Kōzan-ji Temple

Overview

Kōzan-ji is a temple of the Sōtō school of Zen in the Chōfu area of Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, serving as the family temple of the Chōfu Mōri clan. Its mountain name is Kinzan, and it is the 19th site on the Chūgoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage and the 9th of the twenty-four Sanyō Flower Temples. Its Butsuden is a representative example of Kamakura-period Zenshūyō architecture and is designated a National Treasure.

Highlights

• ●A Butsuden in Zenshūyō style designated a National Treasure
• ●Its history as the family temple of the Chōfu Mōri clan
• ●The 19th site on the Chūgoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage
• ●Its standing as one of the twenty-four Sanyō Flower Temples

History

The temple is said to have been founded in 1327, in the late Kamakura era. A temple of the Sōtō school, it is known as the family temple of the Chōfu Mōri clan, and its mountain name is Kinzan. Its Butsuden, alongside the Shakadō of Zenpuku-in, is a representative work of Kamakura-period Zenshūyō architecture and is designated a National Treasure.

Map

33.9770, 130.9617 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1Enter the precinct through the gate and note the layout of the halls
2. 2View the architecture of the National Treasure Zenshūyō Butsuden
3. 3Reflect on its history as the family temple of the Chōfu Mōri clan
4. 4Sense the atmosphere of a Chūgoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage site

Did you know?

💡 Its mountain name is Kinzan, and its Butsuden is a National Treasure representative of Kamakura-period Zenshūyō architecture.

Nearby spots