 28 Senju Kannon Bosatsu |
it is in the Hatto (If you want to know more about the Thousand-Armed Kannon, click here ) |
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➁Kamakura 24 Jizo Bodhisattva,No. 9 Shinpei jizo Bodhisattva |
it is in (If you want to know more about Jizo Bodhisattva,Click Here ) |
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➂Kamakura 24 Jizo Bodhisattva, No. 10 Saita jizo Bodhisattva |
it is in (If you want to know more about Jizo Bodhisattva,Click Here ) |
|
➃Kamakura 24 Jizo Bodhisattva,No. 11 Syousyougatake jizo Bodhisattva |
it is in (If you want to know more about Jizo Bodhisattva,Click Here ) |
In 1253, Hojo Tokiyori (the fifth regent of the Kamakura Shogunate) invited Rankei Doryu (a Zen monk from the Southern Song Dynasty in China) to build the first Zen temple in Japan .
Before Kenchoji Temple was built, it was said to have been a place of execution called " Hell Valley . "At that time, the temple of Garadasan Shinpei-ji, which has Jizo Bodhisattva as its principal image, was built to receive the spirits of those executed.
For this reason, Kenchoji Temple has Jizo Bodhisattva as its principal image .
" It is said that the " strict Zen sect " that was brought over from China (Song Dynasty)is still practiced in the "Zendō（hall)" today just as it was in the past.
Somon(The Main Gate), "Sanmon(Gate), "Butsu-den (Buddha hall)", "hatto(Lecture Hall)" are all " lined up in a straight line " .
This is a common layout for Zen temples.
It is the highest ranking of the Kamakura Five Mountains . (This shows the status of Zen temples.)
The grounds of Kenchoji Temple are designated as a national historic site .
(If you want to know more about Historic Sites, click here.)
At the height of its prosperity, Kenchoji Temple had 49 sub-temples (small temples).
Many of the sub-temples were later destroyed in the Great Kamakura earthquake and fire that occurred in 1293.
It is said that most of the current sub-temples were built with assistance from the Tokugawa Shogunate.
"Kenchinjiru（Japanese tofu and vegetable chowder" is said to be a dish that originated at Kenchoji Temple.
This is the " Buddha Hall" that was moved from Zojoji Temple (the temple of the Tokugawa Shogun family located in Shiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo) .
It was built in 1647 (Muromachi period).
The Karamon Gatewas also moved from Zojoji Temple.
The ceiling is painted by"Kacho-zu "(images of flowers and birds)
And it is made in an architectural style known as a " coffered ceiling" (a type of ceiling made by assembling square timber into a set shape and covering it with boards. It is often seen in rooms of high-ranking or noble families).
① There is "the principal image Jizo Bodhisattva "
(If you want to know more about Jizo Bodhisattva, click here )
The statue was made in the Muromachi period and is 2.4 meters tall."
"When you include the pedestal, it is 5 meters tall."
② There is a " 1000 standing Jizo Bodhisattva statue "
(If you want to know more about Jizo Bodhisattva, click here )
”Kamakura 24 jizo Bodhisattva, No. 9”
③ There is a "Seated Thousand-Armed Kannon statue "
(If you want to know more about Thousand-Armed Kannon, click here)
④ There is a "Garanjin"
Garanjin is a deity that guards temples and shrines.
It is said that the garden was created by Rankei Doryu (the first chief priest of Kenchoji Temple and a monk from the Southern Song Dynasty of China) .
There is a pond called Shinji Pond , which is in the shape of the heart .
It is a national historic site and place of scenic beauty .
It is 30 meters tall.
It has a plaque that reads "Kencho Kokoku Zenji Temple."
The roof is made of copper-shingled shingles,a technique in which thin sheets are layered on top of each other, and is a "traditional architectural craftsmanship" registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage .
Although they are not open to the public , inside the upper level of the Sanmon Gate are the " Hokan Syaka nyorai (Crowned Shaka Nyorai )," the Statues of the 16 Rakans" and the "Statues of the 500 Rakans (made of bronze)."
It is a national important cultural property .
(If you want to know more about national important cultural properties, click here)
The cherry blossoms are beautiful in spring and the autumn leaves are beautiful in autumn.
The juniper tree is said to have been planted by Rankei Doryu (a Chinese Zen monk and the first chief priest of the temple) .
It is said to be 13 meters tall and 760 years old .
(If you want to know more about junipers, click here )
The flower language is "I will protect you ".
" It is one of the 100 famous trees of the prefecture .
It is a city-designated preserved tree .
It is also called" Ryuo-den".
and is currentlyused as a place for memorial services, zazen and training.
The so-momn(main gate) was also moved from Hanju Zanmai-in Temple.
Behind the Hojo is the Hojo Garden .
(if you want to know more about Shakyamuni Nyorai, click here )
It is open to the public on the day of the Treasure Wind-In ceremony in November.
This is the So-mon(main gate), which was moved from Hanju Zanmai-in temple (a Tendai school temple in Kyoto) .
The "Hojo" (Ryuo-den) was also moved from Hanju Zanmai-in temple.
The word " Kofukusan " written on the plaque of the main Gate is said to mean "a temple that brings great fortune. "
This gate is located in the Hojo.
It has four lacquered legs and is made in the 16th century Japanese roof architectural style .
It was built in 1647 (Muromachi period).
This is the Karamon Gate , which was moved from Zojoji Temple (the temple of the Tokugawa Shogunate in Shiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo) .
The Butsu-den(Buddha Hall) was also moved from Zojoji Temple.
It is a national important cultural property .
The roof is made of copper and has a hipped roof.
It is the largest lecture hall in the Kanto region .
The ceiling is painted with Unryu-zu (painting of dragon and clouds)
Cloud dragon paintings were generally painted in the lecture halls of Zen temples, but they were not found in Kenchoji Temple.
Therefore, to commemorate the 750th anniversary of the temple's founding, Junsaku Koizumi painted it.
The lecture hall is originally a place where the chief priest gives sermons, but is now used for memorial services, lectures, exhibitions , etc.
Zen training is apparently carried out in the subtemple, Seirai-an.
It is a national important cultural property .
(If you want to know more about the Thousand-Armed Kannon, click here )
"Kamakura 33 Kannon Buddhas, No. 28"
It is one of the three famous bells in Kamakura [① Enraku-ji Temple, ② Joraku-ji Temple (Ofuna City), ③ Kencho-ji Temple].
The size of the bellis about 2 meters .
It was built in 1255 by Hojo Tokiyori (the 5th regent of the Kamakura Shogunate who supported the construction of the temple).
It is said to have been there since Kenchoji Temple was built .
It is a national treasure.
The temple enshrines " Hanzobo Daigongen", the guardian of Kenchoji Temple .
It can be reached at the end of the 249 steps known as Hanzobo Sando .
In 1890, the head priest, Ozora Kan Doshi, received the " Hansobo Daigongen God " from " Okuyama Hokoji Temple in Shizuoka Prefecture .
" It is said to bring good fortune and protection from fire rizard .
From the hilltop at the end of the climb up Hanzobo approach, you can see the ocean and Mt. Fuji in the distance.
This is the Kamakura 24 Jizo Bodhisattva, No. 11
(If you want to know more about Jizo Bodhisattva, click here .)
| Sacred Object |
Uka-no-mitama-no-kami |
| Divine Blessing | Goog harvest、Prosperity in industry、Business prosperity、Safety in the family、Improvement in performing arts |
